Bill Clinton netted $1.6 million last year from a pair of for-profit education companies that caused controversy for the future president during Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state. Laureate Education paid Bill Clinton nearly $1.1 million in 2015, according to tax returns released by his wife's campaign Friday. GEMS Education, a Dubai-based firm, paid him more than $560,000. Both companies are major donors to the Clinton Foundation. Bill Clinton's lucrative consulting contracts with the corporations have raised questions about how closely his personal fortune is linked to his philanthropic activities. Stay abreast of the latest developments from nation's capital and beyond with curated News Alerts from the Washington Examiner news desk and delivered to your inbox. What's more, the State Department handed Laureate's chairman taxpayer-funded grants under Hillary Clinton's watch.