Stephen A. Smith Salary ESPN, How Much Make Per Program?

Stephen A. Smith is one of the most popular and influential sports media personalities in the United States. He is best known for his appearances on various ESPN programs, such as SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and First Take. He is also a writer and columnist for ESPN and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith has a distinctive style of commentary that is often loud, passionate, and controversial. He is not afraid to express his opinions and challenge others on various sports topics.

But how much does Stephen A. Smith earn from his media career? What is his net worth and how did he achieve it? What are some of the highlights and challenges of his professional and personal life? In this article, we will answer these questions and more as we explore the life and career of Stephen A. Smith.

Stephen A. Smith Salary ESPN

Stephen A. Smith has a net worth of $20 million and a salary of $13 million per year as of 2024. This makes him the highest-paid ESPN personality and one of the highest-paid sportscasters in the world.

Smith’s salary consists of an $8 million yearly salary and a $4 million-per-year production contract. His production contract allows him to create content for ESPN platforms, such as his show Stephen A’s World, which debuted in 2021 on ESPN+.

Smith’s salary has increased significantly over the years as he became more prominent and demanded in the sports media industry. In 2019, he signed a new deal with ESPN that paid him $8 million per year, making him the highest-paid ESPN personality at the time. Prior to that, he was earning $5 million per year from ESPN.

Period	Salary
Per session	$120,000
Per year	$12,000,000
Per month	$1,000,000
Per week	$240,000
Per day	$48,000
Per hour	$16,000

Smith’s salary reflects his value and influence in the sports media market. He is one of the most recognizable and watched personalities on ESPN, attracting millions of viewers and listeners across various platforms. He is also one of the most active and versatile media figures, covering multiple sports and appearing on multiple shows.

Stephen A. Smith Net Worth

Stephen A. Smith’s net worth of $20 million is a result of his long and successful career in sports media. He started his career as a print journalist, working for various newspapers such as the Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News and Record, the New York Daily News, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He began working for ESPN in 2003 as an analyst for NBA Shootaround (later renamed NBA Countdown). He also hosted his own show on ESPN Radio called The Stephen A. Smith Show from 2005 to 2008. He left ESPN in 2008 after his contract expired and joined Fox Sports Radio as a host.

He returned to ESPN in 2012 as a commentator for First Take, where he debates with Max Kellerman on various sports topics. He also resumed his role as an NBA analyst for SportsCenter and NBA Countdown. He became one of the most popular and controversial personalities on ESPN, generating ratings and buzz with his opinions and arguments.

In addition to his work for ESPN, Smith has also ventured into other media fields, such as acting, writing, and producing. He has appeared in several movies and TV shows, usually playing himself or a fictional version of himself. Some of his credits include I Think I Love My Wife (2007), General Hospital (2007), Wild ‘n Out (2014), Black-ish (2016), Almost Christmas (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), The Last O.G. (2019), Bad Boys for Life (2020), Hubie Halloween (2020), The Equalizer (2021), and King Richard (2021)³.

He has also written two books: Stephen A. Smith: The Truth About Sports (2003) and Stephen A.’s World: The State of Sports Today (2007). He has also produced several documentaries, such as Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith (2005-2007), Stephen A.’s World: The State of Sports Today (2007), Black in America: The Black Woman & Family (2008), Brick City (2009-2011), The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2013), Kareem: Minority of One (2015), O.J.: Made in America (2016), Shut Up & Dribble (2018), Why We Fight (2018-2019), Blackballed (2020), The Last Dance (2020), Be Water (2020), Tiger Woods: America’s Son (2020), Tiger (2021), Naomi Osaka: Playing by Her Own Rules (2021), Malice at the Palace: Untold Stories from the NBA’s Most Notorious Brawl (2021).

Smith has also invested in various businesses and ventures, such as Rumble, a boxing-inspired fitness company, and The Boardroom, a digital media platform co-founded by Kevin Durant.

Career

Stephen A. Smith’s career in sports media spans over three decades and covers multiple sports and platforms. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected voices in the industry. He has also faced some challenges and controversies along the way.

Some of the highlights of his career include:

• Being the first African-American sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Breaking several stories and scoops as an NBA reporter, such as Allen Iverson’s trade to the Denver Nuggets in 2006.
• Hosting his own show on ESPN Radio and becoming one of the most popular and controversial hosts in the network.
• Returning to ESPN in 2012 and becoming the face of First Take, where he debates with Max Kellerman on various sports topics.
• Becoming the highest-paid ESPN personality and one of the highest-paid sportscasters in the world with a salary of $13 million per year.
• Creating his own show on ESPN+ called Stephen A’s World, where he showcases his personality and opinions on various topics.
• Appearing in several movies and TV shows, usually playing himself or a fictional version of himself.
• Writing two books and producing several documentaries on various sports and social issues.
• Being inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2021^.

