Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, died with a net worth of just $250 . This stark figure encapsulates a life of financial struggle, ideological turmoil, and ultimate infamy. More than just a number, this paltry sum represents the economic reality of a former U.S. Marine who drifted through life, from a troubled childhood to a defector in the Soviet Union, before committing the crime that would forever scar American history. His financial standing, meticulously documented by official investigations, paints a picture of a man living on the edge of poverty, whose greatest impact on the world was tragically destructive rather than financially profitable.
This article delves beyond the simple net worth figure to explore the economic life of Lee Harvey Oswald, examining his income, expenditures, and the surprising posthumous value of the artifacts he left behind.
The Final Accounting: $250 at Death
When Lee Harvey Oswald was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby on November 24, 1963, his personal financial worth was virtually nonexistent . The $250 net worth is a snapshot of his liquid assets at the moment of his death. This value is consistent with the financial picture presented in the Warren Commission’s exhaustive analysis of his finances, which showed he typically had cash on hand ranging from just a few dollars to a couple of hundred dollars in the months leading up to the assassination .
To put this into perspective, $250 in 1963 is equivalent to approximately $2,500 today after adjusting for inflation. This was not enough for financial security then and is a minuscule amount for a man who would become one of the most infamous figures of the 20th century.
A Life of Financial Instability: Earnings and Employment
Oswald’s financial life was characterized by instability and low-wage work. His earning history reveals a pattern of fleeting employment and modest income.
Early Life and Military Service
Oswald’s difficult childhood foreshadowed his unstable adult life. He was born in New Orleans in 1939, and his father died two months before his birth . He grew up in a tumultuous household, with a psychiatrist later describing him as “emotionally disturbed” due to a “lack of normal family life” and a “complete absence of any real family life” . He attended 12 different schools, was often truant, and eventually dropped out of high school at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 .
His time in the Marines provided steady income and training as a radar operator, but it was also marked by disciplinary issues. He was court-martialed twice and jailed, and was eventually discharged from active duty in 1959 into the Marine Corps Reserve .
Defection and Return
In a dramatic turn, Oswald defected to the Soviet Union in 1959, declaring himself a communist and attempting to renounce his U.S. citizenship . The Soviets sent him to Minsk, where he worked at the Gorizont Electronics factory. He was given a subsidized apartment and lived comfortably by Soviet standards, but grew disillusioned and returned to the United States with his Russian wife, Marina, in June 1962 .
Struggling to Make a Living in the U.S.
After returning to the U.S., Oswald struggled to maintain stable employment. He worked a series of low-paying jobs, often clashing with bosses and coworkers . The Warren Commission’s detailed analysis of his finances from June 1962 through November 1963 provides a stark monthly accounting of his financial life during this period .
Table: Lee Harvey Oswald’s Finances Before the Assassination (Select Months)
| Month | Net Salary/Income | Cash on Hand (End of Month) |
|---|---|---|
| June 1962 | $46.82 | $34.35 |
| September 1962 | $187.59 | $22.34 |
| March 1963 | $327.55 | $184.70 |
| August 1963 | $165.00 (Unemployment) | $182.21 |
| September 24, 1963 | $132.00 (Unemployment) | $214.21 |
His final job was at the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, where he earned approximately $48 per week as an order filler . Ironically, his final paycheck included compensation for a half-day of work on November 22, 1963—the day he assassinated President Kennedy .
The Warren Commission’s Financial Analysis: A Frugal and Precarious Existence
The Warren Commission conducted a meticulous investigation into Oswald’s finances to determine if he had unexplained wealth that might suggest conspiracy. Their findings painted a clear picture of a man living a frugal and financially precarious existence .
The Commission tracked all known receipts and expenditures for Oswald and his wife from June 13, 1962, through November 22, 1963. They estimated his living expenses—including food, clothing, and incidentals—at about $100 per month, noting that this was “a little higher than would be normal for a family in Oswald’s income class” but reflected his “frugal living habits” .
