Kari Lake, the former television broadcaster and 2022 gubernatorial candidate, has become the GOP’s Senate nominee in Arizona. In addition to her political aspirations, Lake has also been making extra money through paid speaking engagements. Recently, she received $20,000 to appear at the St. Joseph County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in South Bend, Indiana. This payment is just one of several that Lake has earned from speaking events before announcing her Senate campaign.
Lake previously disclosed that she earned $75,000 from paid speeches before announcing her Senate campaign. However, this conflicts with earlier statements from her campaign that she did not charge speaking fees. Additionally, Lake made an additional $27,738.77 from sales of her book “Unafraid” within five months of its release. Her disclosure revealed details of her agreement with right-wing publisher Winning Team Publishing, which included a $100,000 advance and 25% of net profits beyond that.
While many politicians monetize their public profiles through book sales and speaking engagements, Lake has faced criticism for spending extensive time out of state while aiming to secure a Senate seat in Arizona. Despite not having won an election yet, Lake’s celebrity status and wealth have allowed her to profit from various endeavors while pursuing political power.
Lake’s assets largely remained unchanged since January except for an addition to her stock portfolio that included shares in Trump Media & Technology Group. The company operates the former president’s “Truth Social” platform. Once Lake secures the GOP nomination, she will face Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in a pivotal election to determine Senate control.
Overall, Kari Lake’s ability to earn money through various means highlights the growing trend among politicians to monetize their public profiles for personal gain while running for office.