Some of the challenges and controversies of his career include:

• Being demoted from a columnist to a reporter by The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2007 after he violated the newspaper’s policy by appearing on Fox News without permission.
• Leaving ESPN in 2008 after his contract expired and joining Fox Sports Radio as a host.
• Being suspended by ESPN for one week in 2014 after he made controversial comments about domestic violence in relation to the Ray Rice case.
• Being criticized by some NBA players, such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kwame Brown, for his opinions and criticisms of them.
• Being accused of racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia by some critics and viewers for some of his remarks and statements on various topics.

Personal Life

Stephen A. Smith’s personal life is relatively private compared to his professional life. He has not been married or engaged publicly, although he has been linked to some women in the past. He has two daughters from a previous relationship, who are both adults now. He is very protective of his family and does not reveal much about them to the public.

Smith is a devout Christian who attends church regularly. He is also a philanthropist who supports various causes and charities, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the United Negro College Fund, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Smith is also a fan of various sports teams, such as the New York Yankees, the New York Knicks, the New York Giants, and the Dallas Cowboys. He is also a fan of boxing and mixed martial arts. He is friends with several celebrities and athletes, such as Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Conor McGregor, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Barack Obama, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Drake, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, etc.

Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith is one of the most successful and influential sports media personalities in the United States. He has a net worth of $20 million and a salary of $13 million per year. He is best known for his appearances on various ESPN programs, such as SportsCenter , NBA Countdown , and First Take . He is also a writer and columnist for ESPN and The Philadelphia Inquirer . He has also ventured into other media fields , such as acting , writing , and producing . He has faced some challenges and controversies along the way , but he has also achieved many accolades and recognition . He has a relatively private personal life , but he is a devout Christian , a philanthropist , and a fan of various sports teams . He is friends with several celebrities and athletes .

10 Most Asked Questions And Answers

Q: How old is Stephen A. Smith? A: Stephen A. Smith is 56 years old as of 2024. He was born on October 14 , 1967.

6 feet 1 inch or 185 cm tall.

Q: Where is Stephen A. Smith from? A: Stephen A. Smith is from New York City. He was born in the Bronx and grew up in Hollis, Queens.

Q: What is Stephen A. Smith’s education? A: Stephen A. Smith graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Queens. He then attended the Fashion Institute of Technology for one year before receiving a basketball scholarship to attend Winston-Salem State University, a historically black university in North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in mass communications in 1991.

Q: Is Stephen A. Smith married? A: Stephen A. Smith is not married and has never been engaged publicly. He has two daughters from a previous relationship, who are both adults now. He is very protective of his family and does not reveal much about them to the public.

Q: What is Stephen A. Smith’s ethnicity? A: Stephen A. Smith is African-American. He is of Jamaican descent on his father’s side and American descent on his mother’s side.

Q: What is Stephen A. Smith’s religion? A: Stephen A. Smith is a devout Christian who attends church regularly. He has said that his faith is very important to him and that he believes in God and Jesus Christ.

Q: How much does Stephen A. Smith make per year? A: Stephen A. Smith makes $13 million per year as of 2024. This consists of an $8 million yearly salary and a $4 million-per-year production contract. This makes him the highest-paid ESPN personality and one of the highest-paid sportscasters in the world.

Q: What are some of the shows that Stephen A. Smith appears on? A: Stephen A. Smith appears on various ESPN programs, such as SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and First Take. He also hosts his own show on ESPN+ called Stephen A’s World, where he showcases his personality and opinions on various topics.

Q: What are some of the movies and TV shows that Stephen A. Smith has appeared in? A: Stephen A. Smith has appeared in several movies and TV shows, usually playing himself or a fictional version of himself. Some of his credits include I Think I Love My Wife (2007), General Hospital (2007), Wild ‘n Out (2014), Black-ish (2016), Almost Christmas (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), The Last O.G. (2019), Bad Boys for Life (2020), Hubie Halloween (2020), The Equalizer (2021), and King Richard (2021).

Q: What are some of the books and documentaries that Stephen A. Smith has written and produced? A: Stephen A. Smith has written two books: Stephen A. Smith: The Truth About Sports (2003) and Stephen A.’s World: The State of Sports Today (2007). He has also produced several documentaries, such as Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith (2005-2007), Stephen A.’s World: The State of Sports Today (2007), Black in America: The Black Woman & Family (2008), Brick City (2009-2011), The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2013), Kareem: Minority of One (2015), O.J.: Made in America (2016), Shut Up & Dribble (2018), Why We Fight (2018-2019), Blackballed (2020), The Last Dance (2020), Be Water (2020), Tiger Woods: America’s Son (2020), Tiger (2021), Naomi Osaka: Playing by Her Own Rules (2021), Malice at the Palace: Untold Stories from the NBA’s Most Notorious Brawl (2021).