The salaries of sports’ biggest stars and coaches are often well known but they aren’t the only ones making millions of dollars.
In fact, the biggest events of the year call for well-known voices to call the game and provide the best experience for fans. Oftentimes, the top sportscasters and sports broadcasters can make even more than head coaches and players.
Below, we’ll go over the highest-paid broadcasters in sports.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Sports Broadcasters
The Super Bowl, World Series, major golf tournaments, and basketball games all call on the world’s well-known announcers, including Jim Nantz, Joe Buck, and Al Michaels. TV show and radio host personalities like Stephen A. Smith and Jim Rome are also among the highest-paid sportscasters.
Without even commenting on his first official game, Tom Brady leads all broadcasters as the highest-paid announcer signing a 10-year deal with Fox Sports for $375 million dollars.
Sports commentary is one of the most underrated aspects of the game. The highest-paid broadcasters are compensated generously for their color and play-by-play analysis of the game.
The top-10 list features legends like Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Al Michael, and Jim Nantz.
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- Tom Brady — $37.5 Million
- Jim Rome — $30 Million
- Tony Romo — $18 Million
- Troy Aikman — $18 Milion
- Michael Strahan — $17 Million
- Kirk Herbstreit — $16 Million
- Joe Buck — $15 Million
- Al Michaels — $15 Million
- Stephen A. Smith — $12 Million
- Jim Nantz — 10.5 Million
10. Jim Nantz — 10.5 Million
Jim Nantz has been with CBS since 1985 covering some of the biggest events of the year. He worked his way up from studio host to lead play-by-play announcer for the No.1 team for NFL games on CBS.
He heads the coverage for major PGA tournaments including the Masters, the first major golf tournament of the year. Nantz is also the play-by-play commentator for the Men’s March Madness tournament every year, covering the first round through to the Final Four.
In tandem with Tony Romo, Nantz has also called the Super Bowl. His salary with CBS has gone as $10.5 million according to his latest contract negotiation.
9. Stephen A. Smith — $12 Million
Stephen A. Smith may be known more as an entertainer than a sportscaster but he’s one of the highest-paid on-air employees at ESPN at $12 million per year.
Smith delivers controversial hot takes about the latest sports news as the host of ESPN’s First Take. He makes regular appearances as an NBA analyst on SportsCenter and ESPN.
8. Al Michaels — $15 Million
For over five decades, Al Michaels has been known to cover the biggest prime-time games and events.
His resume includes the “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics and many World Series. In 1986, he signed a 20-year deal to cover Monday Night Football for ABC until he left in 2006. He returned to NBC in 2007 to provide play-by-play commentary on Sunday Night Football for almost 14 years.
Now Michaels took a huge payday as he leads Amazon’s broadcast of Thursday Night Football. Michaels is expected to be paid $15 million annually.
7. Joe Buck — $15 Million
After 28 years at Fox Sports, Joe Buck followed Troy Aikman to ESPN for a huge payday. Buck signed a five-year, $75 million deal with ESPN to call Monday Night Football alongside broadcasting partner Aikman.
It’s a huge change for Buck after working with Fox Sports since 1994. He was the primary No.1 team’s play-by-play voice for NFL on Fox, along with the World Series. Buck also contributed to major golf tournaments like the PGA Championship
6. Kirk Herbstreit — $16 Million
One of the most recognizable broadcasters in college football, Kirk Herbstriet has been with ESPN since 1996 and has since become one of the most recognizable faces on the network’s college football coverage.
Herbstreit is a top analyst on College GameDay and a color commentator for ABC’s prime-time games. He’s rumored to earn about $6 million per year from these gigs.
In 2022, Herbstreit finally had his opportunity with the NFL as the lead broadcaster of Thursday Night Football with Amazon. He is set to make an eight-figure salary on TNF with Amazon.
With multiple different contracts, Herbstreit is set to receive $16 million a year.
5. Michael Strahan —$17 Million
Michael Strahan is one of the NFL biggest broadcasting personalities. While he serves as an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday Night Football, he’s a part of many other broadcasts like ABC’s “Good Morning America”.
While most of his broadcasting salary stems from Good Morning America, he’s also a television host and actor. He has been featured as the host of ABC Pyramid and other game shows.
4. Troy Aikman —$18 Milion
For the last 20 years, Troy Aikman has served as the color analyst for Fox Sports. But in 2021, the former Dallas Cowboy Quarterback joined ESPN for a 5-year $90 million contract as a lead analyst on Monday Night Football.
The legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer has announced six Super Bowls and will be a part of the 2026 broadcast, which will be the final year of his contract.
