General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I wish we could talk sanely about the Clintons and their long history [View all]MineralMan
(146,308 posts)I'll wait here.
The most I've ever been paid for speaking to corporate audiences was $1000, plus expenses. Of course, I wasn't a former POTUS or Secretary of State. Just a lowly contributing editor of a computer magazine. Now, I would have asked more, but then I wouldn't have gotten the gig.
If you've been a head of state or a leading diplomat, you get far more requests to speak than you can possibly manage, so you can earn a lot doing it. It's a nice job, if you can get it. Easy, too. Once you get over the stage fright thing, standing up and talking about a subject you know intimately is a breeze.
Very few people can command six figures for a speech. Even fewer than can get it for a musical performance or a sporting event. More power to them. Being President or SOS doesn't pay all that well, really, and the tenure is brief.