Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is pushing back on claims about his net worth.
During a hearing about coffee chain Starbucks’ union policies, Sen. Markwayne Mullins (R-Okla.) claimed Sanders is worth $8 million.
“The senator did mention my name,” Sanders said as he began to respond to the allegation. “I think you got an all-time record here: You’ve made more misstatements in a shorter period of time than I have ever heard.”
Mullins encouraged the Vermont senator to correct him as he claimed his net worth was in the public record.
“Excuse me! If I’m worth $8 million, that’s good news to me. I’m not aware of it, that’s a lie!” Sanders shot back.
When Mullin repeated his claim about Sanders’ net worth being public, the Vermont senator insisted, “You’re probably looking at some phony, right-wing internet stuff. It ain’t true. You should read beyond that.”
He also denied his net worth was publicly available.
Watch the video below:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gets into a heated exchange with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) amid the Senate’s hearing over Starbucks’ union policies:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 29, 2023
“I think you got an all-time record here: You've made more misstatements in a shorter period of time than I have ever heard.” pic.twitter.com/qMSjmI7LK8
While his exact worth is not publicly known, Politico reported in 2019 it was approaching $2 million.
He also owns three houses.
But Sanders was not the only one to take issue with a description of their wealth during the hearing.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said, “I grew up in federally subsidized housing. My parents never owned a home. I came from nothing.”
“Yes, I have billions of dollars — I earned it. No one gave it to me. And I’ve shared it constantly with the people of Starbucks,” he added.
Watch the moment below:
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz complains about Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) “unfair” labeling of him as a billionaire:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 29, 2023
“I came from nothing … Yes, I have billions of dollars — I earned it. No one gave it to me. And I’ve shared it constantly with the people of Starbucks.” pic.twitter.com/Cl95jg0GVZ
He also claimed Sanders’ “moniker” about billionaires is “unfair.”