Washington ? This White House, like others before it, has its share of fat cats. But some of President Bush’s top aides are much better off than others.

Compare, for example, Karl Rove and Karen Hughes, the White House staffers closest to the president’s ear.

President Bush receives an honorary Doctor of Public Administration at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The president's staff disclosed financial assets Friday.

Political adviser Rove owns mutual funds, government securities and real estate worth $2 million to $4.5 million, according to financial disclosure forms released Friday. The reports, which cover 2001, require administration officials to reveal their finances only in broad ranges.

Hughes, meanwhile, is one of the most influential female White House aides in history but has relatively modest means. The presidential counselor, who is resigning in July, listed assets of $324,000 to $788,000, with the biggest chunk her family’s home in Austin, Tex., which is being rented out until they return. Her husband, Jerry, reported $15,000 to $50,000 in oil and gas royalties from Phillips Petroleum.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s assets were among the lowest of senior White House officials reported as being between $69,000 and $405,000. Ridge, the homeland security director, did pick up a large chunk of change $50,000 to $100,000 for the sale of his half interest in a North Palm Beach Garden, Fla., property.

Mary Matalin, an adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, doesn’t have the influence of Hughes or Ridge but she does have more money. Between her own assets and joint holdings with her husband, Democratic operative James Carville including a Washington restaurant Matalin reported being worth at least $3.5 million. In addition, Carville made $871,000 in speaking fees last year.

Another of the top Bush staffers with holdings in the much-more-than-comfortable range is Dan Bartlett, the 30-year-old White House whiz kid who became communications director last fall and is Bush’s longest continuously serving aide. Bartlett had between $660,500 and $2.1 million in assets, much of in shares of First Midwest Bancorp, which his grandfather founded.

White House lobbyist Nick Calio also is doing well. He received $250,000 to $500,000 for the sale of his partnership in a Washington consulting firm and has numerous other holdings, including at least $15,000 in Exxon stock and $15,000 to $50,000 in EMC Corp. stock. The Exxon stock was inherited by his wife in 2001.

However, the daily public face of the White House, press secretary Ari Fleischer, listed $72,000 to $257,000 in assets that yielded minimal outside income.

Fleischer was one of the few senior aides to report high-dollar gifts. He listed a “Man of the Year” Award from the Westchester Republican Committee in White Plains, N.Y., valued, along with dinner and travel, at $1,230.