From humble beginnings to a lavish lifestyle now, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ trajectory over the years is sure to pique curiosities and raise eyebrows alike. According to reports from ProPublica, Thomas' current accord includes private jet escapades, luxury vacations, and a free RV. Quite the shift from the days when he openly bemoaned his then-salary of $173,600 to a member of Congress in 2000. A figure that when adjusted for inflation, would roughly equal $300,000 today.
Given the financial complaints Justice Thomas made about a decade into his tenure on the Supreme Court, one might wonder how he made such a drastic lifestyle upward shift. Apparently, the salary was so unbearable that he cautioned lawmakers about a potential mass exit of justices from the court if no immediate rectification was made.
The shift in tone is indeed fascinating as 2019 saw Thomas singing a different tune. Far from his earlier gripes, he readily admitted that the compensation for a Supreme Court Justice was 'plenty.' He assured everyone that both he and his wife were doing 'fine.' Not an extravagantly lived life, he said, but one they were content with.
Only a few weeks past his somewhat humble statement, Justice Thomas found himself jetting off to Indonesia in a private plane that belonged to one of his billionaire friends. The vacation details? A luxurious trip aboard his friend's 162-foot yacht with his wife, Jenny. Quite the leap from that period of monetary dissatisfaction to a stage where private jets and luxurious yachts are a part of the 'fine' life, wouldn’t you say?
A dive into the life and times of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas certainly provides a fascinating look at how the scales tipped from being disgruntled over reasonable pay to enjoying jet-setter holidays. It does make one wonder about the difference between living 'fine' and living 'extravagantly.' The lines, it appears, might be more blurred than we thought.