3. Tony Romo —$18 Million
In 2017, Tony Romo replaced Phil Simms on CBS’ top pairing with Jim Nantz. Right out of retirement, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback was a hit and quickly drew praise as an analyst.
Romo brought fresh new energy to the CBS booth by dazzling fans by predicting plays. He used his skills to negotiate a 10-year $180 million contract with CBS when ESPN tried to lure him away.
2. Jim Rome —$30 Million
Jim Rome began his career in 1990 at a college radio station. He slowly built one of the biggest sports radio followers with more than two million listeners. Rome is one of the highest-paid sports broadcasters with an annual salary of $30 million.
The Jim Rome show now airs on over 200 radio stations each weekday and is tied for the 21st most listened-to talk radio show in the US. Rome is also listed as the 29th most influential talk radio personality.
1. Tom Brady — $37.5 Million
Fox Sports isn’t waiting around prior to Tom Brady retiring, the network has already locked in on the legendary quarterback with a 10-year $375 million contract.
The contract won’t begin until Brady is finished playing but he will become a lead NFL analyst on-air. Brady will be earning $37.5 million a year as an analyst making him the highest-paid sports broadcaster in history.
FAQs
The highest-paid sports broadcaster is Tom Brady, who will collect a $37.5 million yearly salary beginning in fall 2024.. The highest-paid broadcaster currently collecting their salary is Jim Rome, who earns $30 million yearly for hosting The Jim Rome Show on CBS Sports Radio.
Who is the highest paid sport announcer? ›
The highest-paid sports broadcaster is Tom Brady, who will collect a $37.5 million yearly salary beginning in fall 2024.. The highest-paid broadcaster currently collecting their salary is Jim Rome, who earns $30 million yearly for hosting The Jim Rome Show on CBS Sports Radio.
How much do CBS sports announcers get paid? ›
Hourly Pay at Cbs Sports
The average hourly pay for an Announcer is $17 per hour.
Who is the highest paid anchor on ESPN? ›
Stephen A.
Smith is more of an entertainer than a sportscaster. A very successful one. At $12 million a year, he is the highest paid on-air employee at ESPN. In the digital age of hot takes, memes, and never-ending sports debate, Smith is at the forefront.
How much does Michael Strahan make as a commentator? ›
Strahan signed a new contract with ABC in 2016. It was reported at the time that the deal could almost double his "GMA" salary, to around $20 million per year. He re-signed with ABC in 2021, wth Variety reporting the deal was for four years.
How much do Big 10 commentators make? ›
How does the salary as a Broadcast at Big Ten Network compare with the base salary range for this job? The average salary for a Broadcast is $71,110 per year in United States, which is 22% lower than the average Big Ten Network salary of $92,187 per year for this job.
How much does Charles Barkley make as an announcer? ›
Charles Barkley signed a new “life-altering” contract in October last year. He has three more years of his existing contract, which guarantees an impressive annual salary of $10 million.
Who is the most famous sports announcer ever? ›
1.Vin Scully
He was more recognizable than some of the legends who played for the Dodgers. His warm and soothing voice comforted millions of Dodgers and baseball fans for nearly 70 years. In 1982, Scully was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award for his excellence in broadcasting MLB games.
Who is the highest paid NFL player 2023? ›
The Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts leads the list, at $51 million per year, followed by the New York Jets' Aaron Rodgers, at $50.3 million. The Denver Broncos' Russell Wilson is third, at $49 million per season, with the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray at $46.1 million.
Which sport pays the most in America? ›
The NBA. With each player taking home a handsome 8.32 million U.S. dollars every year, the NBA is the professional sports league with the highest player wages worldwide. What sport is the hardest? Boxing, Ice Hockey, Football.
Association Football (Soccer) – 4 Billion Fans With an estimated 4 billion fans, association football, or soccer as it is known in the US and Canada, is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world. Soccer is played by two teams in a rectangular field with a goal at both ends.
How much does Terry Bradshaw make as a broadcaster? ›
Despite Bradshaw's other TV success, a large portion of his income comes from his contract with Fox. Estimates of Bradshaw's overall salary vary, but Celebrity Net Worth reports it is $5 million. However, estimates say that Bradshaw's Fox contract makes up $2 million of that number.
How much do ESPN commentators get paid? ›
The estimated base pay is $67,148 per year. The estimated additional pay is $5,755 per year. Additional pay could include bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How much does Tony Dungy make on NBC? ›
NBC Salary
For commentating work at NBC, Tony Dungy's annual salary is $2 million.
Who is the highest-paid anchor in the US? ›
The highest-paid anchor on ABC News is “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer, who pulls in an estimated $12 million a year, while “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley leads that network with $5 million a year.
