Cuomo's pandemic book deal was worth $5.1M, taxes show
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo's COVID-19 pandemic book deal was worth $5.1 million, $3.12 million of which the lawmaker received last year.
Cuomo's director of communications and senior advisor, Rich Azzopardi, confirmed the figures in a statement released alongside the governor's 2020 tax returns on Monday.
"The notable change from year to year is income from [Cuomo's book] 'American Crisis.' The contract calls for payment of $3,120,000 in the last taxable year and an additional $2 million over the following 2 years," Azzopardi said.
"Net income from the $3,120,000 million payment less expenses and taxes is $1,537,508," he said.
"From that net income, the Governor donated a third to the United Way of New York State for state-wide COVID relief and vaccination effort, and is giving the remainder in a trust for his three daughters equally who worked with the Governor during this pandemic and did what he calls 'tireless and effective work for all New Yorkers' and gave him 'the strength and love to make it through the crisis every day,'" he added.
Cuomo's memoir, "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," was published last October and detailed his administration's handling of the crisis as it ravaged New York.
Approximately 50,000 hardcover copies of the book have sold since its publication, the New York Times reported.
