You simply won't believe the staggering sums businesses and organisations are willing to pay for famous faces to give speeches at events.

From Hollywood A-listers to prominent politicians, read on to take a look at the people whose talk certainly isn't cheap. All dollar amounts in US dollars, and all currency conversions are historic.

Famed for his silver tongue, the former Conservative Party leader and UK foreign secretary has been described as "the David Beckham of toasting" by Hillary Clinton.

It was reported by British newspaper The Times in 2017 that Lord Hague of Richmond was commanding around £25,000 ($37k) per speech, which is typically 15 minutes in length plus a Q&A session. 

In 2016, he carried out 54 speaking engagements, earning a cool £1.3 million ($1.9m) for his trouble.

Medical doctor Ben Carson hit the headlines when he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015.

A seasoned orator, the neurosurgeon-turned-politician, who tends to address conservative, faith-based groups, made $4.1 million (£2.5m) from 141 paid speeches that he delivered in a 16-month period between 2014 and 2015.

In 2015, it was reported that Carson earned around $40,000 (£25.7k) per speech. 

Unlike his brother George W., Jeb Bush didn’t have any luck securing the Republican presidential nomination, but the former governor of Florida has still done well when it comes to the public speaking circuit.

In fact, after leaving office in 2007, the politician and businessman banked $10 million (£6.4m) from public speaking over a nine-year period.

He was reportedly charging a hefty $42,500 (£27.3k) per speech between 2014 and 2015. 

When the University of Missouri-Kansas City couldn't stretch to her mother Hillary's fee for an event in February 2014, daughter Chelsea Clinton was sent instead.

According to the Washington Post, she was paid $65,000 (£39.3k) for a 10-minute speech and a 20-minute Q&A session. The fee was donated to the Clinton Foundation.

Accused of being an out-of-touch elitist, the one-time Republican presidential nominee was lampooned in 2012 for describing the $374,327 (£241.7k) he made that year in speaking fees as "not very much."

Romney was earning up to $68,000 (£43.8k) per 30-minute speech during his presidential campaign in 2011. 

Ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich hiked up his speaking fees by $15,000 (£11.5k) in 2016, capitalising on his "insight into President-elect Trump’s philosophies, principles, and objectives."

In 2016, the Republican was charging $75,000 (£50.6k) for each event west of Chicago, as well as first-class travel for two.

When it comes to the public speaking circuit, it seriously pays to be the son of a former US president.

Available via NOPACTalent, Donald Trump Jr. is currently charging a minimum of $100,000 (£84.2k) for his time. 

Britain's former chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, has made thousands through public speaking, with his best-paid appearance at a JP Morgan event costing the banking company £81,000 ($111.2k) in 2016.

In fact, George Osborne made £320,000 ($474.7k) from public speaking engagements in America in the weeks after he lost his job with the government in 2016.

In 2021, it was reported that former British Prime Minister Theresa May had raked in £1.9 million ($2.6m) in public speaking fees since leaving 10 Downing Street in 2019.

During the pandemic, May pulled in more than £500,000 ($660.2k) from virtual speeches, making her the highest-earning MP of 2020.

The former Conservative Party leader can take home around £110,000 ($130.4k) per speech.

Former US presidents are understandably major draws on the international lecture circuit.

Therefore, it's no surprise that George W. Bush was reportedly making up to $175,000 (£112.3k) per speaking engagement in 2015.

The editor-in-chief of American Vogue has delivered private speeches to a variety of clients, including Goldman Sachs. Like her Chanel suits and Gucci sunglasses, Wintour doesn't come cheap.

Available for bookings via the All American Speakers agency, the fashion industry's most powerful person charges up to $200,000 (£168.5k) per speech. 

The former First Lady is known for her impactful speeches, particularly when it comes to inspiring young women and girls.

While her fee is half that of her husband Barack's, an appearance by Michelle Obama still costs around $200,000 (£162.4k), according to Axios in 2017.

Celebrities can demand big money to speak at college commencement events. Matthew McConaughey earned an impressive $135,000 (£86.6k) when he spoke at a graduation event at his alma mater, the University of Houston, in 2015.

Today, the Hollywood star charges a minimum of $200,000 (£168.7k) for live public speaking appearances.

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton has made a fortune from public speaking engagements. 

In 2016, while she was running for the US presidency, it was reported that the Democrat had banked almost $22 million (£14.8m) from public speaking and was charging around $200,000 (£134.8k) per appearance.

Following his tenure as Vice President to Barack Obama, Joe Biden earned more than $15 million (£11.1m) in late 2017 and 2018, the majority of which came from book deals and public speaking.

Biden gave almost 50 speeches during that time, with his most lucrative talk earning him a substantial $235,000 (£173.8k).

He resigned as British Prime Minister in July, but Boris Johnson has been raking it in with his savvy public speaking side hustle.

The former prime minister gave a speech and "fireside chat" at the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers in Colorado, USA, this October, earning an incredible $350,000 (£315k) for his efforts. The staggering sum is more than double his annual prime ministerial salary.

Johnson reportedly spoke about Brexit and British support for Ukraine but, unsurprisingly, avoided talking about his exit from 10 Downing Street.

According to the New York Times, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was charging around $200,000 (£120.9k) for US-based public speaking functions in 2014.

The financial expert was charging an eye-watering fee of $400,000 (£241.8k) for appearances in Asia, making him one of the highest-paid public speakers in the world.

It’s common practise for politicians to turn to public speaking once they’ve left their positions of power, and Barack Obama is no exception.

In 2018, Obama gave at least three speeches to Wall Street firms, with a price tag of $400,000 (£295.9k) per engagement. While he was criticised for the move, a spokesperson for the former president said that the fees went towards a $2 million (£1.5m) contribution to programmes providing employment training and opportunities to young people in Chicago.

The highest-paid public speaker of all time is none other than Donald Trump – but only if you believe the hype.

The US president claimed he was paid an incredible $1.5 million (£780k) for a speech he delivered to adult education firm The Learning Annex back in 2005, but it was later revealed that the figure was closer to $400,000 (£207k).

Trump and The Learning Annex stuck by the original claim until lawyers working for Trump biographer Timothy O'Brien discovered the correct figure, which Trump later confirmed in a deposition.

The most sought-after former British politician on the speech-giving circuit, ex-prime minister Tony Blair, has made millions giving talks around the world since he left office in 2007.

The Financial Times reported in 2007 that Blair had earned an incredible $500,000 (£237k) for a 20-minute speech in China.

Prominent businesspeople can command big bucks for giving speeches, and British billionaire Richard Branson is no exception.

While the mega-rich entrepreneur has discussed his fear of public speaking in the past, a sum of $500,000 (£422k) is enough to tempt the Virgin boss into giving an address. The generous Branson donates his entire fee to charity. 

Together with wife Hillary, former US president Bill Clinton made an eye-watering $153 million (£98.2m) in paid speeches between 2001 and 2015.

The former president's highest paid engagement was a staggering $750,000 (£483.1k) for a speech he delivered to Ericsson executives in Hong Kong in 2011.

Following their exit from the British royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now pursuing financial independence. Despite their privacy-seeking relocation to Canada and then Los Angeles, the couple is rarely out of the spotlight, and it seems like public speaking will be a key income source for the pair.

Harry and Meghan attended a JP Morgan event in Miami in February 2020, and it's rumoured they received up to $1 million (£757.3k) for their appearance. It was the first event the couple attended after dropping their HRH titles, and during the address, Prince Harry opened up about therapy that helped him cope with the loss of his mother, the late Princess Diana.

Now read about the royals past and present who gave up their titles