How recent presidential losers found success outside the White House

Bob Dole appearing in a Pepsi commercial. Credit: YouTube
Bob Dole appearing in a Pepsi commercial. Credit: YouTube

As the 2016 presidential campaign enters its final hours, most national polls show Hillary Clinton holding a slight lead over Donald Trump.

So if Trump doesn’t win, what will he do after November 8?

Though Trump’s unfavorables are at a historic high, past failed presidential candidates have not always been branded as “losers.” John McCain went on to serve as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Kerry is the current secretary of state.

But many candidates returned to or joined the private sector. Yahoo Finance researched several unsuccessful candidates over the past 25 years to see what they have been up to after failed White House bids.

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney. Credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Mitt Romney. Credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Lost to President Barack Obama in 2012

Before he entered public office, Mitt Romney co-founded private equity titan Bain Capital. He went on to serve as chief executive of the the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

After his narrow defeat to Obama in 2012, Romney returned to the private sector. He rejoined Marriott International’s (MAR) board of directors and became executive partner and Group Chairman of Solamere Capital LLC, a private investment firm co-founded by his son, Tagg Romney.

Romney has been a vocal opponent of Trump throughout the election, attacking his character, his business career and his failure to release his tax returns.

Al Gore

Director Davis Guggenheim shares his Oscar with Al Gore. Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
Director Davis Guggenheim shares his Oscar with Al Gore. Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

Lost to President George W. Bush in 2000

Gore is the co-founder and chairman of Generation Investment Management, a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and a member of Apple’s board of directors, his website notes. These roles have allowed Gore to amass a fortune estimated at $200 million. Not a bad consolation prize.

Gore is most well known as an environmentalist, though. He has written several books on global warming, including “An Inconvenient Truth,” which was released alongside a documentary with the same title. In 2007, Gore was the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bob Dole

Bob Dole, left, with Mike Pence in July 2016. Credit: John Moore/Getty Images
Bob Dole, left, with Mike Pence in July 2016. Credit: John Moore/Getty Images

Lost to President Bill Clinton in 1996

Bob Dole continued to play an active role in public policy after his presidential defeat. The 93-year-old currently serves as special counsel at the law firm Alston & Bird LLP, and was selected to co-lead a bipartisan commission investigating problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007.

Dole also found a second career as a spokesperson. He starred in Viagra’s first “little blue pill” television commercial, and later went on to appear in ads for Pepsi, Visa, Dunkin’ Donuts and Target.

Ross Perot

Ross Perot in September 2014. Credit: AP Photo/Bruce Smith
Ross Perot in September 2014. Credit: AP Photo/Bruce Smith

Lost to President Bill Clinton in 1992

The only non-major party nominee on this list, Ross Perot shares some traits with Trump. Both candidates ran on their successful business records, turned their political inexperience into a positive, outsider trait, and knew how to use cable news networks to receive millions—and by some counts billions—of free media advertising.

After his defeat in both 1992 and less notably in 1996, Perot has been largely removed from the political and public sphere. While his influence may have run dry, his bank accounts have not: Perot currently sits at No. 142 on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of nearly $4 billion from his careers in computer services and real estate.

Donald Trump?

Donald Trump in July 2015 Credit: AP Photo/Darren Abate
Donald Trump in July 2015 Credit: AP Photo/Darren Abate

If Trump loses, he will have to face the prospect that the famous Trump brand will struggle in his traditional markets of real estate and hospitality. One analysis from Foursquare shows the mogul’s properties may be losing significant business. Even his daughter, Ivanka Trump, is reportedly concerned about the damage the campaign has done to her brand.

Yet Trump may still have some new business ventures on the horizon. The launch of a nightly Facebook Live show, “Trump Tower Live,” last month fueled reports that the former reality star may be launching a right-wing network after the election.

If that happens, he may take a page from James M. Cox, the Democratic candidate for president in 1920 who went on to build the media conglomerate Cox Enterprises.

Read Yahoo Finance’s complete coverage of the election and the economy here.

Advertisement