Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump‘s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has disclosed significant financial details ahead of his confirmation hearing. The financial disclosures, released on Wednesday, reveal that Kennedy has millions in debt but also expects substantial income from book deals.
Kennedy reported debts of $610,000 to $1.2 million on his American Express card, up to three mortgages totaling between $2.25 million and $10.5 million, and other loans, including one as large as $500,000. Despite these debts, he has earned over $11 million in the past two years and anticipates receiving $2 million to $4 million more in book advances. The book deals are for two works with Skyhorse Publishing in New York: “Unsettled Science” and “A Defense for Israel.”
Nearly $9 million of Kennedy’s recent income came from his law firm, Kennedy and Madonna, LLP, which is now called Madonna and Madonna, LLP. In a letter dated January 21, Kennedy informed the U.S. Office of Government Ethics that he would sever ties with the firm and other income sources if confirmed as HHS Secretary to avoid conflicts of interest. He received his final payment from the firm in May 2024.
Kennedy also disclosed that he plans to continue receiving legal fees from Wisner Baum, a firm suing the maker of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil. “Upon confirmation, I will retain an interest in contingency fee cases that do not involve claims against the United States and in which the United States is not a party and does not have a direct and substantial interest,” he wrote.
Kennedy earned $856,559 in referral fees from Wisner and $326,056 in salary and benefits from Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit that has filed lawsuits against federal agencies, including some he would oversee as secretary. In December, Kennedy resigned as chairman and chief legal counsel for Children’s Health Defense after being nominated to head HHS.
Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, expressed gratitude for Kennedy’s past contributions and wished him well in his new role. “We are grateful for Bobby’s past contributions and commitment to Children’s Health Defense and to the millions of children harmed by toxic exposures,” she said. “We look forward to all that we know he will work to accomplish as he moves into this powerful government position.”
Kennedy also listed income from stocks, endorsements, speaking fees, and residuals connected to his wife, Cheryl Hines, known for her work on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Hines receives residuals from shows and movies like “Friends,” “Herbie,” “Waitress,” “The Conners,” “The Flight Attendant,” and “A Bad Moms Christmas.” She also received a $600,000 advance to write her memoir, “My Shade of Crazy.”
Kennedy’s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 29.
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