Six-Figure Conservative Speaker Fees: Reasonable or Outrageous?

Would you believe me if I told you that Jordan Peterson charges more than four times what the average American makes in one year for one speaking engagement?

One key avenue through which political pundits earn a living and gain name recognition is through speaking tours. Characters like Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk are widely known for appearing on college campuses and debating blue-haired leftist students. These B-list celebrities also travel across the country to speak at conservative conventions, such as CPAC, TPUSA’s AmericaFest or Moms for Liberty. 

You may be shocked to discover how much these appearances can cost.

Of course, there are many speakers who have reasonable fees, given the value of their time and the cost of travel, security, and accommodation. But there are a few speakers who request a fee in a totally different category.

To get psychologist and best-selling author, Jordan Peterson, to speak at your college campus or conservative event, it will cost an estimated $200,000- $300,000.

No doubt, Peterson’s time is worth a lot because any time spent travelling or speaking at an event could otherwise be spent generating income through his various business ventures. But it might make readers question if telling young men to stand up straight with their shoulders back is a genuine passion of his if it takes over a hundred thousand dollars to convince him to speak with them directly.

Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro is another high-demand speaker who charges more for a one-hour lecture than what most people make in a year. One of his talent agencies says that booking him may cost anywhere from $150,000-$300,000. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's speaking fees range from $200,000- $300,000. At first glance, these numbers might seem completely outrageous. But it's important to deduce why the fees are so high, and where the money is coming from.

To further put the speaker fees in perspective, here is a Reddit thread from six-years ago in which people were questioning whether $50,000 was an ethical fee.

It's safe to assume that these speaking fees cover the cost of overnight lodging, travel, and security. They also cover the costs of time that the speaker could be spending making money through other means. But let's look at a hypothetical scenario.

Jordan Peterson is asked to speak at a right-wing conference in New York City for an hour. The average cost for an overnight stay in a five-star hotel is about $1,500. Three quality meals and drinks may cost $300. A first-class round-trip flight from Toronto booked ahead of time, may cost as low as $700. Let's triple these costs to account for two security guards who would spend a day travelling with Peterson, and it amounts to $7,500. Now, let's add on the average daily salaries for two highly-trained security guards, $2,400, and include miscellaneous costs such as Ubers and gratuity, and we have an estimated (generous) total of $11,000. If this is accurate, it means that a high-profile speaker like Peterson would still be making over 200 grand in profits for his time.

Now, I may face criticism for bringing attention to this, as free-market capitalism is considered to be a conservative value. If there's a high enough demand for someone like Peterson to speak to fellow conservatives, what could be wrong with charging that much?

Two things to consider: the intentions of the donors who are often paying for these tours, and how conservatives have criticized political figures from the other side of the aisle such as Michelle Obama for their highly priced speaking fees.

If a college club wants to bring a high-profile speaker to campus, funds usually come from a combination of a few different avenues. The University Student Government Association may disperse a few thousand dollars for approved speaking events. Money may be raised through fundraising events like car washes or raffles, although this practice is becoming less common.

The majority of funds usually come from conservative organizations such as Turning Point USA, the Leadership Institute, or Young America's Foundation (YAF). An organization like YAF may receive a lot of large donations from affluent conservatives and grants from various corporations, but it's reasonable to assume that a significant amount comes from small, monthly donors consisting of everyday working conservative dads and grandpas. Most student YAF events feature donor dinners or luncheons, where well-intentioned baby boomers hand over their checkbooks to help move younger generations towards conservatism. How many of these donors are aware that their hefty yearly donations will only cover about ten minutes of a Ben Shapiro speech?

Ben Shapiro himself, along with other figures of the online right, has directed plenty of criticism to figures such as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton for their overpriced speaking engagements. Just take a look at these posts on X:

It's worth mentioning that not every conservative commentator demands this much for their time. The Daily Wires' Michael Knowles only charges $10,000- $15,000 if students book him through YAF, Dennis Prager, $30,000, and Dr. Ben Carson, $10,000- $15,000. However, these lower prices seem to be evidence that more well-known speaker's fees are based purely on demand and profit, not necessity.

Justifications may be made on market demand, but these exorbitant speaking fees may leave donors and supporters questioning: is the purpose of these speaking engagements to educate and inspire young conservatives, or are they just another lucrative opportunity for high-profile political figures to expand their net worth?

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