How Sarah Palin Earns $12 Million Per Year

Sarah Palin has become the darling of the right wing, flying around the country to give speeches, as well as signing book and TV deals of historic proportions. New York magazine has detailed how she has commodified her failure as a political candidate into a big business. Some make fun of Palin for being less than perfect as a presidential candidate, but she's laughing all the way to the bank. Most would not guess that Palin rakes in an estimated $12 million per year, which is on par with many NBA athletes. The breakdown of the Palin financial empire is as follows:

-$1 million per year as a Fox News contributor. Palin has a 3-year deal with Fox and may even get her own show.
-$7 million book deal with Harper-Collins. Palin's first book for the company sold 2.2 million copies, and she is planning a second one.
-$2 million for her TLC Show. She gets $250,000 per episode, and TLC has bought eight of them already.
-$100,000 per speech. Colin Powell and others earn equally commanding fees, and the speaking circuit keeps Palin busy.
-$100,000 per Tea Party event. Palin gets another $18,000 to fly on a private jet to the events she attends.

In spite of Palin's bankable image, she is not taken seriously as a political candidate. She is a regular running joke on 'Saturday Night Live' and will be forever remembered as the candidate who doesn't read and doesn't know that Africa is a continent. A poll conducted last month by the Washington Post found that 71 percent of all conservative Republicans approve of Palin, as do 60 percent of Tea Partiers. However, the nation as a whole gives her only a 37 percent approval rating, with 55 percent of all Americans disapproving of her.

Palin's proven role as a prime financial commodity may open her up to career opportunities outside of the realm of mainstream politics. She could become similar to Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly or Glenn Beck -- individuals who could never be elected to office but have become strong political voices. What's more, there is a role for Palin as a woman with a prominent conservative voice that raises above the quality of that provided by individuals like Ann Coulter.

All the while we must wonder if either Ann or Sarah gives the conservative woman the kind of intelligent voice she deserves. Only time will tell. In the meantime, Palin will keep cashing those big checks.

Lawrence Watkins is the CEO of The Great Gospel Speakers Bureau. For more information, please visit LawrenceWatkins.com.