Stephen A. Smith is reportedly on the verge of signing a record-breaking five-year, $120 million contract with ESPN, which would make him the highest-paid ESPN talent, surpassing Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pat McAfee. Smith’s current deal expires next year, and he’s been vocal about his desire to be the top-paid analyst at ESPN. While the deal isn’t official yet, it is expected to elevate his annual earnings to $24 million, a significant increase from his current $12 million per year.
Smith, known for hosting First Take and his podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show, has kept details of his contract negotiations private, even telling The Athletic that he does not discuss such matters. His new contract could further boost his $25 million net worth.
In addition to his contract talks, Smith recently made headlines for calling out President Joe Biden regarding the pardon of Hunter Biden, criticizing the reasons given for the pardon.
