Introduction

Bakari Sellers isn’t just another political commentator — his journey from a teenage state legislator to a prominent CNN voice and civil rights lawyer makes his financial story uniquely layered. Curious about Bakari Sellers net worth? Let’s unpack how he builds his wealth across law, politics, media, writing, and more — and what the most credible estimates suggest.

The Foundations of His Career: Politics & Law

Early Political Breakthrough

• Sellers was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2006 — at just 22 years old — making him one of the youngest African-American elected officials in U.S. history. Wikipedia+1

• He served until 2014, giving him nearly a decade in public service. Wikipedia

• In 2014, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, but lost. Wikipedia

Legal Career & Law Firm Role

• Parallel to his political career, Sellers has worked as an attorney at the Strom Law Firm, LLC, located in Columbia, South Carolina, since about 2007. Wikipedia+1

• At the firm, he handles public policy, civil rights, and public affairs legal issues — leveraging both his law degree (University of South Carolina) and his political experience. Core Docs+1

• He’s also involved in DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consulting according to his law firm’s profile. Core Docs

These dual roles help him generate a steady, professional income rooted in his legal credentials and political background.

Primary Income Stream: Media & Commentary

One of the most significant engines behind Bakari Sellers net worth is his role as a political commentator:

• Since 2015, Sellers has worked as a CNN political commentator, giving regular analysis on U.S. politics, race, and policy. Wikipedia

• While CNN doesn’t publicly disclose his exact salary, political analysts/regular contributors of his stature often command substantial pay.

• Beyond regular on-air work, his media presence likely feeds into public speaking, consulting, and brand-building, which in turn contributes meaningfully to his net worth.

Author & Speaker Income

Writing and speaking are other significant avenues in his wealth portfolio:

• Sellers is the author of “My Vanishing Country: A Memoir” (2020), which reflects on race, class, and his Southern upbringing. Wikipedia

• He released a second book in 2024, titled “The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn’t and How We All Can Move Forward Now.” Wikipedia

• Book royalties from both titles are likely a steady income stream. Sources like networth estimates point to these literary efforts contributing significantly. Net worth flo+1

• As a public figure, he’s also a paid speaker, appearing at universities, political events, and conferences — which provides another high-value revenue channel.

Other Business & Board Roles

• Sellers serves on the board of directors for Level Brands (a brand management firm) and Let America Vote, a voting rights organization. Wikipedia

• Notably, he is also a director at cbdMD, Inc., a cannabis wellness company. GuruFocus+1

  • According to SEC filings, he owns 2,752 shares in cbdMD. tickertracker.io

  • Though his stake there doesn’t appear massive (current publicly disclosed value is relatively modest), it represents a non-traditional business line beyond law and media.

Estimated Net Worth Breakdown

Putting it all together, here’s what different sources estimate, and how his wealth likely divides across his income streams.

How Much Is Bakari Sellers Really Worth?

• Lifestyle Net Worth pegs his net worth at $6 million. Lifestyle Net Worth

• Richest Lifestyle estimates are more conservative: around $5 million. Celebrity Net Worth and Lifestyle

• Famous People Today offers a lower estimate near $3 million, based on his law and media earnings. Famous People Today

• PeopleAI suggests $3.84 million as of 2025. PeopleAI

Synthesizing those: a reasonable and commonly cited range for Bakari Sellers net worth is $3 million to $6 million, depending on how aggressively you assess his media income, book royalties, and business investments.

Breakdown of Estimated Wealth by Source

Here’s a rough allocation based on how his income likely spreads across different fields:

These are estimates, but they align with how his career has diversified.

Why There’s Variation in the Estimates

• Private Income: His earnings from law and book royalties aren’t publicly disclosed in detail, so analysts rely on educated guesses.

• Media Pay Non-Transparency: CNN contributors don’t always make their contracts public, and the amount can vary greatly depending on how often they appear, the nature of their deal, and side engagements.

• Business Stakes: His stake in cbdMD is documented, but any other private investments or equity in smaller firms may not be publicly known.

• Real Estate & Other Assets: There’s little reliable public reporting on his real estate assets or major investments, making total net worth estimation more speculative.

FAQs About Bakari Sellers Net Worth

Q1: What is Bakari Sellers net worth?
Estimates typically place his net worth between $3 million and $6 million, depending on different income sources and how aggressively they are valued. Net worth flo+2Lifestyle Net Worth+2

Q2: How much does Bakari Sellers make from CNN?
His exact CNN salary is not public. As a political commentator, he likely earns a significant but undisclosed sum, supplemented by speaking engagements.

Q3: Does he earn money from writing books?
Yes. He’s authored My Vanishing Country (2020) and The Moment (2024), which contribute to his royalties and overall income. Wikipedia

Q4: What is his legal income?
He works as an attorney at Strom Law Firm, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina, where he handles high-value public policy, DEI, and civil rights work. Wikipedia

Q5: Does he have business investments?
Yes. He’s on the board of cbdMD, Inc., where he holds shares. tickertracker.io+1

Q6: Is his net worth likely to grow?
Very likely. His diversified career — media, law, books, board roles — suggests potential for continued income growth, especially if his public profile expands further.

Q7: Does his political career still contribute to his wealth?
While he no longer holds elected office, his political background bolsters his credibility as a commentator, influencing his media and speaking earnings.

Conclusion

Bakari Sellers’ financial profile is a smart blend of public service, legal expertise, media influence, and entrepreneurial ambition. His estimated net worth of $3–6 million reflects a career built not just on public visibility, but on consistent work across multiple platforms. Rather than having a single defining income stream, his wealth comes from the intersection of law, commentary, writing, and board-level business roles.

In many ways, Sellers’ net worth mirrors his brand: thoughtful, multifaceted, and mission-driven. Whether he’s making a legal argument, breaking down politics on CNN, or writing about race and policy, his influence and income are deeply interconnected — and likely to grow as he continues navigating both legal and media landscapes.