influence....yet. That others make a lot on speeches and take in significant sums? (The Johnny Walker Blue explains how Maya Angelou sounds anyway.). They don't rake in money like the Clintons...in part, while she was a Senator and Secretary of State....
The Clintons have made far and away more than any other pair of speakers over the last 15 years while Hillary occupied significant political offices and was the "heir apparent" to the presidency.
You have no idea what their fees were or what portion of them were legitimately for "the speech" itself and you have no way of knowing...and that's the point.
You asked how they get paid. This is one of the many ways.... Book advance was another. Abusing the expenses of the foundation is another.
It adds up and it's their cottage industry