Palin's Purse vs. Glenn Beck's Wallet

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.