Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Is New Billionaire, Richest Politician In America

Forbes - FALLING PRICES at the pump are typically good for politicians, and that’s doubly true for Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. An heir to truck stop chain Pilot Flying J, Haslam has seen his net worth more than double since August–from $980 million to an estimated $2 billion–thanks to cheaper gas. He’s now the richest elected official in America.

Cheap unleaded means more people filling up–and a greater chance for gas stations and truck stops to profit off fuel, plus ancillary goods and services. “In a declining fuel market, these operators do much better,” says John R. Lawrence, managing director at investment bank Stephens.(link)