Gov. Gavin Newsom Reports $1.2M In Earnings In 2018 Tax Returns

By Nicole Nixon

Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom earned just over $1.2 million in 2018, according to the couple’s tax returns, which were made available for reporters to review Friday. The governor did not comment on the returns.

The couple earned $812,772 from their business interests, the majority of which came from Airelle Wines and businesses associated with the PlumpJack collection of hotels, wineries and restaurants.

Newsom placed his businesses in a blind trust at the end of 2018, before he was sworn in as governor.  

That year, he earned $131,038 as lieutenant governor. As governor, Newsom’s salary is $209,747.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom earned $111,600 from her production company and another $150,000 from her film and media nonprofit, The Representation Project.

The couple paid $358,724 in federal income taxes and $121,455 in state income taxes in 2018. They reported $25,683 in charitable donations on their tax returns.

As a gubernatorial candidate, Newsom released six years’ worth of tax returns and pledged to release them annually if he was elected.

Last year, he signed a bill to require presidential candidates to release five years of tax returns in order to appear on California’s primary ballot, though that law was overturned by the California Supreme Court in November.