Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered a speech on September 9, 2025, at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. She also signed copies of her book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution.
Last week, the Supreme Court issued significant rulings. Concurrently, justices released their annual financial reports. Justice Samuel Alito requested an extension for the 15th consecutive year. These reports offer insights into the justices’ activities, including their book deals and additional earnings.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson earned over $1.1 million from her memoir Lovely One, published in 2024, accumulating roughly $4 million. Other justices earning from book deals include Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. Barrett earned $849,000, Gorsuch $300,000, and Sotomayor $88,000. Her earnings came from various works, including her autobiography and children’s books. Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh reported no earnings from books last year. Alito has an upcoming book, but details are pending his financial report submission.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan are the only sitting justices without published books. Many justices also supplement their income by teaching at law schools. Roberts earned from New England Law in Boston. Gorsuch taught at George Mason University in Virginia, while Thomas taught at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Barrett and Kavanaugh were teaching at Notre Dame Law School, where Barrett has been a faculty member for 23 years.
The disclosures include reports on gifts and travel received by the justices in 2025. Jackson received a painting for her chambers valued at $2,500. Sotomayor visited Kansas City for a musical premiere based on her book Just Ask and received tickets valued at $4,333 during a trip to Puerto Rico. These tickets from Bad Bunny’s record label coincided with his concert series in San Juan.
Significant travel reimbursements were disclosed. Thomas’ expenses related to speaking at a Hoover Institution event for economist Thomas Sowell were covered. Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson received reimbursements for international trips where they engaged in educational activities.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh reported coaching several Catholic Youth Organization girls’ basketball teams in the D.C. area, parallel to his Supreme Court responsibilities. He authored the court’s June decision permitting states to ban transgender female athletes from female sports teams.
Salaries for Supreme Court justices are legislatively defined. The chief justice earns $320,700 annually, whereas associate justices earn $306,600. Many justices and clerks could potentially earn more at private law firms.
Only Roberts reported stock investments. Alito’s past stock investments await disclosure once his extension concludes. The justices generally invest in index or mutual funds to avoid conflict of interest. However, the financial reports are nonspecific, impeding concrete wealth assessments.
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