JD Vance's Hillbilly Elegy earns up to $5M in royalties, disclosure shows
Synopsis
JD Vance's first financial disclosure as US Vice President reveals that his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy is still his biggest earner — pulling in up to $5 million in royalties — while his venture capital firm Narya Capital and a diversified ETF portfolio round out a financial picture starkly different from President Trump's crypto-and-real-estate-heavy filing.
Key Takeaways
JD Vance earned between $1 million and $5 million in royalties from Hillbilly Elegy in the latest reporting period.
Foreign publishing advances included $59,500 from Beijing Mediatime Co. and $55,000 from a German publisher, among payments from over ten countries.
Vance holds interests in Narya Capital Fund I and II and the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund ; a promissory note from Narya generated up to $1 million in interest income.
His investment portfolio includes $1M–$5M positions each in the Invesco QQQ Trust , SPDR DJIA ETF , and SPDR S&P 500 ETF .
Bitcoin holdings of $250,001–$500,000 in a Coinbase account generated no reportable income.
Vance was granted a 45-day extension to file the disclosure; no outside compensation exceeding $5,000 was reported.
US Vice President JD Vance earned between $1 million and $5 million in royalties from his bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy during the latest reporting period, according to his annual financial disclosure filed with the US Office of Government Ethics. The filing, submitted in 2025 following a 45-day extension, offers the first comprehensive look at Vance's personal finances since he took office as Vice President in January 2025.
Publishing Income at the Core
The memoir — formally titled Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis and published by HarperCollins — remains Vance's single largest private income source. In addition to domestic royalties, Vance continued to receive advances and royalties from international publishers through talent agency William Morris Endeavor.
Among the largest foreign publishing payments disclosed: a $59,500 advance from Beijing Mediatime Co., $55,000 from Germany's Yes Publishing Pascale Breitenstein and Oliver Kuhn GbR, and $10,000 advances each from Japan's Kobun-sha Co. and Next Wave Publishing. Additional payments were reported from publishers in Lithuania, France, Brazil, Vietnam, Israel, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and several other countries.
Venture Capital and Business Interests
Beyond publishing, Vance holds significant financial interests through JD Vance Enterprises LLC and venture capital firm Narya Capital. The disclosure lists positions in Narya Capital Fund I and Fund II, the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, carried-interest arrangements, management fee rights, and related receivables — though several of these reported little or no current income during the period.
A promissory note from Narya Capital Management LLC, valued between $500,001 and $1 million, generated interest income of between $100,001 and $1 million during the reporting period.
Investment Portfolio and Real Estate
Vance disclosed a diversified investment portfolio, with holdings valued between $1 million and $5 million each in the Invesco QQQ Trust, the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF. He also holds a Treasury bond fund, a gold exchange-traded fund, retirement accounts, and college savings plans for his children.
On real estate, the filing reveals a Washington rental property valued between $500,001 and $1 million, generating rental income of $15,001 to $50,000. He also owns residential property in Ohio and commercial real estate in Kentucky. Liabilities include a mortgage with Navy Federal Credit Union and a Charles Schwab line of credit valued between $1 million and $5 million.
Cryptocurrency and Other Disclosures
Vance's exposure to cryptocurrency is limited. He reported holding Bitcoin valued between $250,001 and $500,000 in a Coinbase account, which generated no reportable income during the period. The filing also notes no outside compensation exceeding $5,000, no reportable gifts, and no travel reimbursements.
The disclosure contrasts notably with that of President Donald Trump, whose filing is dominated by cryptocurrency holdings and real estate businesses, underscoring the different financial profiles of the two executives. Vance's next annual disclosure is expected to reflect any adjustments made following his assumption of full vice-presidential duties.
Point of View
Say, a business stake. The contrast with Trump's crypto-heavy filing is also telling: two men in the same executive branch operating from entirely different financial architectures, raising distinct sets of ethics questions that the current disclosure framework is not fully equipped to surface.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did JD Vance earn from Hillbilly Elegy?
According to his annual financial disclosure filed with the US Office of Government Ethics, Vance earned between $1 million and $5 million in royalties from Hillbilly Elegy during the reporting period. The memoir, published by HarperCollins, is his single largest private income source.
What is Narya Capital and what is Vance's stake in it?
Narya Capital is a venture capital firm in which Vance holds significant interests, including positions in Narya Capital Fund I and Fund II, carried-interest arrangements, and management fee rights. A promissory note from Narya Capital Management LLC generated between $100,001 and $1 million in interest income during the reporting period, though several other holdings reported little or no current income.
Does JD Vance own cryptocurrency?
Yes. Vance disclosed Bitcoin holdings valued between $250,001 and $500,000 in a Coinbase account, though the asset generated no reportable income during the reporting period. His crypto exposure is described as limited compared to President Trump's disclosure.
What real estate does Vance own?
Vance disclosed a Washington rental property valued between $500,001 and $1 million that generated $15,001 to $50,000 in rental income, residential property in Ohio, and commercial real estate in Kentucky. His liabilities include a Navy Federal Credit Union mortgage and a Charles Schwab line of credit valued between $1 million and $5 million.
How does Vance's disclosure differ from President Trump's?
Vance's filing is centred on publishing income, venture capital interests, and traditional ETF investments, while President Trump's disclosure is dominated by cryptocurrency holdings and real estate businesses. The two filings reflect markedly different financial profiles within the same executive administration.
