While the U.S. stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, surged 23 percent last year, the minimum net worth of the 50 richest members of Congress gained only 6.5 percent on average, according to data from Roll Call. Hopefully they can be counted on to steward the nation’s finances better than their own.

But given the exploding federal debt burden — about 60 percent of GDP — it’s probably fair to say that House and Senate members are managing their personal finances better than the country’s.

Of the wealthiest 50 in Congress, 27 are Democrats and 23 are Republicans. That means Democrats account for 54 percent of the group. Meanwhile, Democrats make up 59 percent of Congress overall. So one could say Republicans are slightly over-performing when it comes to accumulated wealth.

Here are the top 10 and their minimum net worth levels for 2009, according to Roll Call:

1. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., $188 million
2. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., $160 million
3. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., $153 million
4. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., $82 million
5. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, $74 million
6. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., $70 million.
7. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., $56 million
8. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., $55 million
9. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., $50 million
10. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., $46 million

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