Mikhail Gorbachev's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death Might Surprise You

Before the late Mikhail Gorbachev became president of the former Soviet Union, he was working as a farmer. Born into a family that was living in poverty, Gorbachev worked alongside his relatives on their farmland (via CNN). He wouldn't stay on his family's farm forever — going to college in Moscow — but would return to his agricultural roots.

In the 1960s, Gorbachev would become the head of the agriculture department for the Stavropol region of the Soviet Union. This work would keep him in the political realm, going on to lead the union in the 1980s. He had several titles throughout his time leading the country, including Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, and finally President of the Soviet Union at the end of his time in office.

While he has left behind a mixed legacy, Gorbachev went from rags to riches over time. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gorbachev left behind roughly $5 million at the time of his death — an impressive sum for a man who lived in poverty during his childhood.