Discover Paula Jones net worth in 2025, her biography, and role in the historic Clinton sexual harassment lawsuit. Learn about the settlement, impeachment connection, and her life today.
Quick Facts About Paula Jones
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paula Rosalee Corbin Jones |
| Date of Birth | September 17, 1966 |
| Age | 58 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Lonoke, Arkansas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton |
| Occupation | Former civil servant, real estate agent |
| Net Worth (2025) | $700,000 – $1 million |
| Settlement Amount | $850,000 (1998) |
| Current Residence | Cabot, Arkansas |
| Spouse | Steven McFadden (m. 2001) |
| Previous Marriage | Stephen Jones (m. 1991; div. 1999) |
| Children | Two sons |
Paula Jones Net Worth
Paula Jones net worth in 2025 stands between $700,000 and $1 million, a modest financial standing that reflects both the opportunities and challenges she faced following her high-profile legal battle with President Bill Clinton. While she received an $850,000 settlement in 1998, a substantial portion went toward legal fees and taxes, leaving her with significantly less than the headline figure suggested.
The settlement from Bill Clinton formed the bulk of her financial assets, but Jones has also generated income through various channels over the years. Her financial journey demonstrates how public notoriety can create both opportunities and limitations for ordinary individuals thrust into the national spotlight.
After the lawsuit, Jones faced significant challenges in building wealth. The intense media scrutiny made it difficult for her to resume normal professional life, with many potential employers hesitant to hire someone so publicly associated with a political scandal. This reality forced her to explore alternative income sources that would sustain her and her family.
Today, most of her income reportedly comes from regular employment and savings, rather than media work or royalties. Jones has maintained financial stability by living within her means and working consistently in fields outside the public eye, primarily in real estate in the Little Rock area.
Paula Jones Biography
Paula Rosalee Corbin was born on September 17, 1966, in Lonoke, Arkansas, into a deeply religious household. She was the daughter of a minister in the Church of the Nazarene and raised within that congregation. Her upbringing in this conservative religious environment would significantly shape her values and worldview.
Jones graduated from a high school in Carlisle, Arkansas, in 1984 and briefly attended a secretarial school in Little Rock. After completing her education, she worked various jobs before finding employment with the state government. In 1989, she met Stephen Jones in Little Rock, and the couple married in December 1991.
She worked a number of jobs before joining the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (AIDC) in March 1991, where she served as a document examiner. This position would place her in circumstances that would dramatically alter the course of her life just two months after starting the job.
Jones lived a relatively quiet existence as a state employee and young wife until the alleged incident in May 1991 that would eventually thrust her into the national spotlight. She initially kept silent about the encounter, continuing her work and starting a family with her husband.
Paula Jones Age
Born on September 17, 1966, Paula Jones is currently 58 years old as of 2025. At the time of the alleged incident with then-Governor Bill Clinton in May 1991, she was just 24 years old and had been working for the state of Arkansas for only two months.
When she filed her lawsuit against President Clinton in May 1994, Jones was 27 years old, a young mother attempting to seek accountability from one of the most powerful men in the world. The case would consume much of her late twenties and early thirties, fundamentally reshaping her life during what should have been her prime professional years.
Now approaching 60, Jones has spent more than three decades living with the consequences of her decision to come forward. The years have brought perspective, personal growth, and a quieter life away from the controversy that once defined her public identity.
Paula Jones Bill Clinton Lawsuit
The lawsuit that would eventually lead to President Clinton’s impeachment began with an incident on May 8, 1991. Jones alleged that while working at the Annual Governor’s Quality Conference at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock, she was asked by an Arkansas State Police Trooper to report to Governor Clinton’s hotel room, where Clinton propositioned and exposed himself to her.
Jones remained silent about the alleged harassment for nearly three years. Her decision to come forward was triggered by a January 1994 article in The American Spectator by David Brock, which mentioned a state employee named “Paula” who had allegedly offered to be Clinton’s mistress. Outraged by this characterization, Jones decided to tell her side of the story.
Jones filed a sexual harassment suit against Clinton on May 6, 1994, two days before the expiration of the three-year statute of limitations, and sought $750,000 in damages. The lawsuit immediately became a national sensation, as it marked one of the first times a sitting president faced civil litigation for actions allegedly taken before assuming office.
Clinton’s legal team moved aggressively to dismiss the case, arguing that a sitting president should be immune from civil lawsuits for actions unrelated to official duties. The case wound its way through the federal court system, with Clinton initially receiving a favorable ruling that delayed the trial until after his presidency.
