If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet during an election cycle, you’ve probably seen the memes. They usually feature Bernie Sanders—the man who famously rails against "millionaires and billionaires"—standing in front of a house, or perhaps three. The internet is a weird place. It loves a good "gotcha" moment, and for a lot of people, a democratic socialist owning multiple properties feels like the ultimate irony.
So, how many homes does Bernie Sanders own?
He owns three. It’s a number that has been weaponized by political opponents and defended by supporters with equal fervor. But honestly, when you look at the actual addresses and the prices he paid, the "luxury real estate mogul" narrative starts to look a bit thin. We’re talking about a guy who has been in Congress for decades and finally hit it big with a book deal in his late 70s.
The Breakdown: Three Addresses, Two States
To understand the Sanders property portfolio, you have to look at the "why" behind each purchase. He isn't flipping houses in the Hamptons. Each of these spots serves a specific, fairly practical function for a guy who spends half his life in D.C. and the other half in the Green Mountain State.
1. The Primary Residence: Burlington, Vermont
This is the home base. Bernie and his wife, Jane O’Meara Sanders, bought this four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house back in 2009. They paid about $405,000 for it. In the world of Senate real estate, that’s practically a bargain. It’s a colonial-style house in a quiet neighborhood, far from the flashiest zip codes in the country. It’s where they live when the Senate isn't in session.
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2. The "Work" House: Washington, D.C.
Being a Senator means you basically have two full-time lives. You can’t just commute from Vermont to the Capitol every morning unless you have a private jet (which Bernie definitely does not). In 2007, the couple bought a small row house on Capitol Hill for $488,999. It’s a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath brick townhouse. It’s tiny. It’s basically a crash pad for when he’s voting on bills or filibustering on the floor. Most members of Congress own something similar or, famously, sleep in their offices to save money.
3. The "Summer Camp": North Hero, Vermont
This is the one that caused the massive internet meltdown in 2016. Shortly after his first presidential run, Bernie bought a seasonal waterfront home on Lake Champlain for $575,000.
In Vermont, people call these "camps."
It’s a four-bedroom log cabin-style house. While "waterfront" sounds fancy, Jane Sanders was very transparent about how they paid for it. She sold her share of a family property in Maine that had been in her family since 1900. They took that money, added some of Bernie’s book royalties, and bought the North Hero place. It’s a family getaway for their kids and grandkids.
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The "Millionaire" Question
It’s kinda funny how the word "millionaire" has changed. Back in the day, being a millionaire meant you were part of the elite. Nowadays, if you’re a 78-year-old who has worked a high-paying government job for 30 years and wrote a New York Times bestseller, you’re almost certainly a millionaire on paper.
Bernie’s net worth spiked after his 2016 campaign. His book, Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In, was a massive hit. He made over $1 million in royalties in 2017 alone. Before that, he was consistently ranked as one of the "poorest" members of the Senate.
Does owning three homes make him a hypocrite?
That’s the $600,000 question. His critics say you can't talk about wealth inequality while owning a vacation home. His defenders point out that his tax plan—which would significantly raise taxes on people with his exact level of income—proves he’s willing to put his money where his mouth is. He isn't arguing that no one should own a house; he's arguing that the system is rigged for the top 0.1%.
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Why the Number of Homes Matters to Voters
The fascination with how many homes Bernie Sanders owns isn't just about real estate. It's about "class "authenticity." We live in an era where voters are desperate to know if their leaders actually practice what they preach.
- The Optics: Three homes sounds like a lot to someone struggling with rent.
- The Reality: His total real estate holdings are worth less than a single one-bedroom condo in some parts of Manhattan or San Francisco.
- The Income: Most of his wealth came late in life from labor (writing) rather than capital gains or corporate boards.
What You Should Take Away
If you’re trying to keep the facts straight, here is the deal: Bernie Sanders owns a family home in Burlington, a small townhouse for work in D.C., and a seasonal cabin on a lake. He isn't a real estate tycoon, but he’s certainly doing better than the average American.
If you want to dig deeper into how politicians build wealth, you should look at their financial disclosure forms. They are public record. You can see exactly where the money comes from—whether it’s book deals, speaking fees, or stock trades. For Bernie, the trail is pretty simple: Senate salary plus book sales equals three houses.
Check out the latest FEC filings if you want to see how his 2026 fundraising is going; it usually gives a clear picture of where his support—and his scrutiny—is coming from these days.