Stephen A. Smith Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Stephen A. Smith Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 11, 2025
Stephen A. Smith’s Net Worth and Salary
With a net worth of $25 million, Stephen A. Smith is a prominent figure in American sports media. He earns $13 million annually and is recognized primarily for his roles on various ESPN programs. Additionally, he writes for ESPN’s websites and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Stephen A. has also found success in talk radio and has acted in several movies, typically appearing as himself in cameo roles.
Salary
Up until April 2019, Stephen A. Smith’s annual salary was $5 million for several years. However, in mid-April 2019, he secured a new contract with ESPN just shy of $8 million per year, which made him the highest-paid personality at ESPN and the top sports caster globally. In March 2020, he lost this title to Tony Romo, who signed a $17 million per year deal with CBS. Currently, Smith’s salary with ESPN stands at $13 million annually.
Turning Down a $90 Million Offer
In June 2024, it was disclosed that Stephen A. Smith had declined a $90 million contract offer from ESPN. This deal, set at $90 million over five years, would have provided an average salary of $18 million per year. He reportedly rejected this offer in hopes of finding a contract that would pay him $25 million annually.
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Early Life
Stephen A. Smith was born in the Bronx, New York, to a father who operated a hardware store. Before his time at the hardware store, Smith’s father had a notable career in basketball and baseball. Born in 1967, Stephen A. is the second youngest of seven siblings. He showed an early interest in basketball and received a scholarship that allowed him to attend Winston-Salem State University after spending a year at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
During his college years, he played basketball under the esteemed coach Clarence Gaines, gaining invaluable insights and tactical knowledge about the sport. Despite the fame of his coach, Smith wasn’t hesitant to voice criticism, writing for the university newspaper and arguing for Gaines’ retirement due to health concerns as he neared graduation in 1991.
Early Journalism Career
Following graduation, Stephen A. Smith’s first significant journalism role was at the Winston-Salem Journal, where he worked as a clerk in the sports department. This job served as a springboard for his career, as he soon secured larger positions at various publications, including the Greensborough News and Record and New York Daily News. Ultimately, his most significant opportunity arose when he was hired by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Initially, Stephen A. Smith concentrated solely on covering the Philadelphia 76ers as…
Initially starting his career as an NBA writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith’s role evolved significantly within the publication over the years. He received two promotions, ultimately becoming a general sports columnist. Despite amassing a substantial following, The Philadelphia Inquirer chose to terminate his employment in 2008. Following this, Smith launched his own blog, and two years later, he won a court case against his former employer. The court ruled that The Philadelphia Inquirer would need to rehire him, while also requiring Smith to exclude all political and personal opinions from his writing.
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ESPN
Stephen A. Smith began his journey with ESPN back in 2003, where he first served as an analyst for the NBA Shootaround pregame show, later rebranded as NBA Countdown. By 2005, he had his own show, Quite Frankly With Stephen A. Smith, which ran until its cancellation in 2007. Additionally, Smith hosted a daily program, The Stephen A. Smith Show. However, he is likely best recognized for his participation in ESPN’s First Take, a show he joined in 2012. He has also made appearances on various other ESPN programs, including Dream Job, Pardon the Interruption, Jim Rome is Burning, and Sportscenter. In 2014, he secured a contract worth $3 million annually. His salary increased to $5 million from 2015 until April 2019. In April 2019, reports surfaced indicating that he signed a new ESPN contract for 2021 with an annual salary ranging from $8 to $10 million. As of 2023, Smith’s earnings with the network are reported to be $13 million per year, solidifying his status as one of the highest-paid personalities in ESPN’s history.
Acting Career
Stephen A. Smith has ventured into acting, beginning with a notable appearance on General Hospital, a show he has long admired and on which he has made several cameo appearances. In 2007, he had a role in Chris Rock’s film I Think I Love My Wife. Additionally, he has featured in various beef jerky commercials for Oberto. Most recently, in 2023, Smith made a cameo appearance in Creed III.
Radio Career
Stephen A. Smith has played a significant role in Talk Radio throughout his career, beginning with WEPN radio in New York City in 2005. The second half of his show eventually aired on ESPN Radio. Smith later contributed to Fox Sports Radio in 2009, where he hosted the morning show. In 2013, he transitioned from ESPN radio to Chris Russo’s Mad Dog Sports Channel on Sirius/XM. After a few years, in 2017, he returned to ESPN, with his show now available on Sirius/XM. Between 2015 and 2019, he earned $1 million annually from his Sirius/XM radio program.
Controversy
Stephen A. Smith is widely recognized for his direct, blunt commentary style, which has often resulted in controversies. One of the most infamous incidents involved his remarks on domestic violence connected to an NFL player and his spouse, leading to a brief suspension. Additionally, Smith stirred controversy by suggesting that the decisions of an NFL coach were influenced by racial bias. Further controversy arose when he made derogatory comments after viewing highlights of women’s soccer during the FIFA World Cup.
Personal Life
Stephen A. Smith remains unmarried and has two daughters, who are a year apart in age, though little is known about them due to his private nature regarding personal matters. Reports suggest that he was once engaged, although he has kept details of his dating life under wraps.
Stephen A. Smith Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data is collected from 2023 and 2024, while forecasts extend into 2025 and 2026, including projections for 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Post Title: Stephen A. Smith Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 11, 2025