Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) reportedly earned $3.12 million last year from his book on running the state during the pandemic and could earn roughly another $2 million over the next two years, the New York Times reported Monday.
Why it matters: These figures come from financial disclosures released by Cuomo's office Monday afternoon, revealing that earnings from the book far eclipsed his governor's salary of about $225,000, per the Times.
- Richard Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, told the Times Monday that the governor had earned only about $1.5 million after expenses and taxes and that part of the earnings had gone to New York's COVID relief effort and into a trust for Cuomo's daughters.
The big picture: Cuomo's book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic," was published last October and became a best-seller, partly in due to Cuomo's then-popularity and frequent televised briefings during the start of the pandemic.
But, but, but: Book sales slowed this year as Cuomo became entangled in controversies regarding nursing home deaths and sexual harassment allegations.
- In March his publisher Crown halted promotion of the book and any plans for a paperback edition amid the federal investigation into New York's pandemic nursing home deaths.
Of note: According to the Times, it's not yet clear whether Crown will pay Cuomo the full amount stipulated in his contract, for more than $5 million through 2022, or whether the decision to scrap the paperback version will ultimately affect Cuomo's earnings.