Malala Yousafzai's Net Worth: The Earnings and Donations of a Global Icon

Malala Yousafzai's net worth reflects not only her success but also her incredible impact on the world. As the youngest Nobel Prize laureate and a tireless advocate for girls' education, Malala has earned and donated millions to support her mission.

Malala Yousafzai's net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $5 million, primarily from book sales, speaking engagements, and media partnerships. A significant portion of her income is reinvested into advocacy work through the Malala Fund.

Explore how this global icon utilizes her platform and resources to champion education rights and inspire change. Discover more about Malala's journey and how you can support her cause through the Headway app.

Summary of Malala Yousafzai's wealth and donations

Source Estimated Value

• Nobel Peace Prize $500,000

• International Children’s Prize $123,000

• Book Advance (I Am Malala) $3 million

• Speaking Fee (Per Event) $150,000

Estimated Total Net Worth $2M–$5M

Assassination attempt

Born into a Muslim family in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, Malala was raised with strong values around education and social justice, inspired by her father’s work as a teacher and activist. Malala Yousafzai received education at a girls' school in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan.

When the Taliban began closing schools and banning education for girls, Malala spoke out in her blog on BBC Urdu and appeared in a New York Times documentary. Her activism drew attention, and in October 2012, a gunman boarded her school bus and shot her in the head. She sustained serious injuries and was in a life-threatening condition.

After an initial operation, her chances of recovery were slim. Once her condition stabilized, the Pakistani government transferred her to a hospital in Birmingham, Great Britain, where she underwent a year-long treatment.

This near-fatal attack only amplified Malala's global influence. In 2014, her unwavering courage was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, which she shared with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who has worked extensively across India to combat child labor and promote universal education. Malala's story is a testament to resilience and the unyielding fight for justice.

Malala's education and private life

After her recovery, Malala Yousafzai stayed in England and attended Edgbaston High School in Birmingham. In 2017, she started studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University. She graduated in 2020. Malala's dedication to learning and helping others shines through her achievements.

In 2021, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai tied the knot with her partner, Asser Malik, in an Islamic ceremony in Birmingham. Asser Malik, a top manager of the Pakistan Cricket Board, is a Lahore University of Management Sciences graduate.

Awards and prizes

For her activity, Malala has received awards since childhood. Until 2012, she was awarded in her native country of Pakistan. After the attack in 2012, the world started talking about her. Malala got the most prizes in 2013 and 2014 worldwide (in the US, Europe, and internationally). This recognition also provided an impetus for further work. There are some rewards and known financial prizes:

2011: National Youth Peace Prize

2013: International Children's Peace Prize ($123,000)

2013: Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (€50,000)

2014: Nobel Peace Prize (around $500,000)

‘I am Malala’ bestseller book

Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and her family have indeed seen substantial financial success following the release of her memoir and her global lecture engagements. Malala's memoir, ‘I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban,’ has sold millions of copies worldwide, generating significant revenue. In addition to book sales, Malala has earned considerable income from speaking engagements, where she shares her story and advocates for girls' education and human rights.

It was first published in New York, Boston, and London in 2013. The Times magazine included Malala among the sixteen most influential teenagers in 2013, and People magazine named her the heroine of 2013. She won the 2013 UK National Book Award in the Nonfiction category and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Her book was translated into about 40 languages ​​and sold over 1.8 million copies worldwide.

The book ‘I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban’ is a mixture of autobiography, biography, diaries, actual memoirs, reportage, epistolary, essay, etc. In addition, Pashtun myths and legends fit harmoniously into the work's canvas. Read quotes from the book here.

The BBC reported that Malala Yousafzai signed a contract to publish memoirs with the British publishing house Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd. The contract amount was about £2 million ($3 million).

Other publications

Besides her most known autobiography, ‘I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban,’ Malala has also authored: ​​

• ‘Malala's Magic Pencil’

• ‘We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World’

Fight for women's rights by Malala Fund

At age 15, Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, founded the Malala Fund to care for girls who want but cannot receive accessible and affordable education and support their low-income families. The Fund invests in education activists and advocates who identify ways to address barriers to girls' education in their communities.

They say hard work pays off in life, and in Malala's case, that couldn't be truer. Her tireless efforts to protect girls' education did not go unnoticed. They have spread across the globe, touching hearts and minds and culminating in numerous accolades that underscore her considerable influence.

