James Comey, Director of the FBI has indicated that the organisation paid private hackers more than $1.3 million for a piece of custom software which enabled them to hack into the iPhone belonging to a terrorist involved in the San Bernardino shooting. 

Speaking at an Aspen Security Forum event in London yesterday, Comey stated the FBI paid "a lot" for the software. He is quoted as having said they paid:

“More than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months, for sure.”

The FBI director is paid $183,300 per year, according to federal records. Comey will be paid more than $1.3 million by the end of his term in July 2023. 

While the details about the software developer still remain unknown, Comey believes the payment of the $1.3 million was worth it as the iPhone is a cornerstone of their case.