Stephen A. Smith Reportedly Wants $25 Million Annually From ESPN

Stephen A. Smith's contract with ESPN expires in July 2025, and he wants the network to fork out the big bucks for him. According to the Puck's John Ourand, ESPN has offered Smith a deal worth $18 million annually, but he wants $25 million a year.

"ESPN and Pitaro have put an $18 million-per-year offer in front of their generational star. It’s an insane amount of dough for a TV personality… but it still might not be enough."

As per this report, a five-year, $90 million deal is on the table, but Smith wants those numbers to be bumped up. It remains to be seen if ESPN is willing to go that high.

Smith signed his current deal with the network in 2019 and it sees him get $8 million per year as personal salary. He also earns an additional $4 million thanks to a production contract, which means he's getting about $12 million a year. The 56-year-old wants more than double that amount in his new deal, according to this report.

That would be quite the pay raise, but Smith is arguably the biggest star in the sports media world right now. He wants to take advantage of that and I think there is a decent chance that some other network would give him that deal if ESPN does not. It would be somewhat of an end of an era if the situation pans out that way.

Smith first started working for ESPN in 2003 and spent five years with the network. He left in 2008 but returned soon after in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength since.

Smith is currently a featured commentator and executive producer on First Take and is also an analyst on NBA Countdown. Whether you like him or not, it would be a big loss for ESPN if he does walk away.

Stephen A. Smith Made It Clear He Wants To Be The Highest-Paid Personality At ESPN

Smith's desire to get paid like he is the biggest star at ESPN has been evident for a while now. During an appearance on Outkick The Show last year, he made it crystal clear that he should be the highest-paid on the network.

"Yes, I'm not stuttering. Hell, yes, that's absolutely true," Smith said when asked if he deserves to be the highest-paid. "... In the world of sports television, Clay Travis I've been No. 1 for 12 years. April 1st will mark 12 consecutive years I've been No. 1. Not only have I been No. 1 every year, I've been No. 1 every week and every month of every year for the last 12 years. You don't get to say that about too many people." 

"I'm the one that's been No. 1," Smith stated. "And at the end of the day, it would be nice, one day, for this man to stand before everyone and be like, 'I'm No. 1, and this says I'm No. 1.'"

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