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As the Obama Presidential Center nears completion in Chicago, federal tax records reveal the Obama Foundation paid CEO Valerie Jarrett $740,000 in 2024, making her among the highest-paid leaders of any presidential foundation in the country.
The $850 million center, being built on 19.3 acres of publicly owned parkland in Chicago’s Jackson Park, has significantly expanded its operations in recent years. The foundation’s staffing has grown to 337 employees, with total salaries and benefits rising from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024. During this same period, the foundation’s annual revenue reached nearly $210 million.
Jarrett, who became CEO in 2021 after serving as one of President Obama’s closest White House advisors, is just one of several former Obama administration officials now drawing substantial salaries at the foundation. Six of the organization’s ten highest-paid executives previously held senior roles in the Obama administration or campaign, according to a review of tax filings spanning 2018 to 2024.
“Illinois Democrats are truly living their best lives — making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to help design the ugliest building in Chicago,” Illinois GOP Chairman Kathy Salvi told Fox News. “Their jaw-dropping salaries prove that Illinois’ culture of corruption is alive and well as Barack Obama’s top allies rake in the cash.”
Jarrett’s compensation exceeds that of leaders at comparable presidential foundations. The George W. Bush Presidential Center reported CEO compensation of approximately $661,000 in 2024, while the Carter Center and Reagan Foundation reported executive pay in the $500,000 range. The Clinton Foundation’s most recent filings show CEO compensation below $500,000.
Other top earners at the Obama Foundation include David Simas, Obama’s former White House political director, who earned up to $626,000 annually while leading the foundation from 2017 through 2020. Adewale Adeyemo, a senior Obama administration official who later became Biden’s deputy Treasury secretary, earned roughly $540,000 during his tenure as the foundation’s first president.
Former Obama White House officials Anne Filipic and Christina Tchen each earned approximately $400,000 annually in senior foundation roles, while Michael Strautmanis, another former campaign and White House aide, has received more than $300,000 per year.
The foundation has defended its compensation practices, stating that executive salaries are based on competitive market rates for similar institutions nationwide and are reviewed annually by its board using external comparability data and compensation consultants.
“Executive salaries are based on competitive market rates for roles of the same level in similar institutions nationwide,” the foundation said in a statement. “Overall, salaries throughout the foundation, across all levels, are discounted relative to those in the private sector.”
The foundation pointed to compensation levels at major philanthropic institutions like the Rockefeller and Mellon foundations, where leaders earned more than $1.4 million in 2023, and the Ford and MacArthur foundations, which each reported CEO compensation of roughly $1.29 million. However, those organizations operate with multibillion-dollar endowments that generate enough interest to cover operating costs.
The Obama Foundation reported more than $1.1 billion in total assets at the end of 2024, though much of that reflects construction-related assets and restricted funds rather than a traditional invested endowment. The foundation has pledged to establish a $470 million endowment, but public filings show only approximately $1 million deposited to date.
The compensation figures take on added significance as the foundation prepares to open and operate the presidential center under a $10, 99-year-use agreement on public parkland. Unlike traditional presidential libraries overseen by the National Archives Records Administration, this center will include a museum, athletic center, and public library branch operated by the foundation.
Laurie Styron, CEO of CharityWatch, an independent watchdog group, noted that high salaries are not inherently problematic but require transparency when political connections are involved. “Any time you are dealing with a nonprofit that is politically connected in some way, there is always a heightened risk of nepotism creeping in,” Styron said. “If multiple highly paid executives have ties to the former president’s administration, the public deserves significant transparency about how those hiring and compensation decisions were made.”
The center is scheduled to open in June and will add 150 full-time jobs to the foundation, which promises economic investment for Chicago’s South Side community.
In a recent video promoting the center, Obama described the campus as a symbol of forward-looking change: “This is not a monument to the past. It’s a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo. If you feel that way, this is your invitation to join us.”
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14 Comments
While former officials taking high-paying roles at presidential foundations is not uncommon, the optics here are concerning. I hope the foundation can demonstrate clear public benefits.
Good point. The foundation will need to be proactive in communicating the center’s value proposition to the community.
I’m curious to learn more about how the Obama Foundation selects its top executives and determines their compensation. Transparency around these decisions would be appreciated.
Agreed. Ensuring accountability for how public resources are utilized should be a priority for a project of this scale.
$740K for the CEO seems quite high, even for a presidential foundation. I’d like to see more details on how the center’s budget and executive compensation are justified.
Agreed. The rapid growth in staffing and salaries raises questions that the foundation should address publicly.
An $850 million price tag for a presidential center is certainly ambitious. I’ll be interested to see how the final product compares to initial plans and budgets.
Agreed. Cost overruns and delays are common with large public projects, so close oversight will be critical.
Building an $850 million presidential center on public land is a bold move. I hope the local community sees tangible benefits to offset the significant public investment.
Good point. The center’s long-term impact on the community will be an important measure of its value.
This seems like a high level of compensation for the CEO of a presidential foundation. I hope the foundation can justify these salaries to the public.
Good point. Transparency around executive pay and the center’s overall budget and funding sources would help address any public concerns.
Interesting to see former Obama officials drawing such high salaries at the Presidential Center. I wonder how the local community and taxpayers feel about this use of public land and resources.
You raise a fair point. Transparency around the center’s funding and operations will be important to maintain public trust.