The figure everyone's jabbering about from this week's Sarah Palin cover story in New York magazine is $12 million: her earnings over the last year. Author Gabe Sherman, marveling at the size of her treasure trove, doubts she'll ever trade this lavish lifestyle for a future political career. What's interesting is contrasting Palin's earnings with another political commentator she's frequently compared with: Glenn Beck.

Her fellow Tea Party firebrand recently got the Forbes treatment and the results were even more staggering. Dwarfing Palin's $12 million, Beck earned $32 million over the last year. Here's the breakdown of their respective earnings:

• Palin Inc.  In May 2009 she signed a $7 milllion book deal with Harper Collins. In January she signed a $1 million deal with Fox News to provide commentary over the next three years. In March, she reportedly sold her wildlife show to TLC for $1 million per episode. On top of that, she brings in $100,000 per speech for a whopping $12 million over the last 10 months

• Beck Inc.  Forbes' Lacey Rose succinctly tallies up the $32 million haul:

He gets $13 million a year from print (books plus the ten-issue-a-year magazine Fusion). Radio brings in $10 million. Digital (including a newsletter, the ad-supported Glennbeck.com and merchandise) pulls in $4 million. Speaking and events are good for $3 million and television for $2 million.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at jhudson at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
John Hudson