From lavish Renaissance spending to modern-day modesty, a look at papal wealth through the ages
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made history in May 2025 as the first American to ascend to the papacy. With the title comes a salary of roughly $33,800 per month — that’s over $400,000 a year. Not bad for the Bishop of Rome.
But the paycheck is just the start. The Vatican covers everything else: luxury housing, a personal chef, world-class healthcare, custom rides (yes, the Popemobile counts), and even a personal pharmacy. While Pope Leo XIV hasn’t commented publicly on whether he’ll accept the full salary, the infrastructure of papal perks hasn’t exactly downsized.
But Pope Leo XIV isn’t the first pontiff to raise eyebrows — or expectations — when it comes to wealth. Here are three other examples of how papal fortunes have fluctuated (or flourished) over the centuries:
Pope Leo X (1513–1521)
The Medici Pope who spent like royalty
Pope Leo X, born Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici, wasn’t just part of the famously wealthy Medici family — he acted like it, too. Within two years of taking office, he had drained the Vatican treasury and put the papacy in massive debt.
In 1517, Leo X’s personal income was recorded at 580,000 ducats — an eye-watering sum at the time. Adjusted for modern inflation and gold value, that’s estimated to be over $320 million today. And he spent it like a Renaissance influencer: lavish banquets, elaborate artworks, a literal menagerie of exotic animals, and even hiring Michelangelo.
To keep the money flowing, he famously sold indulgences and church offices, which (surprise) helped spark the Protestant Reformation. Opulence with a historical price tag.
“From opulent indulgences to vows of poverty, the papal approach
to wealth has evolved dramatically over the centuries.”
Pope John Paul II (1978–2005)
The global spiritual icon who kept things humble
Despite being one of the most well-traveled and beloved popes in history, Pope John Paul II never took a salary. Donations made in his name went straight to the Church’s charitable fund, the Elemosineria Apostolica. His needs — housing, food, security — were covered by the Vatican, but his lifestyle was famously frugal.
That said, his bestselling 1994 book Crossing the Threshold of Hope generated millions in revenue — over $6 million in today’s money. While the profits went toward Church projects, it showed that even non-salary income can make a pope financially impactful.
Pope Francis (2013–2025)
The no-pay pope who chose simplicity
Pope Francis famously rejected the papal palace for a modest Vatican guesthouse and refused the traditional salary altogether. Still, his position came with considerable access: official residences, secure transport, staff, and lifetime care — perks that analysts estimate could be valued at $16 million if tallied up.
While Francis didn’t personally profit, the Church’s operational budget certainly absorbed the costs of his understated-but-still-comprehensive lifestyle.