His financial records show a man who was often repaying small loans to his brother, Robert Oswald, and a State Department loan that helped fund his return from the Soviet Union . His purchases included subscriptions to political magazines like The Worker and The Militant, as well as the cost of the rifle he would use in the assassination .
The Posthumous Value of Infamy: Oswald’s Coffin and Artifacts
While Oswald died with virtually nothing, artifacts connected to him have gained significant monetary value due to their historical notoriety.
The most striking example is his original coffin. After Oswald’s body was exhumed in 1981 to dispel conspiracy theories that a Soviet spy was buried in his place, the water-damaged coffin was stored by the funeral home . In 2010, the funeral home put the coffin up for auction without the family’s knowledge, where an anonymous bidder purchased it for $87,468 .
Oswald’s brother, Robert, successfully sued the funeral home, arguing that he owned the coffin because he had purchased it for his brother’s burial in 1963. A judge ruled in his favor, calling the funeral home’s conduct “wrongful, wanton and malicious” and ordered the coffin returned to Robert, along with $87,468 in damages .
This bizarre postscript highlights the immense irony that while Lee Harvey Oswald lived and died in poverty, the physical objects associated with his life and death have acquired substantial financial worth due entirely to his role in a world-changing historical event.
Conclusion: The Chilling Disparity Between Economic and Historical Impact
Lee Harvey Oswald’s net worth of $250 at the time of his death presents a profound contradiction. In purely economic terms, he was insignificant—a low-wage worker with no assets, no savings, and no financial stability. Yet, his actions on November 22, 1963, had an immeasurable impact on the course of American history, politics, and culture.
The detailed financial records from the Warren Commission confirm that Oswald operated with limited means, a fact that has been used to support the conclusion that he acted alone. His life serves as a somber reminder that catastrophic historical change can be set in motion not by men of great wealth or power, but by individuals living on the fringes of society, armed with nothing more than a rifle and a destructive ideology. The story of his net worth is ultimately the story of a failed life, whose only lasting “value” was created through an act of violence that continues to resonate more than half a century later.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The net worth figures and financial estimates presented are based on data drawn from public sources, including the Warren Commission Report, and are approximations. These values should be considered approximations rather than definitive financial statements. The author and publisher do not endorse or glorify the criminal activities described herein and are not responsible for any misinterpretation of the content. All financial and historical information is provided as-is without warranty of accuracy.
FAQs
1. How much money did Lee Harvey Oswald have when he died?
Lee Harvey Oswald died with a net worth of just $250. This figure, equivalent to about $2,500 today, represents his total liquid assets at the time he was killed by Jack Ruby. It was the sum of the cash he had on his person and in his possession, reflecting a life of financial struggle and instability.
2. Why did the Warren Commission investigate Oswald’s finances?
The Warren Commission conducted a meticulous analysis of Oswald’s finances to determine if he had access to unexplained wealth that might suggest he was part of a larger conspiracy. By tracking all his known income and expenses, they aimed to prove or disprove whether he was funded by other individuals or organizations to assassinate President Kennedy.
3. What was Lee Harvey Oswald’s main source of income?
Oswald’s income was sporadic and came from low-wage jobs. After his discharge from the Marines, he worked a series of short-term positions, with his final job being at the Texas School Book Depository, where he earned about $48 per week. He also collected unemployment benefits for a period, and his financial records show he was often reliant on small loans from his brother.
4. Is it true that Lee Harvey Oswald’s coffin was sold?
Yes, in a strange postscript, Oswald’s original coffin was put up for auction in 2010 without his family’s knowledge and sold for $87,468. His brother, Robert Oswald, successfully sued the funeral home, arguing he was the legal owner as he had purchased it in 1963. A judge ruled in his favor, ordering the coffin returned and awarding him the full sale amount in damages.
5. Did Oswald’s time in the Soviet Union provide him with financial stability?
While in the Soviet Union, Oswald was given a state-subsidized apartment and a job at a radio and television factory in Minsk. He lived more comfortably by Soviet standards than he ever had in the U.S., but this was not a life of luxury. He grew disillusioned and returned to America, after which he struggled financially once again.