Obamas' Income Rose Last Year to $5.5 Million
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It pays to be president.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama made $5.5 million in 2009, up from the $2.7 million they made in 2008, according to the tax returns released Thursday by the White House.
Most of the income is fueled by the proceeds of Obama's best-selling books, the White House said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Obamas paid $1.79 million in federal income tax and $163,303 in state income tax to Illinois. Last year, they paid $855,323 in federal income tax and $77,883 in state income tax to Illinois.
The Obamas reported donating $329,100 to 40 different charities. The largest reported gifts to charity were $50,000 contributions to CARE and the United Negro College Fund. Obama also donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize funds to 10 charities. As a result he did not pay taxes on that winning.