The top 10 richest members of Congress

The Hill newspaper has released its 2012 list of the richest members of Congress, based on financial disclosure forms, using the low figures in a range for assets and liabilities if more exact financial statements are not available. Here are the top 10:

1 Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., $355.4 million: The richest member is also its busiest watchdog. Issa made much of his money through an anti-theft system for cars and now has much of his wealth in investment funds.

2 Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, $101.9 million: He was listed as The Hill's wealthiest lawmaker for 2010 and 2011 but his dropped to No. 2 after he chose to report he and his family's holdings differently. His wife, Linda, is the daughter of the founder of Clear Channel Communications.

3 Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., $88.5 million: The former governor made his pile by co-founding the company that became Nextel.

4 Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., $83.8 million: The great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller got his wealth the old-fashioned way: He inherited it.

5 Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., $76.6 million: He married the daughter of a New York real estate magnate, elevating the worth of a man who has spent most of his career in public service.

6 Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., $68.4 million: He founded two publicly traded companies — HealthCare Financial Partners and CapitalSource Inc.

8 Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., $44.7 million: Two factors play into Peters' wealth: his move from the Environmental Protection Agency to an attorney representing business interests and government agencies, and his marriage to the CEO of a private equity firm founded by her father.

9 Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., $41.6 million: The veteran senator owes much of her wealth to her husband, president and CEO of a private equity firm. They own a big stake in San Francisco's Hotel Carlton and have a million-dollar condo in Hawaii.

10 Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, $35.9 million: The certified public accountant founded a company that owns and operates nursing homes. Most of his assets are in funds investing in companies such as Apple, Costco, Google and Intuit.

26. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., $14.2 million: The former governor (and ex-director of the Bank of North Dakota) invests in companies such as Heinz, McDonald's and Ralph Lauren.

29. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., $12.5 million: He lists at least $5 million with Charles Schwab and another $4.3 million in rental real estate in Wisconsin. He holds more than a $1 million stake in a polyester and plastics manufacturer of which he was CEO before politics.