Last year Ben Bernanke was able to make up for the losses he suffered in 2008 thanks, in part, to a stock market recovery he helped bring about.
The Federal Reserve chairman's wealth grew last year, according to financial disclosure forms released Friday by the central bank. At Dec. 31, his asset holdings were between $1.2 million and $2.5 million, the same as in 2007. In 2008, they fell between $850,000 and $1.9 million when stocks prices plunged.
The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index rose by almost 25% in 2009. In 2008, the S&P 500 had fallen nearly 40%.
The disclosure forms, used by officials throughout the executive branch, report asset valuations and income in broad dollar ranges.
Much of the increase in Bernanke's wealth came from a large-cap stock variable annuity he holds, whose value grew to $500,000 to $1 million by Dec. 31 from $250,000 to $500,000 a year earlier.
The other Fed governors disclosing the value of their 2009 assets Friday also gained on their 2008 values.