Who has the highest salary on Fox News? ›
Who is the highest-paid Fox News anchor? Sean Hannity is the highest-paid Fox News television anchor. He reportedly earns $45 million in annual salary and has a current net worth of $250 million. Sean is renowned for hosting The Sean Hannity Show on radio and Hannity on the Fox News television channel.
What ESPN anchor was fired? ›
ESPN Fired 'SportsCenter' Anchor Ashley Brewer One Week Before Her Wedding.
What is Kelly Ripa's salary? ›
Ripa makes an annual salary of $22 million each year as a co-host on Live With Kelly, according to Celerbity Net Worth.
What is Tom Brady's commentator salary? ›
His $37.5 million salary would by far be the most for any NFL color commentator, roughly doubling the $18 million salaries for ESPN's Troy Aikman and CBS' Tony Romo, according to the New York Post.
How much will Tom Brady make as a broadcaster? ›
At the time of Brady's signing in 2022, the New York Post's Andrew Marchand reports that Brady is set to make $375 million over 10 years, or $37.5 million per year. With Brady jumping to the broadcast booth in 2024, that deal will run through the 2033 NFL season.
In 1997, Long was awarded a Sports Emmy Award as Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Howie Long is said to be reportedly earning $4 million annually for his work on Fox Sports and various endorsem*nt deals.
How much money does NFL commentators make? ›
The National Football League is the sport's highest level, and its announcers are compensated accordingly, given that each season, the best announcers earn more than $1 million.
How much does a big screen actor get paid? ›
Movie Actor Salary
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|
| Top Earners | $32,500 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $32,000 | $15 |
| Average | $26,276 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $20,000 | $10 |
According to reports, Shaq will be earning $10 million per year before tax. That means that by the time he's 60, Shaq will be making a total of $100 million from just his TNT contract. O'Neal has always shared how he feels about working for TNT. He once said, “My worst day at TNT would be good.
How much does Jalen Rose make as a commentator? ›
Though not yet confirmed, there's been talk that Rose has an annual salary of $3 million per year. Many sources, including whatstheirnetworth.com have shared this regarding his salary. Since 2007, Rose has been a part of ESPN as an analyst. He even became one of the hosts of the NBA Countdown.
How much does Charles Barkley make on Fox? ›
Barkley currently has three years left on a contract that pays him $10 million per season.
Who was the longest running sports announcer? ›
Bob Wolff was the longest running sports broadcaster in television and radio history. He is a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Who is the longest sports commentator? ›
According to Official Guinness Records, The longest career as a sports broadcaster is 75 years by Bob Wolff (b. 29 November 1920, USA) who began his professional broadcasting career on CBS radio in 1939 and continues to appear on-air for Cablevision News 12 Long Island at the age of 93.
Who is the best NFL announcer? ›
- Joe Davis & Daryl Johnston (Fox) – 2.85. ...
- Kevin Burkhardt & Greg Olsen (Fox) – 3.08. ...
- Mike Tirico & Cris Collinsworth (NBC) – 3.16. ...
- Jim Nantz & Tony Romo (CBS) – 3.18. ...
- Joe Buck & Troy Aikman (ESPN) – 3.22. ...
- Kevin Harlan & Trent Green (CBS) – 3.25. ...
- Ian Eagle & Charles Davis (CBS) – 3.30.
For his efforts, Daron Payne has officially been paid. The Washington Commanders gave the defensive tackle the second-highest contract for a DT in NFL history on Sunday, signing him to a four-year, $90 million deal with $60 million guaranteed.
While Tyrone Swoopes won the title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
Who is the highest paid qb in the nfl 2023? ›
Highest NFL QB salaries in 2023
- Lamar Jackson: $52 million.
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million.
- Aaron Rodgers, Packers: $50.3 million.
- Russell Wilson, Broncos: $48.5 million.
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million.
- Deshaun Watson, Browns: $46 million.
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $45 million.
- Josh Allen, Bills: $43 million.
The Top 6 Highest Paying Jobs in the World
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- General Surgeon.
- Senior Software Engineer.
- Investment Banker.
- Data Scientist.
- IT Systems Manager.
According to Sports Virsa, the top 10 hardest sports in the world to play in 2022 are as follows: Boxing (hardest), American football, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, wrestling, rugby, and water polo.
What is the highest paid profession? ›
Get Matched!
- Anesthesiologist. #1 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. #2 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist. #3 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Surgeon. #4 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Orthodontist. #5 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Physician. #6 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Psychiatrist. #7 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
- Nurse Anesthetist.
