Here’s what you need to know.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly released tax returns are drawing fresh attention after revealing millions in household income, nearly $200,000 spent on household staff, ongoing losses at the First Partner’s production company, and thousands of dollars in designer clothing later donated as charitable write-offs. The disclosure ends years of questions about why Newsom stopped publicly releasing his tax returns after 2020, despite previously pledging to do so every year.
The governor’s office released more than 700 pages of federal tax filings covering four years, giving reporters access to review the documents while prohibiting copies from being made. The long-awaited release provides one of the most detailed looks yet at the California governor’s personal finances as he remains a figure frequently mentioned in discussions about the 2028 presidential race.
Household Staff Costs Near $200,000
Among the most notable details in the newly released filings was the family’s spending on household help. Tax records indicate that Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife paid out around $200,000 in wages to household employees in 2024, while also covering payroll taxes associated with domestic staff and childcare services.
The records also show the couple spent between $14,000 and $44,000 annually on childcare for three of their four children during the four-year reporting period.
Family Income Tops $1.7 Million Per Year
The tax returns show the Newsom family earned between $1.7 million and $2 million annually from 2022 through 2024.
Although Newsom receives roughly $200,000 a year as California’s governor, that salary represented only a small share of the family’s overall earnings. Most of the income reportedly came from winery, restaurant, hospitality, and other business investments that were placed into a blind trust after he took office.
According to reviews of the filings, the couple paid approximately $2.8 million in federal income taxes and about $500,000 in California state income taxes during the four-year period.
Film Company Continues Posting Losses
Another section of the returns focuses on Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s production company, Girls Club Entertainment, which reportedly continued operating at a loss.
In one year alone, the company reported roughly $37,000 in losses while generating only about $11,700 in income. At the same time, Siebel Newsom received approximately $150,000 through her nonprofit organization, The Representation Project, which promotes films and educational initiatives.
Author Income Adds To Earnings
The filings also show Gov. Newsom earned additional income through publishing.
According to the records, he received approximately $70,000 in author income during 2023 and another $75,000 in 2024. It remains unclear whether those payments were tied to his memoir or other publishing projects.
Designer Clothing Donation Draws Attention
One of the more widely discussed details involved the family’s charitable donation of designer clothing.
In 2022, the Gavin Newsom and his family donated Armani business clothing that originally cost approximately $45,000. The clothing was donated to an Oakland nonprofit, with the tax filings estimating its secondhand value at roughly $4,900.
Overall, the couple donated between $40,000 and $67,000 to charitable organizations each year, along with thousands of dollars in clothing and household goods.
Questions Over Transparency
The release ends weeks of renewed scrutiny over why Newsom had not publicly disclosed tax returns after the 2020 tax year, despite repeatedly saying he would continue releasing them while serving as governor.
Earlier this month, the governor said he believed the returns had already been made public and expressed surprise when asked why they remained unreleased. He also noted that he had disclosed his tax information for many years before criticizing former President Donald Trump over financial transparency.
Newsom began making several years of his tax returns public during his successful 2018 campaign for governor. Once in office, he approved a law requiring anyone running for California governor to release five years of federal income tax returns before qualifying for the state’s primary election ballot.
Federal Investigation Brings Additional Scrutiny
The financial disclosures come as Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom have acknowledged they are subjects of a federal investigation that the governor has described as politically motivated.
According to previous reports, one federal inquiry is examining Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s tax matters.
Separately, former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy involving bank fraud, wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to federal investigators. Williamson is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Governor’s Office Defends The Filings
Newsom’s office has repeatedly maintained there is nothing unusual contained in the tax returns.
Officials have argued the filings are consistent with the governor’s previously disclosed financial reports and said the release demonstrates a continued commitment to transparency.
Tax returns for 2025 were not included because the couple requested a filing extension. According to the governor’s office, those returns are expected to be completed later this year.
With Newsom widely viewed as a possible contender for the 2028 presidential election, the newly released tax returns are expected to receive continued attention from political supporters, critics, and voters alike. While the disclosure answers long-standing questions about the governor’s finances, it is also likely to fuel renewed debate over transparency, spending, and California’s political leadership.
