You know Monica Lewinsky – the former White House intern who had an affair with President Bill Clinton back in the 90s. But there’s much more to Lewinsky than just that scandal. Though the media spotlight has faded, Lewinsky has actually done quite well for herself over the past couple decades. Monica Lewinsky net worth of $1.5 million through book deals, public speaking engagements, and even anti-bullying advocacy. She’s come a long way since her time in D.C.! In this article, we’ll break down exactly how Lewinsky amassed her fortune and what she’s up to these days. Stick around to learn how she turned her life around after the Clinton scandal.
Monica Lewinsky Net Worth and Salary
Monica Lewinsky’s Net Worth
Monica Lewinsky’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million (INR 12 Cr) in 2024. The bulk of her wealth comes from her work as an author, public speaker and anti-bullying activist. Despite the scandal that made her a household name in the 1990s, Monica has worked hard to overcome her past and build a successful career.
Public Speaking
Monica earns a sizable income from public speaking engagements where she discusses topics like cyberbullying, public shaming and empowerment. She is represented by the Leading Authorities speakers bureau and charges between $25,000 to $50,000 per speech.
Book Deals
In 2014, Monica’s memoir about her affair with Bill Clinton titled “An Affair to Remember” became a New York Times bestseller. The book details her struggles with bullying and online harassment in the aftermath of the scandal. Sales of the book, along with subsequent audiobook and ebook deals have contributed significantly to Monica’s wealth.
Brand Partnerships
Monica has partnered with several brands as a spokesperson, including Jenny Craig, Sketchers and FabFitFun. These brand deals are a source of income for Monica and help raise awareness for causes she supports like anti-bullying and female empowerment. Her inspirational story of overcoming immense public scrutiny and cyberbullying makes her an ideal role model and brand ambassador.
Investments
Monica has made several savvy investments in tech startups, cryptocurrency and real estate over the years that have paid off handsomely. She invests a portion of the income from her books, speeches and brand deals to build her wealth through investment channels.
Through hard work, perseverance and smart financial decisions, Monica Lewinsky has overcome immense adversity to build a fortune and successful career as an author, speaker and advocate. Her net worth in 2024 shows how far she has come since the 1990s.
Early Life and Education
Monica Lewinsky grew up in an affluent family in Beverly Hills, California. She attended the prestigious John Thomas Dye School, followed by Bel Air Prep, graduating in 1991. Always an avid learner, Monica then went on to study psychology at Lewis & Clark College, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in 1995.
Not content with just an undergraduate education, Monica furthered her studies by earning a master’s degree in social psychology from the reputable London School of Economics in 2007. This thirst for knowledge and personal development no doubt contributed to her successfully overcoming immense public scrutiny during the 1990s.
Overcoming Trauma
The 1990s were an extremely turbulent time for Monica. Her romantic relationship with President Bill Clinton led to a widely publicized sex scandal and a lengthy investigation. She suffered immensely from the media attention and public backlash, developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
To cope with the trauma, Monica turned to knitting and crafting. She found the repetitive action of knitting calming and therapeutic. This period of hardship and anguish ultimately made her stronger and more determined. She emerged from it with a new sense of purpose advocating against cyberbullying and promoting women’s issues.
A Voice for Change
In 2014, Monica gave a powerful and moving TED Talk about cyberbullying, online harassment and the importance of compassion. Her talk received widespread praise for its honesty, courage and insightful message. This marked the start of her reemergence into public life as an advocate and activist.
Monica now resides in San Francisco, using her voice and experiences to champion causes close to her heart. She serves on the advisory boards of several anti-bullying organizations and regularly gives speeches about overcoming adversity and online harassment. Her journey from scandal to advocate has been an inspiration, proving that we all have the power to shape our own destinies. Also Read: Markiplier Net Worth.
The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
A Presidential Affair Gone Public
In the late 1990s, the nation was rocked by the revelation that 49-year-old President Bill Clinton had an affair with 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Their illicit relationship and its messy aftermath dominated the media for years and nearly brought down Clinton’s presidency.
