Eric Cantor Lands $1.2M Job on Wall Street

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor landed a $1.2 million job at the investment bank Moelis & Co., pulling down more money than his Tea Party-backed opponent spent defeating him in a Republican primary.

The base salary for “providing strategic counsel” to the firm: $400,000. He’s set to receive an “initial cash payment” of $400,000 and $1 million in stock, according to the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Next year Cantor’s “minimum incentive compensation” will be $1.2 million, plus $400,000 in stock. The company also will pay for Cantor to live in a “reasonable” New York apartment.

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That’s a bump from his $193,400 salary as the U.S. House majority leader. After serving in Congress since 2001 and rising to his party’s second-highest position, Cantor lost the Republican primary in his congressional district near Richmond, Virginia, in June, to a Tea Party-backed newcomer, David Brat, a college economics professor.

Political neophyte Brat spent less than $400,000 on his primary challenge to Cantor.

“When I considered options for the next chapter of my career, I knew I wanted to join a firm with a great entrepreneurial spirit that focused on its clients,” Cantor said in the company’s statement. “The new model of independent banks offering conflict-free advice, in a smaller more intimate environment, was a place where I knew my skills could help clients succeed.”

Left Congress

Cantor, 51, who resigned his House leadership post July 31, had pledged to serve out his term yet changed his mind and quit Congress effective Aug. 18.

During his seven terms in Congress, Cantor became a chief critic of President Barack Obama, fighting such White House priorities as the 2009 economic stimulus package and the 2010 health-care overhaul. Moelis said that in his new role, Cantor, who fought to lower taxes and unburden businesses from excessive regulation, will provide strategic counsel to corporate and institutional clients on key issues.

“Eric’s judgment and tremendous experience will expand the capabilities our team brings to clients around the world as he has unique expertise in assessing complex situations and crafting innovative solutions,” Ken Moelis, chairman and chief executive officer of Moelis & Co., said in the company release.

It won’t be the first payment Cantor has received from Moelis -- the firm’s chairman donated $2,600 to his campaign in April.

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Founded in 2007, Moelis opened offices in New York and Los Angeles to help clients on mergers, acquisitions and other large transactions. They have since opened offices in London, Sydney, Dubai, Frankfurt and other international locations.