However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled in favor of Jones, finding that “the President, like all other government officials, is subject to the same laws that apply to all other members of our society”. Clinton then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Paula Jones Settlement
The legal battle reached its climax when the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on May 27, 1997, that a sitting president does not have immunity from civil lawsuits for actions taken before entering office. This landmark decision in Clinton v. Jones allowed Paula Jones’ case to proceed.
In April 1998, Judge Susan Webber Wright initially granted summary judgment to Clinton, dismissing Jones’ case. However, events took a dramatic turn when evidence of Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky emerged, revealing that Clinton had lied under oath during his deposition in the Jones case.
Jones appealed the dismissal, and her appeal gained traction following Clinton’s admission to having an affair with Lewinsky in August 1998. On appeal, Clinton agreed to an out-of-court settlement, paying Jones and her lawyers $850,000 to drop the suit.
The settlement, reached on November 13, 1998, did not include an admission of guilt or an apology from Clinton. Clinton’s lawyer said that the President made the settlement only so he could end the lawsuit for good and move on with his life, while Jones and her lawyers said that the payment was evidence of Clinton’s guilt.
Despite the substantial headline figure, Jones received far less than $850,000 personally. After paying legal fees, taxes, and other expenses, she reportedly saw only about $150,000 of the settlement money. This financial reality would force her to seek additional income sources in the years that followed.
Paula Jones Today
As of 2025, Paula Jones, now Paula Jones-McFadden, is living the life she always wanted. She has largely retreated from public life and enjoys a quiet existence with her husband and family in Arkansas.
Paula Jones McFadden works in real estate in Little Rock, and she and her husband are reported to live in Cabot (Lonoke County). This modest career choice reflects her desire to live a normal life away from the spotlight that once consumed her.
Jones remarried in 2001 to Steven Mark McFadden, finding personal happiness after her first marriage ended in divorce in 1999 amid the stress and publicity of the Clinton scandal. She credits her current husband with her current state of bliss.
In recent years, Jones has occasionally reflected on her experience. In interviews over the years, Jones has expressed frustration that her life was so deeply affected by her decision to come forward, saying that while she received some financial compensation, it came at the cost of privacy and peace of mind. However, she has also expressed pride in standing up for herself and believes her case shed important light on issues of accountability for powerful individuals.
Her story gained renewed attention in 2021 when actress Annaleigh Ashford portrayed her in the FX series “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” which focused on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. While Jones did not profit directly from the series, it reintroduced her story to a new generation and prompted discussions about how she has been viewed by history.
Paula Jones Family
Paula Jones comes from a religious, working-class background in Arkansas. She was raised by her father, Bobby Gene Corbin, a Church of the Nazarene minister, and her mother, Delmar Lee Corbin. She grew up with two sisters, Charlotte and Lydia, in a household where faith and moral values played central roles.
Her first marriage to Stephen Jones in December 1991 produced two sons, Stephen and Preston, born in 1992 and 1996 respectively. However, the attention and turmoil that arose in the aftermath of the Clinton scandal destroyed the marriage, and their divorce was finalized in June 1999.
The dissolution of her first marriage represents one of the significant personal costs Jones paid for pursuing her lawsuit. The stress, media attention, and financial strain took a toll on her family life during a period when her children were very young.
Jones married Steven Mark McFadden on October 27, 2001, marking a new chapter in her personal life. McFadden has remained largely out of the public eye, supporting Jones as she has worked to rebuild her life and maintain privacy for their family.
Jones has expressed that her primary motivation throughout the ordeal was to provide for her sons and to teach them the importance of standing up for truth. Despite the challenges, she has maintained a close relationship with her children, who are now adults.
Paula Jones Career
Paula Jones’ professional life has been defined by two distinct chapters: before and after the lawsuit. Her early career was unremarkable but stable. After completing secretarial training, she worked various administrative positions before securing employment with the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission in March 1991.
As a document examiner for the AIDC, Jones performed clerical duties related to the commission’s work promoting economic development in Arkansas. She was a typical state employee earning a modest salary and expecting to build a conventional career in civil service.
The lawsuit fundamentally disrupted these plans. After coming forward with her allegations, Jones found it nearly impossible to return to normal employment. Her name and face were nationally recognized, and the controversy surrounding her case made many employers reluctant to hire her.
To support herself financially during and after the legal battle, Jones pursued several unconventional opportunities. In the early 2000s, Jones made headlines for appearing in entertainment projects, most notably posing for Penthouse magazine in 2000, a decision that drew criticism but offered a financial opportunity when her options were limited.
She also participated in reality television, most memorably appearing on “Celebrity Boxing” in 2002, where she lost a match to former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding. Additionally, she made various media appearances, gave interviews, and participated in documentaries about the Clinton scandal.