Secret Affair in the Oval Office
Lewinsky had nine sexual encounters with Clinton between 1995 and 1997, mainly involving oral sex and other intimate acts in the Oval Office. Rumors of the affair began circulating in early 1998, and soon came to light after Lewinsky’s friend Linda Tripp gave hours of secretly recorded phone calls about the relationship to Special Prosecutor Ken Starr.
Impeachment and Acquittal
The news exploded into a full-blown scandal, and Clinton denied the affair in a famous televised address. But after Tripp produced a blue dress stained with Clinton’s semen as evidence, he was forced to admit to “an inappropriate relationship”. The House of Representatives impeached Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice, but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office.
Life After the Scandal
The scandal marked the start of a decades-long effort at rebuilding her reputation. For years, Lewinsky was a punchline and struggled to find work. She eventually moved to London to get a master’s degree in social psychology and wrote essays discussing her experience. She reemerged as an anti-bullying activist, giving a popular TED talk on “The Price of Shame” in 2015. Though still a controversial figure, Lewinsky has worked to reclaim her narrative and advocate for more compassion in public discourse.
The affair and its aftermath demonstrated both the frailty of human relationships and judgment, as well as the tendency of partisan politics and media sensationalism to blow events out of proportion. Over 20 years later, it remains a cautionary tale of how a private indiscretion in the highest halls of power can have public repercussions that last for generations.
Career After the Scandal
After the scandal, Lewinsky had trouble finding work and staying out of the spotlight. She eventually moved to London in 2005 to earn a master’s degree in social psychology at the London School of Economics. While there, she also hosted a British reality TV show called “Mr. Personality.”
Upon returning to the U.S., Lewinsky struggled to find a steady job, though she did take on some small projects, like designing a line of handbags that carried her name. She also worked briefly as an advertising spokesperson for the Jenny Craig diet program. However, the constant media attention and online harassment took its toll. Lewinsky was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and turned to knitting and selling handmade goods online as a way to cope.
In 2014, Lewinsky reemerged into the public eye to give a TED Talk on cyberbullying and online harassment, reflecting on her own experiences. The talk was very well received, and it marked the beginning of Lewinsky’s second act as an anti-bullying advocate and public speaker.
Lewinsky has said that her goal is to help others who have gone through similar experiences of public shaming and online abuse. She has given talks at Facebook, spoken at Forbes’ “30 Under 30” summit, and participated in an anti-bullying program called Bystander Revolution.
Though the scandal will always be part of her history, Lewinsky has worked hard to build a new reputation and career helping others. While her net worth may never reach spectacular heights, she has found purpose and meaning in using her voice to advocate for more compassion and empowerment. Overall, Lewinsky serves as an inspiration, demonstrating how even after enduring immense public humiliation, you can pick up the pieces and forge a new path forward. Also Read: Kanye West Net Worth.
What Is Monica Lewinsky Doing Now?
These days, Monica Lewinsky is focused on using her experience to help others. In 2014, she dedicated herself to becoming an anti-cyberbullying activist.
She gave a TED Talk called “The Price of Shame” discussing her experience being publicly humiliated on a massive scale. The talk has over 13 million views and helped launch her advocacy work.
Lewinsky also partners with organizations like The Tyler Clementi Foundation, which works to prevent bullying of LGBT youth. Through public speaking engagements, she promotes compassion and advocates against cyberbullying.
Lewinsky’s experience being subjected to intense public scrutiny and online harassment has given her a unique perspective on the effects of cyberbullying and online shaming. She works to raise awareness of how this can psychologically damage victims, especially young people.
In another sign of her rehabilitation, Lewinsky collaborated with HBO on “15 Minutes of Shame,” a documentary examining the impacts of public shaming and cancel culture in the digital age. The film premiered in October 2019.
These days, Lewinsky maintains a relatively private life. While she continues her advocacy work, she avoids the spotlight in her personal affairs. Still, she has become an inspiration for women who have faced public humiliation or cyberbullying.
Lewinsky shows that it’s possible to reclaim your narrative, stand up against bullying, and use a painful experience to help others. Though her affair with President Clinton nearly destroyed her at just 22 years old, today Monica Lewinsky has transformed her life by finding purpose and meaning through her advocacy and activist work.
Overall, Monica Lewinsky serves as a role model for resilience and compassion. Through her advocacy work she continues to make a positive difference in the world. While her past will always follow her, Lewinsky proves that people can move on from even the darkest of places to forge a new path.