The core functionalities of the Malala Fund include advocating for education policy reform, supporting local activists, and funding grassroots programs for girls in underserved regions. She continues to raise her voice on global platforms, never missing an opportunity to emphasize the relevance of education for girls. As part of her commitment to learning and leadership, Malala has taken her ideas to various global stages, from the World Economic Forum to United Nations conferences. The Malala Fund has also collaborated with global partners to explore educational access in conflict-affected regions, including areas of the Middle East such as Israel and Palestine, where schooling is often disrupted by instability.

Her financial success has enabled Malala to expand her educational and humanitarian initiatives. The Malala Fund provides education for girls in regions affected by conflict and poverty, aiming to ensure that every girl has access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education.

Donations to the Fund

Many celebrities, influential companies, and foundations donate to the Malala Fund. Among the donors is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has supported the organization's growth, including seeding the launch of the Education Champion Network. The Landry Family Foundation invests critical resources into the Fund's signature initiatives. Waverly Street Foundation, Kering Foundation, Citi, Echidna Giving, Hawk Foundation, The North Star Charitable Foundation, and Meta company donate to the Fund.

HP supports the Malala Fund's STEAM Education For Girls Initiative in Pakistan to increase girls' access to STEAM education nationwide. Imaginable Futures supports the Malala Fund's work to keep girls learning across Brazil.

The Hollywood star and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie praised Malala Yousafzai's courage and modesty and donated $200,000 to the Malala Yousafzai's Fund.

Major donors to the Malala Fund:

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• HP (STEAM Education for Girls Initiative)

• Imaginable Futures

• Angelina Jolie – $200,000 donation

• UNESCO & Pakistan – $10 million initial support

• Meta, Citi, Kering Foundation, and others

The last Fund's financial worth report

The Fund's website states that it is in favor of transparency. Over the past five years, about £7 million have been donated to the British branch of the Fund. The Malala Fund, registered in the USA, started work in 2015 with a fund of $50,000.

According to the financial reports on the Malala Fund's website, over $150 million was donated during its eight years of existence.

UNESCO reiterated its commitment to the fight for girls' right to education and decided to establish the Malala Fund. Interestingly, the first contribution, $10 million, came from Pakistan when the Fund started working.

Partnership with the Cochlear Foundation

The Cochlear Foundation is a non-profit hearing health organization founded in 2005 to help people hear. If children with hearing loss do not receive timely medical care and support, they often fail in school, drop out of school, and rarely pursue higher education.

The Malala Fund and the Cochlear Foundation collaborate to raise awareness of the barriers that millions of children and young people with hearing loss worldwide may face to quality education and to help overcome these barriers.

TV and media appearance

In addition to her work as an author, Malala is the President of Extracurricular Productions, a film and TV production company. The company focuses on amplifying the voices of women, girls, and young people, producing content that reflects their experiences and stories. The company works on content sales, partnerships, co-productions, streaming, and digital platforms.

In 2015, Yousafzai was the subject of the documentary He Named Me Malala, which was shortlisted for the Best Documentary Feature category at the Oscars.

Malala Yousafzai has shared her advocacy for human rights and women's education on major American television programs, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and David Letterman's My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.

After graduating, Malala called for more support for refugees from Afghanistan. She appeared on the cover of British Vogue and is active on social media, with 2.5 M followers on Instagram.

Producer for Apple TV+

In 2021, Malala signed a multi-year contract with Apple TV + and launched Extracurricular production companies. She wants to make comedies in addition to documentaries about serious issues. The first films touched on acceptance, racial differences, and coming of age.

What is Malala Yousafzai's speaking fee?

Malala is also a motivational speaker, encouraging young leaders to take action and encouraging the global community to actively support education financially. According to the U.S.-based Institute for Policy Studies, Malala Yousafzai is сharging around $150,000 per speech.

In comparison, among the top motivational speakers in 2024 are Grant Cardone (speaker and author celebrated for his dynamic strategies in business), whose speaker fee range is $200,000+, and Mel Robbins, a popular podcast host on productivity, whose speaker fee range is $75,000 – $100,000. By the way, we also have summaries of their well-known books in our Headway app.

Upcoming motivational book

Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is known for publishing influential and high-profile works. In 2023, the publisher announced a new book by Malala Yousafzai. Her new memoir is expected to delve deeper into her life experiences, ongoing female education activism, and the impact of her work globally. 

"This is my most personal book yet and I hope that readers will find recognition, reassurance, and insight in my story. I am beyond delighted to take the next step in my journey with the incredible team at Atria Books."

Malala Yousafzai's upcoming memoir, which she will also narrate as an audiobook, offers deep insights into mental health. It provides a unique glimpse into the thoughts of one of today's foremost activists. It is an inspiring call to action for readers to acknowledge and learn from their pasts to improve their futures.

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