Eventually, Jones found stable employment in real estate, where she has worked for many years in the Little Rock area. This career has provided her with steady income and relative anonymity, allowing her to support her family while avoiding the intense scrutiny that follows more public-facing work.
Paula Jones Impeachment Role
While Paula Jones was not directly involved in President Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, her lawsuit provided the critical legal foundation that made the impeachment possible. The Paula Jones case provided the impetus for Independent Counsel Ken Starr to broaden his ongoing investigation into Clinton’s pre-presidency financial dealings with the Whitewater Land Company.
The connection between Jones’ civil lawsuit and Clinton’s impeachment came through the discovery process. As part of building her case, Jones’ attorneys sought to establish a pattern of behavior by Clinton involving inappropriate relationships with subordinates. This led them to investigate other women, including White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
During his January 1998 deposition in the Jones case, Clinton was asked under oath about his relationship with Lewinsky. He denied having sexual relations with her, a statement that would later be proven false. This testimony provided the basis for perjury charges against the president.
Judge Susan Webber Wright found Clinton in contempt of court for “intentionally false” testimony in Jones v. Clinton and fined him $90,000. She also referred the matter to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which subsequently suspended Clinton’s law license.
Independent Counsel Ken Starr used Clinton’s false testimony in the Jones deposition as a central component of his case for impeachment. The House of Representatives impeached Clinton on December 19, 1998, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, both stemming largely from statements he made in connection with the Jones lawsuit.
The case resulted in Clinton’s impeachment in the House of Representatives and subsequent acquittal by the Senate on February 12, 1999. While Clinton survived the impeachment trial, his presidency was permanently marked by the scandal that began with Paula Jones’ decision to file her lawsuit.
The landmark Supreme Court decision in Clinton v. Jones also established important legal precedent, ruling that sitting presidents are not immune from civil litigation for acts committed before taking office. This principle has had lasting implications for presidential accountability.
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Paula Jones Clinton Scandal
The Clinton scandal involving Paula Jones represents one of the most significant political controversies in modern American history, intertwining issues of sexual harassment, presidential accountability, and the abuse of power.
The scandal began with a private alleged incident in a hotel room but evolved into a constitutional crisis that consumed American politics for years. Jones’ allegations against Clinton focused attention on issues of workplace harassment and the vulnerability of employees when powerful individuals exploit their positions.
Initially, many observers questioned Jones’ motives and credibility. Some dismissed her as a political pawn of Clinton’s conservative opponents, while others questioned why she waited years to come forward. However, as more information emerged about Clinton’s relationships with other women, public perception began to shift.
The scandal expanded dramatically when the Monica Lewinsky affair came to light through the Jones case discovery process. What began as a sexual harassment claim by a former state employee evolved into a multi-year investigation involving independent counsels, congressional committees, and ultimately impeachment proceedings.
The media coverage of the scandal was intense and often invasive. Jones found herself subjected to intense scrutiny, with reporters examining every aspect of her life, background, and motivations. This attention took a significant toll on her personal life, contributing to the breakdown of her marriage and making it difficult for her to find employment.
The broader cultural impact of the Jones case cannot be overstated. It sparked national conversations about sexual harassment in the workplace, the accountability of powerful men, and the treatment of women who come forward with allegations. In many ways, Jones’ case prefigured the #MeToo movement by more than two decades.
Despite receiving a settlement, Jones has repeatedly stated that money was never her primary motivation. She has consistently maintained that she wanted acknowledgment of what happened to her and an apology, neither of which Clinton ever provided. Jones continues to maintain that Clinton sexually harassed her. Clinton continues to deny it.
Conclusion
Paula Jones’ journey from small-town Arkansas civil servant to central figure in a presidential scandal represents one of the most dramatic personal stories in modern American political history. Her decision to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against a sitting president required extraordinary courage and came at tremendous personal cost.
With an estimated net worth of $700,000 to $1 million in 2025, Jones has achieved modest financial stability, though far less than many assumed given the $850,000 settlement. Her story illustrates the complex realities faced by ordinary individuals who find themselves at the center of major political controversies.
Today, Paula Jones lives quietly in Arkansas, working in real estate and focusing on her family. While she will forever be associated with the Clinton scandal, she has successfully rebuilt her life away from the spotlight. Her case established important legal precedents regarding presidential accountability and contributed to broader conversations about sexual harassment and power dynamics in American society.
Whether viewed as a courageous whistleblower or a controversial figure, Paula Jones’ impact on American history is undeniable. Her willingness to confront one of the most powerful men in the world helped establish the principle that no one, not even the president, is above the law.