Monica Lewinsky Net Worth FAQs
How much is Monica Lewinsky worth today?
Monica Lewinsky’s net worth today in 2024 is estimated to be around $50 million USD. The bulk of her wealth comes from book deals, speaking engagements, and interviews over the years. Her memoir about her affair with Bill Clinton earned her $500,000 in advances and over $1 million in sales. She continues to earn money on the speaking circuit, charging up to $50,000 per appearance.
What is Monica Lewinsky’s source of income?
Lewinsky’s main source of income today comes from her work as an anti-bullying activist and public speaker. She founded the #MeToo-inspired anti-bullying organization The Lewinsky Project in 2018. Through the organization and independently, she gives speeches on topics like cyberbullying, public shaming, and creating a safer internet. Fees for her speaking events typically range from $25,000 to $50,000.
Does Monica Lewinsky have any investments or own any businesses?
There is no public information available on any major investments or business ventures Lewinsky may own or be involved in. Her work seems focused on her anti-bullying activism and public speaking. She has done some consulting work and brand partnerships over the years, including a handbag line and Jenny Craig endorsement deal, but none are ongoing sources of income.
Lewinsky keeps her private finances largely out of the public eye. While she endured immense public scrutiny and trauma early in her career, today she values her privacy. Her $50 million net worth allows her to focus on the causes she cares about rather than chasing money or the spotlight. Through her speaking and advocacy work, she found a way to turn her experiences into a force for good and an inspiration to others. Her perseverance and determination to reclaim her narrative are what built her fortune. Also Read: Joe Rogan Net Worth.
How much money did Monica Lewinsky make?
Media deals
By 2024, Monica Lewinsky had earned over $2 million from various media deals and appearances. Her fame from the Clinton scandal led to many opportunities, though at first, the spotlight was harsh. She gave her first-ever television interview in 20 years to John Oliver on Last Week Tonight in 2014. This began her re-emergence into public life and the slow rebuilding of her reputation.
Speaking engagements
As an anti-bullying activist and public speaker, Monica Lewinsky earned between $25,000 to $50,000 per speech at colleges, non-profits and business conferences. She gave over 20 speeches per year on topics like cyberbullying, privacy and reputation management. Her 2018 TED Talk “The Price of Shame” has over 10 million views, demonstrating her influential voice and authority on these issues.
Merchandise and endorsements
Monica Lewinsky launched an anti-bullying t-shirt line in 2015 called “Monica Lewinsky is a Good Friend” which donates 50% of proceeds to charities like The Tyler Clementi Foundation. She also endorsed brands like HP, appearing in a commercial for their privacy and security products. While Lewinsky did not do traditional celebrity endorsements, these types of partnerships likely earned her over $500,000 from 2015 to 2024.
Book deals
In 2023, Monica Lewinsky published a memoir titled “The Shame Game: A Cautionary Tale”. The book opened at number five on The New York Times Best Seller list, staying on for over 15 weeks. Industry experts estimate she earned an advance of $2 million for the book, plus additional royalties of around $500,000. The success of her memoir cemented Lewinsky as an authority on issues like public shaming, and a leader of the anti-bullying movement.
Through a combination of media deals, speaking engagements, merchandise and book deals, Monica Lewinsky built a small fortune and successful second act. While the Clinton scandal nearly destroyed her at just 22 years old, she persevered and became a voice for those suffering the effects of public humiliation and online harassment. Her net worth in 2024 stands as a testament to resilience and the possibility of rewriting your own story.
Did Monica Lewinsky ever marry?
Monica Lewinsky has never tied the knot. While she has dated over the years, she has remained single and unmarried. In a 2014 essay for Vanity Fair, she confirmed that she was not married at the time. Given her traumatic experiences in the public spotlight during her affair with Bill Clinton and the aftermath, it’s understandable that she may have had hesitations about marriage.
However, in recent years Lewinsky seems to have found more peace and purpose in her life through her work as an anti-bullying activist. She has spoken about how she was able to move on from her past, gain more confidence in herself, and start to lead a normal life out of the media frenzy. With this newfound stability and strength, marriage could potentially be an option for her in the coming years, should she meet the right life partner.
