Tommy Thompson - Post-government Career

Post-government Career

Almost immediately after leaving the public sector at the end of the Bush Administration, Thompson joined two firms focused on lobbying government officials in the area of health care and joined the boards of directors of other companies.

Thompson also joined the board of about two dozen private companies and nonprofit groups.

In 2011, Thompson was paid more than $1.1 million in cash and stock incentives from five public companies, Thompson's consulting firm was paid $471,000 by six companies, and Thompson himself received $3 million from the sale of a consulting firm he chaired. Thompson's work with these companies and other investments led him to accumulate a disclosed net worth of $13 million.

A number of those companies and organizations "he helps oversee have faced an array of troubles, including claims of making faulty and dangerous medical implants, failing grades from a corporate watchdog and allegations of misleading investors." An expert with one agency that gave failing marks three of the six public companies who boards Thompson sits on commented that "either has really bad luck choosing companies...or he is one of the directors on company boards who is not exercising sufficient oversight."