Shelby didn't get rich because he switched parties, nor did he switch parties to get rich. He switched parties to protect his seat because he knew how "red" Alabama was becoming. There are plenty of "well off" democrats in congress.When Shelby first won office as a Democrat, he had a modest net worth. He flipped parties, and lo and behold, he's now a multi-millionaire. Shelby stayed popular because of the financial "perks" he got for the state, but somehow he got rich doing it.