Sarah Palin Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Sarah Palin’s Net Worth?

An American politician, author, and television pundit, Sarah Palin boasts a net worth of $8 million. She is a prominent political figure in the U.S., having campaigned for vice president alongside John McCain in 2008. Palin served as the ninth Governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009, after launching her political journey by winning a seat on the Wasilla city council and later becoming the city’s mayor in the mid-1990s.

Years afterward, Palin took on the role of chair for the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, tasked with overseeing safety and efficiency standards in Alaska’s oil fields. In 2006, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest person elected as Governor of Alaska, as well as the first female to hold this office. Following her resignation in 2009, she remained an influential figure in American politics, recognized for her support of the Tea Party movement and Donald Trump.

Beyond her political endeavors, Palin is actively engaged in the entertainment industry. She previously worked for Fox News and hosted a show titled “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” which aired on TLC. Subsequently, she launched “Amazing America with Sarah Palin.” In 2014, she attempted to start her own network called the Sarah Palin Channel, although it ceased operations within a year. Palin has also found considerable success as an author; her book “Going Rogue” has sold over two million copies globally.

Early Life

Born on February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho, Sarah Louise Heath was raised with three siblings. She was baptized as a Catholic at birth, though her family later attended non-denominational churches throughout her childhood. A few months after her birth, they moved to Skagway, Alaska, and over the subsequent years, they lived in Eagle River before finally settling in Wasilla.

While in high school, Sarah was active in music and sports, playing flute in the school band and participating in the girls’ basketball and cross-country running teams. By her senior year, she co-captained the basketball team, which won the Alaska state championship in 1982. Shortly afterward, Sarah earned the title of Miss Wasilla and finished third in the Miss Alaska pageant, receiving the “Miss Congeniality” award.

After completing high school, she enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. A year later, she transferred to North Idaho College, then to the University of Idaho in Moscow, and ultimately to Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska. Sarah returned to the University of Alaska in 1986, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1987.

Early Career

Upon graduating, Palin swiftly transitioned into journalism, taking up the role of sportscaster in Anchorage. By the late 1980s, she married her high school sweetheart, Todd Palin. In 1989, they welcomed their first child, and Sarah dedicated time to assisting her husband with his commercial fishing enterprise.

Her political journey commenced in 1992 when she secured a position on the Wasilla City Council. She had already registeredfrom being relatively unknown to winning the seat. Subsequently, Palin’s political aspirations faced further setbacks.

Governor of Alaska

Sarah began her political career as a Republican, a party she remained loyal to for over a decade. After being elected to the city council, she took on the role of mayor in 1996, managing to defeat the sitting mayor. Throughout this phase of her career, Palin was recognized for her efforts in reducing taxes and cutting unnecessary expenditures, as well as initiating multiple environmental projects.

In 2002, Palin sought the Republican nomination for Alaska’s lieutenant governor position. Although she did not win, she became a prominent figure within the Republican party and came close to securing a Senate seat. Following her endorsement of the new governor Frank Murkowski, she received multiple job offers and eventually took up a position at the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Despite lacking gas industry experience, she was eager to expand her knowledge, particularly regarding ethical issues.

By 2006, Palin successfully unseated Murkowski to become the Governor of Alaska. Her approval ratings surged initially, reaching as high as 93%. However, this popularity waned over time due to controversies, including a corruption investigation tied to a for-profit prison and a contentious initiative allowing residents to hunt wolves for bounties. Ultimately, she resigned in 2009.

John McCain Presidential Campaign

In the 2008 presidential race, Palin joined John McCain’s campaign as his running mate. Before this, she was largely unknown beyond Alaska, resulting in her previous actions receiving heightened media scrutiny.

Generally, consensus points to Palin being a detrimental vice presidential pick, potentially undermining McCain’s chances. Some have criticized McCain’s team for inadequate vetting of Palin, while others hold her accountable for her lack of preparedness and knowledge. Her time with McCain inspired the 2012 film “Game Change,” where Julianne Moore portrayed her.

After 2008

Post-2008 election, Palin became a regular face on Fox News and received her own program titled “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” In 2009, she authored the bestselling book Going Rogue: An American Life, attracting significant media attention due to her growing engagement in politics and the scrutiny of her views on various issues.

In 2017, Palin launched a defamation lawsuit against “The New York Times,” claiming their opinion piece wrongfully attributed blame to her for the 2011 shooting of politician Gabby Giffords. The case was dismissed in February 2022, as a judge determined that her team did not establish the necessary standard for defamation, known as “actual malice.”

During the summer of 2022, Palin competed in the special election for Alaska’s vacant at-large congressional seat, which had opened following Representative Don Young’s passing. She ultimately lost to Democrat Mary Peltola, marking another setback in her political journey.

In the November general election, Sarah Palin faced off against Peltola and others to complete Young’s unfinished term but ultimately lost to Peltola again.

Cameo Earnings

During a financial disclosure in May 2022, it was revealed by Sarah Palin that she earned $211,529 from the app Cameo in 2021. Additionally, the disclosure included $88,000 earned from website advertising through a corporation named Young Conservatives LLC, $40,200 for delivering a single speech, and $10,000 from participating in a bus tour for a group called Club for Growth. Her total income for the year 2021 amounted to $430,000.

Personal Life

In August 1988, Sarah and Todd Palin eloped and together, they raised five children and have eight grandchildren. Todd was employed as an oil-field production operator by BP oil company until his retirement in 2009. Furthermore, he runs a commercial fishing business. In August 2019, Todd filed for divorce from Sarah, seeking an equal division of assets and debts, along with joint custody of their son Trig. The divorce was finalized by March 2020.

Real Estate

In 2011, the couple purchased a six-bedroom home in Scottsdale, Arizona for $1.75 million, which they sold in 2016 for $2.275 million. In 2015, they acquired another property in Scottsdale for just under $1 million. Although they began construction on what was intended to be a large dream home, the project was never completed. In 2019, Sarah and Todd sold the half-built house along with the property for $6.2 million, resulting in a profit of $5.263 million over five years. They also co-own multiple properties in Alaska.