Stephen A. Smith has never been shy about his ambition. Now, his bank account reflects it.
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The 57-year-old ESPN star signed a five-year, $105 million contract earlier this year to remain the face of "First Take." The new deal does not require him to blanket every ESPN property the way he once did, freeing him up to double down on building the Stephen A. brand.
And business is booming.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports that Smith also inked a three-year, $36 million contract with SiriusXM, where he hosts "The Stephen A. Smith Show." On Wednesday night, that venture grows again with the launch of a new two-hour political talk program, "Straight Shooter with Stephen A."
Add it all up, and Smith is pocketing $33 million annually between ESPN and Sirius. Factor in his podcast and YouTube channel, and Marchand estimates the total hovers closer to $40 million. Not bad for a kid from Queens who once had to scratch and claw for print assignments.
The expansion into politics is no accident. Smith has openly flirted with the idea of running for office, though insiders insist he is far too profitable in his current lane to walk away. Politics may not be in his immediate future, but political commentary certainly is—and it is paying dividends.
Smith joined ESPN in 2003 and has survived wave after wave of layoffs and departures that thinned the network's talent bench. He has become its most recognizable voice, especially during NBA season, while still carrying First Take as the flagship morning debate show.
Love him or loathe him, Stephen A. has become bigger than ESPN. And by the looks of his contracts, ESPN knows it too.
