Carson: $4.1 million in speaking fees

While Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is usually described as a retired ​neurosurgeon, it would be just as accurate to call him a professional public speaker.

Carson earned $4.1 million from 141 speeches he gave from early 2014 to last month, according to a financial disclosure form filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The retired doctor's speaking career took off in earnest after his 2013 appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast in which he criticized the Obama administration.

Though Carson announced last month he would seek the Republican presidential nomination, he still plans to attend four paid speaking gigs in the week ahead.

"Certainly, I was asked by some political people to just cancel those speeches," Carson told ABC News in a recent interview. "I only have about four left.  And I had hundreds of speeches. But you know, when people have gone through a lot of trouble getting sponsors and selling tables and what have you, you don't just walk out on them."

He added: "And you know, when it comes to giving back charitable donations, I would match myself against anybody."

Reports The New  York Times:

"Mr. Carson’s total reported income, along with his wife, Candy, was from $8.9 million to $27 million in the 16 months preceding his announcement, according to the disclosure.

"Beside speeches, he reported income from $1.1 million to $6 million from book royalties, and from $2 million to $10 million from serving on the boards of two corporations, Kellogg and Costco. He has since resigned those seats. He was also paid from $100,000 to $1 million by the Fox News Network."