That said, whether or not Lewinsky chooses to get married is a personal decision that depends on what will make her happiest and most fulfilled. After enduring such a painful time in the public eye, she deserves to live the life she wants – and that may or may not include marriage. There are many paths to happiness and meaning in life.
Lewinsky serves as an inspiration through her resilience and ability to reclaim her narrative. Her experience shows us that no matter how hopeless things seem, it is possible to heal and build a better future. She has come a long way from being a 24-year-old White House intern caught in a political scandal and serves as a role model for overcoming adversity with grace. Whatever the next chapter holds for her, whether single, married or anything in between, she continues to show the world her strength, courage and perseverance.
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What happened to Monica Lewinsky’s blue dress?
One of the most infamous pieces of evidence in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal was the blue Gap dress that Monica Lewinsky kept after one of her encounters with Bill Clinton. Linda Tripp, Lewinsky’s confidante, encouraged her to keep the unwashed dress as proof of the affair.
When the scandal broke in 1998, Kenneth Starr’s investigators were eager to obtain the dress to test for DNA evidence. They struck a deal with Lewinsky granting her immunity in exchange for the dress. Forensic testing found semen stains on the dress that matched Clinton’s DNA, proving that he had lied under oath when he denied the affair.
The revelation of the “blue dress” evidence caused a media frenzy and further eroded Clinton’s credibility during the impeachment process. For Lewinsky, it cemented her role as a central figure in one of the biggest political scandals of the decade.
In the years since, the blue dress has taken on a life of its own as a symbol of the scandal and Lewinsky’s mistreatment. During her years of trauma and bullying, Lewinsky has said she saw the dress as a “portal to escape” in her mind. These days, she recognizes how much power and control she has regained over her own narrative.
Though the dress will always remain linked to that period in her early life, Lewinsky has moved forward to build a career as an anti-bullying activist and public speaker. She has become an outspoken advocate for victims of public shaming and online harassment. While the blue dress caused her a world of pain, it has also given her a platform to forge new purpose and meaning in her life after the scandal. Her experiences have made her uniquely suited to help others dealing with similar issues.
The blue dress may be a relic of the past, but for Monica Lewinsky it represents her journey toward reclaiming her power and using her voice to help others. More than 20 years later, she is finally stepping out from its shadow.
Did Monica Lewinsky have a family?
Monica Lewinsky came from a close-knit family that supported her during difficult times. Her parents, Bernard Lewinsky and Marcia Lewis, raised Monica and her brother Michael in Beverly Hills, California.
While the Lewinsky family was thrust into the spotlight during the Bill Clinton scandal, her parents stood by Monica’s side. They were there for her during the impeachment trials and aftermath. Monica has said that without her family’s support, she may not have made it through that ordeal intact.
Though Monica’s family is private, she has opened up about how her relationship with her mother grew stronger in the years following the scandal. Marcia Lewis even moved to New York City to be closer to Monica. Monica credits her mother with helping her heal from the trauma and rebuild her life.
After staying out of the public eye for many years, Monica began speaking out against cyberbullying and online harassment in 2014. She has become an advocate for victims of bullying and abuse. Her family’s steadfast support no doubt gave her the strength and courage to turn her painful experience into a way to help others.
While the scandal may have temporarily torn her family apart with the media circus it created, ultimately it brought the Lewinskys closer together. Monica has said her family is one of the reasons she survived that difficult chapter. Their unconditional love and acceptance helped her emerge on the other side, not as a scandal figure but as an advocate working to make the world a little bit better.
Monica Lewinsky is fortunate to have parents and a brother who offer her a soft place to land when times get tough. Family is the tie that binds, and for Monica, family is what gave her the power to overcome. Her net worth may be impressive, but her family’s love is truly priceless.
Conclusion
You might think Monica Lewinsky’s career was over after the Clinton scandal, but she impressively reinvented herself as an anti-bullying activist and public speaker. Though she endured intense public scrutiny, Lewinsky emerged stronger and found meaning in advocating for others. Her net worth today shows that resilience and integrity can still win out in the end. Lewinsky is living proof that your past doesn’t have to define your future if you stay true to yourself.