White House: Obamas earn $5.5 million in 2009

WASHINGTON: The White House says President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle made $5.5 million last year and paid nearly $1.8 million in federal income tax.

The Obamas gave $329,000 to charities. That included $50,000 each to CARE and the United Negro College Fund.

The president also donated his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize award to 10 charities.

The White House said the vast majority of the Obamas' income was from sales of the president's books. The president released his 2009 tax return Thursday.