85-year-old Nancy Pelosi made history as the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives and led Democrats in the lower house for two decades.
Meanwhile, her portfolio has outperformed hedge funds, the S&P 500 and even Warren Buffett's average over the long term, Shah Faisal Shah wrote on Facebook.
In 2024 alone, her return is estimated at about 70.9%, while hedge funds average nearly 11% and the S&P 500 - about 24.9%.
In 2025, she also outperformed the return on the S&P 500, despite it being one of the most volatile years. Her official salary is $174,000 a year.
A conservative estimate of her net worth is $276 million.
Analysts say the value of her options puts her at over $500 million, but even that conservative figure is enough to show the difference.
This difference can't be explained by salary. Over 38 years in Congress, her total lifetime income is only $7-8 million before taxes. Less than 3% of her current wealth.
How does $174,000 turn into $276 million?
FIRST, THE TOOL IS IN THE OPTIONS
Most money isn't made by buying stocks. They are earned by buying long-term call options. Options allow control over large positions in stocks using small capital.
But leverage alone does not explain the sequence. The second part is where the options are placed.
Almost all of the positions are in industries that are directly shaped by government policy: semiconductors, big tech, energy, payments, cybersecurity, healthcare, artificial intelligence.
These are the exact sectors affected by:
• Subsidies
• Regulations
• Antitrust
• Government spending
• Defense budgets
• Healthcare Regulations
The second part is where the options are placed.
Almost all positions are in industries that are directly shaped by government policy: Semiconductors, Big Tech, Energy, Payments, Cybersecurity
These are the exact sectors affected by:
• Subsidies
• Regulation
• Antitrust
• Government Spending
• Defense Budgets
• Healthcare Regulations
Politics decides the winners and losers here.
That's the real advantage: early political awareness.
Now look at the timing.
• 2008 – VISA IPO
Pelosi bought Visa at its IPO. At the same time, Congress was debating credit card regulation, which would determine how payment networks operate.
Visa shares went public, the stock jumped immediately, and Congress controlled the rules.
• 2022 – NVIDIA AND CHIPR ACT
Pelosi exercised Nvidia call options just weeks before the CHIPR ACT was voted on. He sent $52 billion to U.S. semiconductor companies. After a negative reaction, the position was sold. Nvidia later became one of the largest stocks in the world.
• 2024 – EXIT FROM MICROSOFT
Microsoft was sold just before the stronger antitrust pressure became public. This means an exit before the regulatory risk was factored in.
• 2025 – TEMPUS AI
Pelosi bought call options on Tempus AI on January 14, 2025.
Hit: $20
Price: $50,000 – $100,000
The deal was announced on January 17 and went public on January 21. The stock jumped 35% that day. By October 2025, the stock had risen 185%. By January 2026, the position was worth about $263,000.
Retail traders and algorithms copied the trade immediately after the disclosure. The disclosure itself became a price catalyst.
• 2025 – BROADCOM
Call options purchased in June 2024. Exercisable in June 2025 at an exercise price of $80. The stock was trading near $250 at exercise. 20,000 shares were acquired for $1.6 million. The market value was about $5 million at exercise. By December 2025, these shares were worth almost $7 million. Expected profit: $5.38 million.
• 2025 – VISTRA
Call options purchased on the same day as Tempus.
Exercise price: $50
In early 2026, the stock was trading near $185. Another politically sensitive sector: energy.
The pattern is always the same:
First the position →
Later policy clarity →
Market reaction →
Disclosure triggers copy buying.
Now add the legal structure.
The Stock Exchange Act:
• Allows disclosure up to 45 days late
• Penalty is around $200
• No criminal enforcement history
• No member of Congress has ever been convicted under it
So the structure is: Trade First, Disclose Later, No Real Penalty
And now there's a second layer.
Pelosi's trades are tracked by:
• Apps
• Hedge Funds
• Retail Traders
• ETFs like $NANC
• Automated Copy Trading Systems
When her disclosure happens, buying pressure automatically occurs. Its reputation alone drives prices.
Here's why Tempus and Vistra soared after the revelation.
Not because the fundamentals changed that day. Because people followed the name. So the full formula becomes:
Political access
Option leverage
Politically sensitive sectors
Weak implementation
Copy trading feedback
Here's how a $174,000 salary turned into a $276 million portfolio