JD Vance reportedly demanded $40,000 and first-class flights during a speaking tour to promote his bestselling book, years before he ventured into politics. According to a recent report, Vance made these extravagant requests for an appearance at a Midwestern public university four years before he was elected to the Senate, as revealed in records obtained by POLITICO.
However, negotiations between Vance and the University of Wisconsin-Madison did not materialise as the university found the demands to be excessive and challenging to meet. In February 2017, a representative from the university reached out to Vance’s publisher, HarperCollins, expressing interest in having the author appear at the university as his book had been shortlisted for the 2017 – 2018 Go Big Read award.
HarperCollins informed the university that a 45-minute appearance, including a Q&A session and book signing, would cost $25,000 in addition to first-class flights, accommodation, meals, and transportation. Despite Vance’s book winning the award, his speaking fee reportedly increased to $40,000 when the university reached out again. Negotiations pushed the fee down to $30,000 initially, but discussions hit a roadblock over scheduling conflicts.
A visit was tentatively scheduled for January 2018, but the university eventually backed out, deeming the fee and timing too challenging to overcome. The event went ahead without Vance, featuring a local panel instead. The Independent has reached out to Vance’s representatives and HarperCollins for comment on the matter.
In response, Vance’s spokesperson defended the fee, stating that it is common practice for bestselling authors like Senator Vance to receive compensation for speaking engagements following the success of their books. The spokesperson compared Vance’s requests to those of prominent Democrats who have earned substantial sums from speaking fees over the years.
JD Vance gained prominence following the publication of his bestselling memoir ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ in 2016, where he shares insights from his upbringing in Appalachia. Reports indicate that Vance earned at least $70,000 from university appearances to promote his book in the two years following its release, with requirements including first-class transportation and accommodation for events.
During the time of the book’s launch, Vance was vocal about his opposition to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, even referring to himself as a “Never Trump guy” in an interview. Despite his initial stance, Vance has since retracted his criticisms and admitted fault in his past opinions about the former president.