Washington - The Clintons earned more than 109 million dollars from 2000-2007, according to the much-awaited tax returns released by the couple on Friday. Former president Bill Clinton earned nearly 52 million dollars from speeches he has made since leaving the presidency in January 2001 and nearly 30 million dollars from two books: My Life, released in 2005 and a 6-million-dollar advance for his new book, Giving.
His wife, 2008 Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton, contributed another 10 million dollars through her own earnings from two books, It Takes a Village, published in 1996, and Living History released in 2004.
The former first lady also earned more than 1 million dollars during her seven years as a New York senator.
The earnings far outstripped those of her Democratic rival Barack Obama, who last month along with his wife Michelle reported income of under 4 million dollars from 2000-2006, largely through royalties from Obama's own two books, Dreams From My Father and The Audacity of Hope.
Clinton had since been repeatedly prodded to release her own tax returns by Obama's campaign. Clinton spokesman Jay Carson responded Friday that the couple have now released more than 30 years worth of records.
"None of Hillary Clinton's presidential opponents have revealed anything close to this amount of personal financial information," Carson said in a statement.
The Clintons reported giving 10.3 million dollars to charity and paying 33.8 million dollars in taxes over the period, leaving them with an after-tax income of 57.2 million dollars.
Clinton in February announced she had loaned her own campaign 5 million dollars in a bid to keep up with the fundraising prowess of Obama.
The Illinois senator on Thursday reported raising more than 40 million dollars in the month of March, doubling the intake of Clinton ahead of the next crucial primary in Pennsylvania on April 22.
