Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently spoke at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, to discuss and sign her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution. This event took place on September 9, 2025, while at the same time, the Supreme Court justices released their annual financial reports.
Justice Samuel Alito requested an extension for his financial report, which he has done consistently for 15 years. These disclosures don’t provide a complete financial picture of the justices but offer glimpses into various aspects of their lives, like attendance at concerts, guest professorships, and involvement in youth sports.
A significant portion of the justices’ reported income comes from book deals. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, for instance, led with earnings surpassing $1.1 million last year, accumulating about $4 million since her memoir, Lovely One, was published in 2024. Other justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, also earned from their written works. Their book earnings varied, with Barrett at $849,000, Gorsuch at $300,000, and Sotomayor at $88,000.
Justice Clarence Thomas received no publisher payments last year, although he previously secured $1.5 million for his 2007 memoir. Justice Brett Kavanaugh also reported no payments, despite contributing to a 2016 legal treatise and working on an anticipated memoir. Alito, who has a book scheduled for release in the fall, has yet to disclose his earnings pending the submission of his financial report.
Notably, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan are the only justices without published books. Many justices also earn from teaching at law schools. Roberts reported income from New England Law in Boston, while Gorsuch taught at George Mason University in Virginia. Barrett and Kavanaugh have ties to Notre Dame Law School, where they also teach.
The disclosures mention gifts, travel, and lodging received in 2025. Justices Jackson and Sotomayor were the only ones to report gifts. Jackson accepted a chamber painting valued at $2,500. Meanwhile, Sotomayor’s disclosures included a trip to Kansas City for a musical premiere based on her children’s book, Just Ask, alongside complimentary tickets in Puerto Rico worth $4,333 plus attending a Bad Bunny concert series.
Significant travel reimbursements were noted for speaking engagements and international appearances. Notably, Thomas had expenses covered by the Hoover Institution for speaking about economist Thomas Sowell. Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson also received reimbursements for similar activities. Roberts did not report any gifts or reimbursements.
Beyond their official roles, the disclosures reveal personal engagements. Kavanaugh coaches girls’ basketball teams in the D.C. area, adding depth to his role on the court. The justices earn substantial salaries with the chief justice receiving $320,700 annually and associate justices earning $306,600. While substantial, they could potentially earn more in private law firms.
Only Roberts reported holding individual stocks. Alito’s past ownership of stocks is pending confirmation upon his report submission. Generally, justices avoid owning individual stocks, preferring index and mutual funds to prevent potential conflicts of interest that necessitate recusal. However, the forms the justices complete are vague, with broad income reporting ranges. This lack of specificity obscures a full assessment of their wealth or their homes’ current values, as well as their spouses’ incomes, which in instances like Roberts’, likely exceed their own earnings.