Stephen A. Smith salary revealed: First Take host is taking ESPN to the bank
Stephen A Smith #StephenASmith
Stephen A. Smith is getting paid how much by ESPN these days?!
No doubt about it. Stephen A. Smith is making bank as the signature sports analyst for ESPN.
The New York Post revealed the host of First Take makes $12 million annually under the contract he signed with ESPN in late 2019. It had been public knowledge that his personal salary was $8 million annually, but he also earns a $4 million production contract each year as well. This means the five-year deal he inked with ESPN in late 2019 is worth $60 million over the life of the deal.
Not only does Smith make more money than anybody in the world doing what he does, but he makes more money than most of the athletes and coaches he covers. He makes more money than Nick Saban, who, I don’t know, has won six national championships as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Smith makes more than just about any NFL player yearly on a rookie deal.
Not to mention, he makes more than most NBA players outside of the superstars he covers on a daily basis. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
No, it is not his fault. Smith should do everything in his power to make as much money as possible. If ESPN or another sports broadcasting company wants to pay him that annually, then so be it.