Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are two of the most famous and influential political couples in the United States. The former president’s wife is a public speaker and author who has published five books, including Becoming, which was on the New York Times bestseller list for six weeks. Meanwhile, the president has written three books, including Dreams From My Heart, which was also on the New York Times bestseller list. Together, the couple have made a combined total of seven bestseller lists, with four of those appearances being in a row. In 2020 alone, they have both been on the bestseller lists more than once.
Book Writing Is Rewarding, But It’s Not High-Growth Area
Despite their enormous influence, Barack and Michelle Obama did not become wealthy as a result of their public service. In fact, the opposite is true. In 2018, Forbes found that the Obamas earned a combined income of $40 million, largely from book royalties and speaking fees.
According to Page Six, the couple usually earns between $20,000 and $50,000 for a single speech. They have been paid as much as $100,000 for a single appearance. Similarly, they charge between $20,000 and $50,000 for an hour-long book signing. They have each signed two books for free recently, but those books have not yet been published.
Meanwhile, speaking fees and book royalties have enabled the Obamas to build a life in the spotlight that many could only dream of. They have a collection of designer clothing and accessories for which they regularly sell at auction. In addition to this, the former president owns businesses that include a bookstore and real estate investments. However, the couple have said that while they are grateful for their fortune, they have no plans to spend their money on luxuries.
Wife’s Book Sales, Husband’s Presidential Salary
It’s not just the money that the Obamas have earned from their respective books and speeches that has enabled them to live in relative luxury. The former president also reaps considerable financial rewards from his time in office. In 2021 alone, he will receive a salary of $1.5 million, with an additional $250,000 in book royalties. This is in addition to his $400,000 annual salary as a Harvard professor.
However, while Obama may have profited from the sales of his wife’s books, he certainly did not benefit alone. As the New York Times points out, much of the couple’s earnings come from corporate sponsorships and investment income. The newspaper also notes that the Obamas’ investments are not widely reported but are presumed to be worth millions.
Together, The Money And Media Power Of The Obamas
The joint earnings of the Obamas run into the millions, enabling them to live a life of luxury. According to the New York Times, the couple’s estimated combined worth is $100 million.
They have managed to build a media presence that is almost unmatched, making them the most followed political couple in the world. In 2021 alone, the two will post more than 300 million Instagram views on their joint account, @TheObamaBlog. The account is followed by 126 million people and has over 500 million views across all platforms. In 2020, they broke the record set by the royal family for the most Instagrammed pictures ever in a single day, with the most-liked post reaching 860,000. And in 2019, they were the most-liked couple on TikTok, with one of their epic dance videos reaching 11.5 million views.
This media influence is what has enabled the couple to achieve such an incredible level of success. Michelle has proven to be a skilled politician and marketer, while Barack has used his fame to secure business alliances and to advance liberal causes.
7 Bestseller Lists, 4 In A Row
With incredible business success and a life in the spotlight, it’s not difficult to see why the Obamas are so active on social media. As the New York Times points out, the couple are avid users of TikTok and Instagram. And it’s not just social media that has enabled the Obamas to cement their status as one of the most influential couples in the world.
- They have been listed among the most trusted and influential couples in the U.S. by [Vogue Magazine].
- They have been listed among the most influential people in the world by [Time Magazine].
- In 2020, Google declared that the Obamas were among the most influential people in the world, based on their work on TikTok. (Google.)
- The former president is among the most followed leaders in the world on Instagram, with almost 40 million followers. (Instagram.)
- [Wonders of Wealth Blog] ranked the Obamas’ estimated combined net worth at number 14 in its 2019 list of The World’s Most Influential Celebrity Households.
The Influential Couple In A Changing Country
It is clear that the post-pandemic world will not be the same as the one we know today. Families are changing, and how we work and play will change, too. Yet, as the pandemic demonstrates, some things will never change, and one of those things is how influential the Obamas are.
Even now, as the world tries to rebuild itself, the couple remain popular, with two of their books still on the New York Times bestseller list more than a year after publication. In the coming months and years, as the world looks to the Obamas for guidance and inspiration, they will continue to play a huge role in shaping politics and public opinion in the United States and around the world.
Despite the immense influence of the Obamas, they remain grounded and humble, grateful for their success but mindful of the privileges that come with it. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2019, Michelle Obama said, “I think it’s fair to say that we’ll never be able to shake the fact that we are the president’s wife and the First Lady of the United States. It’ll be something that we’ll always have in our lives. It’s a great privilege, but it’s also a tremendous responsibility.”