1. American Football – 74.5%
What is the most viewed sport? ›
The World's Most Watched Sports
- NFL. Fans: 400 million. Outside of the U.S., this sport has limited following. ...
- Basketball. Fans: 400 million. ...
- Golf. Fans: 450 million. ...
- Baseball. Fans: 500 million. ...
- Table Tennis. Fans: 850 million. ...
- Volleyball. Fans: 900 million. ...
- Tennis. Fans: 1 billion. ...
- Field Hockey. Fans: 2.2 billion.
Fox Sports Analyst Salary
$51,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $89,000 is the 75th percentile.
What is Cris Collinsworth salary? ›
Cris Collinsworth Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $30 Million |
|---|
| Salary: | $2 Million Per Year |
| Date of Birth: | Jan 27, 1959 (64 years old) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | American football player, Sports commentator, Commentator |
2 more rowsMar 28, 2023
Rachel Nichols: $1.5 Million
Sports Illustrated honored Rachel Nichols as the most prominent and impactful female sports journalist in 2014. The 49-year-old has been in sports reporting since 1995. She worked as a sports writer for various news tabloids until 2004, when she transitioned to television.
How much does Skip Bayless get paid? ›
The polarizing media personality signed an extension with the network in 2021. At the time, The New York Post's Andrew Marchand reported the new four-year deal would pay Bayless $32 million. While many sports fans may have grown tired of Bayless' shtick, it pays well.
Who is the highest paid anchor at ESPN? ›
Stephen A.
Smith is more of an entertainer than a sportscaster. A very successful one. At $12 million a year, he is the highest paid on-air employee at ESPN. In the digital age of hot takes, memes, and never-ending sports debate, Smith is at the forefront.
Who are the highest paid NBC employees? ›
The highest paying jobs at NBCUniversal are director, senior software engineer, lead technician, and team leader. Director jobs at NBCUniversal earn an average yearly salary of $158,728, NBCUniversal senior software engineer jobs average $138,443, and NBCUniversal lead technician jobs average $129,626.
How much does Erin Andrews make as a sports commentator? ›
Her salary is roughly $2 million per year. Andrews' salary, however, is just a part of her income. She also has a myriad of endorsem*nts that contribute.
How much does Terry Bradshaw make as a sports announcer? ›
Terry Bradshaw Fox salary
Despite Bradshaw's other TV success, a large portion of his income comes from his contract with Fox. Estimates of Bradshaw's overall salary vary, but Celebrity Net Worth reports it is $5 million. However, estimates say that Bradshaw's Fox contract makes up $2 million of that number.
How much do ESPN announcers get paid? ›
The estimated base pay is $83,807 per year. The estimated additional pay is $32,645 per year. Additional pay could include bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
Which Fox News host makes the most money? ›
The Famous American commentator Tucker Carlson has a Net Worth of $380 Million US Dollars. Tucker Carlson earns a $35 million salary from Fox News annually, making him the highest-paid and richest television host in the world.
How much will Tom Brady make as a sportscaster? ›
His $37.5 million salary would by far be the most for any NFL color commentator, roughly doubling the $18 million salaries for ESPN's Troy Aikman and CBS' Tony Romo, according to the New York Post.
How much does Tony Dungy make as an announcer? ›
NBC Salary
For commentating work at NBC, Tony Dungy's annual salary is $2 million.
The Highest Paid TV Hosts 2021
- 8 Judy Sheindlin. ...
- 7 Dr. ...
- 6 David Letterman: $400 Million. ...
- 5 Jay Leno: $400 Million. ...
- 4 Ryan Seacrest: $380 Million. ...
- 3 Steve Harvey: $120 Million. ...
- 2 Tyra Banks: $90 Million. tyrabanksVerified. ...
- 1 Conan O'Brien: $85 Million. Team Coco.
The middle 67% of Race Announcers makes between $30,960 and $48,910, with the top 67% making $86,780.
What is Greg Gutfeld salary at Fox? ›
Greg Gutfeld earns a $24 million salary annually from his employer, Fox News. Greg Gutfeld is one of the richest television hosts in the world. Greg Gutfeld is the host of the late-night comedy talk show Gutfeld! Greg Gutfeld is also one of five co-hosts and panelists on the political talk show The Five.
Who is the richest News Anchor in the world? ›
With a net worth of $200 million, Anderson Cooper tops the list of richest journalists in the world in 2023. He has made this huge fortune in his career of over 30 years now. A small part of his fortune also derives from his inheritance, given that he belongs to an old & wealthy New York family.
Who is the highest-paid evening News Anchor? ›
The highest-paid anchor on ABC News is “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer, who pulls in an estimated $12 million a year, while “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley leads that network with $5 million a year.
