Obamas Made $4.2 Million, Thanks to Barack Books

2008_04_obamareturn.jpg

The Democratic presidential candidates have just wrapped up their debate, but right before the debate, Barack Obama released his and his wife Michelle's tax returns for 2007, showing they made $4,238,165 last year. Most of it--$3,943,378--was from royalties from Obama's books.

The couple made $260,735 in salaried income and Michelle Obama also earned about $30,000 for sitting on the board of food producer TreeHouse Foods; she left the position, per ABC News, after complaints "TreeHouse is a supplier to Wal-Mart, and Barack Obama has criticized some of Wal-Mart's policies and treatment of employees." They also donated $240,370 to charity (including $26,270 to Trinity United Church of Christ and $50,000 to the United Negro College fund) and ended up paying $1.4 million in taxes.

The couple reported almost $1 million in income for 2006 (you can download their 2000-2006 returns here; here's a PDF of the 2007 return). Two weeks ago, the Clintons released their 2000-2007 returns showing $109 million in income.

Email This Entry


Comments (11) [rss]

that is significantly less than the 150 mill the clintons made.

so like, yeah...

this post is stupid.

user-pic

The $150mm the clintons made was over a period of ten years. Just to correct you.

I chose to donate to the United Whitey Community College Fund this year.

user-pic

Nice of the them both to contribute $3 to the presidential election campaign.

Didn't Michael Jackson donate money to the Ignited Negro College Fund also? It was right after he did that Pepsi commercial if I remember right.

Poor Michelle - her pay from Treehouse has progressively shrank from 51K, through 45K to mere 30K in 3 years, nevermind annual 7,500 Treehouse stock options, worth a further $72,375. She can hardly afford Jimmy Choos & diamond jewelry in this evil country. No wonder she's bitter & clings to a religion of a priest-charlatan.

user-pic

Oh hey, the well off are the ones that usually run for president. Who woulda thunk it.

John McCain is worth all of Obamas and Clintons combined.

Actually, based on their taxable income, they paid just over 37%.

user-pic
Nice of the them both to contribute $3 to the presidential election campaign.
Heh.

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

The New York State Senate on Tuesday evening voted to expel Senator Hiram Monserrate!
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us