Pundits can debate the political costs and benefits of Sarah Palin’s decision to step down as Alaska governor, but the monetary advantages of leaving her $125,000-a-year public service post are beyond dispute.
Since leaving office at the end of July 2009, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee has brought in at least 100 times her old salary -- a haul now estimated at more than $12 million -- through television, book deals and a heavy schedule of speaking appearances worth five and six figures.
The amounts are a conservative estimate based on publicly available records and news accounts.
Palin does not publicize her earnings, and has managed to keep a lid on reliable figures for her earnings from a multi-year contract with Fox News and a second book deal with HarperCollins.
A Palin aide responding to questions from ABC News said the governor “is now a private citizen. As a result, her fees and earnings are private.”
A picture of my cave
..
..
