Brigitte Macron addresses finances and personal impact of Élysée role

Brigitte Macron has addressed her financial status and the personal impact of her decade-long role as First Lady of France. Regarding her finances, she receives no official salary or personal budget for her position. Her role is strictly voluntary, governed by a 2017 transparency charter. While her activities generate annual operating costs of 316,980 euros—representing 0.25% of the Élysée budget—these funds are exclusively used to finance a staff of four to manage her agenda, official travel, and press relations.

In a recent interview, she also reflected on the emotional toll of her time at the Élysée. She described a significant loss of innocence and the psychological impact of intense cyberbullying and disinformation campaigns. She noted that she has witnessed "the darkness of the world, the stupidity, the malice" through the harassment she and her entourage have faced. She highlighted the trauma of digital attacks, including transphobic rumors and misinformation, which have led to legal actions and judicial convictions for certain perpetrators.