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Stephen A. Smith net worth

Stephen A. Smith

How much is Stephen A. Smith Worth? Stephen A. Smith Net Worth in 2026

$ 60 million
Stephen A. Smith Net Worth
$2,400,000 / year
Stephen A. Smith salary

By the Alux Research Team. How we estimate net worth

Stephen A. Smith’s net worth is estimated at $60 million as of October 2026. Smith is an American sports commentator best known for the ESPN debate show First Take and a growing media business of his own. The biggest driver of the wealth is an ESPN contract reported at over $100 million, signed in 2025, plus a SiriusXM deal and his own podcast and YouTube channel.

Net worth $60 million (estimate)
Born October 14, 1967, in the Bronx, New York (age 59)
Country United States
Known for First Take on ESPN, a SiriusXM show, and a YouTube and podcast network
Main income sources Television contracts, Radio, Podcast and YouTube, Speaking and acting

How Stephen A. Smith built it

  • Made debate his trademark. He became best known for First Take on ESPN.
  • Negotiated bigger contracts. His ESPN pay rose from about $60 million over five years to a reported $100 million plus.
  • Built his own media outlets. He added a SiriusXM show, a podcast and a YouTube channel.

Learn the wealth mindset behind Stephen A. Smith’s career in the Alux app.

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How much is Stephen A. Smith worth in 2026?

We estimate Smith at about $60 million. Published estimates range widely, from $15 million to over $100 million, and the low-quality ones conflict. Our figure is built from reported contracts: about $60 million for the five years from 2019, then a reported $100 million-plus for the five years from 2025, plus $36 million over three years from SiriusXM. After tax and costs, the total sits well above the low estimates. This is an estimate.

Stephen A. Smith in 2026: what they have been working on

  • 2025: He signed an ESPN contract reported at more than $100 million over five years.
  • 2025: He began a SiriusXM show on a reported $36 million, three-year deal.
  • 2025: He appeared in Happy Gilmore 2 as himself and in an episode of Law & Order.
  • Ongoing: He runs a podcast and YouTube channel and appears on General Hospital in a recurring role.

How Stephen A. Smith makes money

  • ESPN: Late 2014: over $3 million a year. 2019: about $60 million across five years. 2025: reported over $100 million across five years.
  • SiriusXM: Reported $36 million over three years from 2025.
  • Podcast and YouTube: The Stephen A. Smith Show and a YouTube channel; ad and sponsor income not public.
  • Acting and books: Recurring role on General Hospital since 2016, plus Straight Shooter (2023).
  • Speaking: Paid appearances; fees not public.

What Stephen A. Smith teaches (and what to take from it)

  • Make your opinion repeatable. Smith built a daily habit of giving a strong view on one topic. Write 100 words on one issue in your field every day for a week.
  • Own a medium. He added radio, podcast and YouTube. Choose one channel and publish to it twice this week.
  • Negotiate with an alternative. Each of his contract jumps came after rival offers. Before your next negotiation, identify your best alternative.
  • Outwork your doubters. He went from a newspaper job to the top of sports TV over decades. Pick one daily task and do it for 30 days.
Smith turned a daily opinion into a media business through repetition. Alux has 10-minute coaching sessions on communication and consistency. Pick one and practice this week.

Career timeline

  1. 1967: Born in the Bronx.
  2. 1994: Joins the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  3. 1999: Starts on CNN/SI.
  4. 2005: Hosts Quite Frankly on ESPN.
  5. 2012: Joins First Take full time.
  6. 2013 to 2017: Hosts on SiriusXM’s sports channel.
  7. 2019: Signs a reported $60 million ESPN deal.
  8. 2023: Publishes Straight Shooter.
  9. 2025: Signs new ESPN and SiriusXM deals.

Early life and background

Smith was born in the Bronx and raised in Hollis, Queens. He graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 1991 after playing basketball there.

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Stephen A. Smith net worth FAQ

What is Stephen A. Smith’s net worth?

Our estimate is about $60 million in October 2026. Published figures range from $15 million to over $100 million.

How much did Stephen A. Smith make from his ESPN contract?

His 2019 deal was reported at about $60 million across five years. The 2025 deal was reported at over $100 million across the same length.

How does Stephen A. Smith make money?

ESPN, SiriusXM, a podcast and YouTube channel, speaking, acting and book sales.

How old is Stephen A. Smith?

He was born on October 14, 1967, so he is 59.

What is Stephen A. Smith known for?

Co-hosting First Take on ESPN and his debate style.

How is Stephen A. Smith’s net worth estimated?

We add reported contract values since 2014, subtract an allowance for tax and agent fees, and add estimated podcast income.

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How we estimate net worth

Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.

Last updated: October 2026.


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