Insights from Supreme Court Justices’ Financial Disclosures

On September 9, 2025, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett visited the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. She discussed her book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution, and signed copies for attendees.

While the Supreme Court issued significant rulings last week, the justices also quietly released their annual financial reports. Justice Samuel Alito was the only one to request an extension for the 15th consecutive year. These reports do not fully reveal the justices’ total income and wealth, yet they offer insights into their various activities, including attendances at concerts, roles as guest professors, and participation in youth sports.

Beyond their official salaries, much of the reported income came from book deals. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson topped the list with over $1.1 million earned last year, accumulating around $4 million since her memoir, Lovely One, appeared in 2024. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett, along with retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, also reported income from books. Barrett earned $849,000, Gorsuch $300,000, and Sotomayor $88,000 from their literary work.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who made $1.5 million from his 2007 memoir, reported no book income this year. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, known for co-authoring a legal treatise in 2016, listed no recent publisher payments. Although he plans to write a memoir, no payments have been received. Alito’s forthcoming book remains unreported due to his outstanding financial disclosure.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan are the only sitting justices without published books. Nevertheless, many justices earn additional income through teaching roles. Roberts received compensation from New England Law in Boston, while Gorsuch taught at George Mason University in Virginia. Thomas conducted classes at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and both Barrett and Kavanaugh taught at Notre Dame Law School, with Barrett having a long-standing affiliation.

Financial disclosures include gifts, travel, food, and lodging received in 2025. Jackson and Sotomayor reported gifts, with Jackson receiving a $2,500 chamber painting and Sotomayor taking a Kansas City trip for a musical premiere. Sotomayor also received complimentary concert tickets valued at $4,333 from Bad Bunny’s record label during a trip to Puerto Rico, where she has strong personal ties.

The justices detailed reimbursements for travel throughout the year. Thomas participated in an event honoring economist Thomas Sowell, with expenses covered by the Hoover Institution. Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson all reported international travel for speeches and teaching engagements. Roberts refrained from reporting any gifts or travel reimbursements this year.

Away from the bench, Justices pursue diverse activities. Kavanaugh, for instance, coaches girls’ basketball teams within a D.C.-area Catholic Youth Organization. He penned a Supreme Court decision allowing states to ban transgender women and girls from female sports teams.

Judicial salaries are set by law; the chief justice earns $320,700 annually, while associate justices receive $306,600 each. Despite these figures appearing substantial, justices and even law clerks may earn significantly more in private sector roles.

Roberts is unique among justices for owning individual stocks. Alito has previously owned stocks, but his current report is pending. Typically, justices invest in index and mutual funds to minimize conflicts of interest. Yet, the financial reporting forms lack specificity, and broad reporting ranges for investment earnings obscure the justices’ total wealth. The reports exclude home values and spouses’ incomes, important factors potentially altering perceptions of their financial status.