Supreme Court Justices' Lucrative Side Incomes: A Look at Their Book Earnings and Teaching Positions
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett earned close to $850,000 last year from her bestselling book on the law, titled "Listening to the Law." This income surpassed her government salary, making her one of the several millionaire authors on the bench. In addition to her book earnings, Barrett received $425,000 as an advance for the memoir in 2021. She also made over $33,000 as an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Law, her alma mater, in addition to her government salary of $303,600 in 2025, bringing her total income for the year to about $1.2 million.
Justice Barrett's book success is not unique among the Supreme Court justices. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reported the highest outside income last year, earning $1.2 million in book royalties from her book "Lovely One," published in 2024. Barrett and Jackson were the most active in promoting their books, with Barrett attending nine events on her book tour and Jackson attending 15. Justice Neil Gorsuch earned $300,000 in royalties from two companies and is also the co-author of a children's book titled "Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence." Justice Sonia Sotomayor, known for her children's books, made $88,000 from royalties.
Justice Samuel Alito, who received an extension to file his annual report, has a book set to be released in October titled "So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution, the Court, and Our Country." The income from this book will be disclosed in 2027. Many of the justices also reported income from teaching at law schools, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justice Clarence Thomas all earning additional income from teaching positions.
Aside from their government salaries and side income, the Supreme Court justices may have accumulated wealth from their law careers. Their net worths, estimated by Forbes in 2025, exceed their government salaries. The official disclosures do not include the value of their primary homes or pensions. Justice Barrett's success as an author adds to the diverse sources of income among the justices, showcasing their accomplishments beyond their judicial roles.