The Big Lead

Stephen A. Smith net worth: ESPN personality salary, job history & more

Stephen A. Smith has become the biggest name at ESPN. Take a closer look at the network's biggest star's job history and hefty net worth.

By Tyler Reed

Team Stephen A coach Stephen A. Smith on on the red carpet before the All Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Team Stephen A coach Stephen A. Smith on on the red carpet before the All Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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Stephen A. Smith is the biggest name in all of sports media. The ESPN personality has carved out a new era of sports talk, with scolding hot takes and sometimes even drama with athletes.

Smith helped create a new world of sports media, and with the news of his new contract with ESPN, it's clear he made the right decision.

RELATED: NBA legend Charles Barkley rips potential Stephen A. Smith presidential run

So, just how much is Smith worth, and how did he get to the spot he is at today? Let's take a closer look at the top talker of the "Worldwide Leader."

Sports Journalist's Dream

Stephen A. Smit
Stephen A. Smith , American sports television personality, waves to the crowd while walking the field before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Smith cut his teeth in the sports media world with stops at the Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News, New York Daily News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he spent 16 years.

The ESPN megastar has made appearances with the network since 2003; however, the jump in popularity may have come when he began hosting 'Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith'. The show would last from 2005 to 2007.

Now, Smith takes part in multiple shows for the network. But his baby would have to be 'First Take', a show he has been a part of since 2012.

Stephen A. Smith Net Worth & Salary

It has been reported that Smith just signed a brand new six-figure deal with ESPN. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that Celebrity Net Worth has Smith's net worth at $45 million.

The rumored new deal is apparently a five-year deal worth $20 million a year. It seems the world of hot takes is a good one.

Don't Hate The Player

Stephen A. Smit
Stephen A. Smith in 2021. / Tori Lynn Schneider / USA TODAY NETWORK

Any dream that the old world of sports media can make a return is a dead dream that should be stashed away under the used-up underwear that is at the bottom of your drawer.

People want headlines, and Smith gives them just that. However, is there a price to be paid for it? Sure. Does the potential six-figure contract he received make those consequences worth it? Absolutely.

It's not Smith's fault that networks want to pay him this kind of money. The way we consume news has changed, and all Smith is doing is capitalizing on it.

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