More than a third of Bundestag members earn additional income alongside their parliamentary salary, or receive benefits in kind. That is the finding of an analysis published on Monday by the parliamentary transparency organisation Abgeordnetenwatch and the magazine Der Spiegel.
According to the report, 232 of the current 630 members of parliament have declared secondary income since the start of the legislative term in March 2025. The combined total, as of today, stands at around €10.6 million.
First place goes to Green Party politician Ophelia Nick, with income of approximately €2.7 million derived from corporate shareholdings, including her role as an heir and partner in the technology group Voith. According to the analysis, this places her well ahead of all other members of parliament.
Second place is held by CSU parliamentarian Alexander Engelhard with €1.5 million. Almost the entire sum, according to the data, comes from his work as operator of an organic grain mill. In third place is AfD politician Sebastian Maack, with €439,000 in rental income.
Overall, members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group have the highest rate of additional income sources. One in every two members of that group earns money beyond their parliamentary mandate. No other parliamentary group shows as high a proportion, Abgeordnetenwatch and Der Spiegel stated. The declared income spans a wide range of sources, from profit distributions and rental income to legal and consultancy work, supervisory board mandates, and paid speaking engagements.
Members of the Bundestag currently receive a monthly salary of €11,833. Beyond that, they are permitted to earn an unlimited amount from additional sources. However, any income must be reported to the President of the Bundestag if it exceeds €1,000 per month or €3,000 per calendar year.
External payments may not be accepted as a quid pro quo for a particular voting position, and the parliamentary mandate must remain the primary focus of the member's activity.
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