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Stephen A. Smith is currently negotiating with ESPN for his next contract, and it looks like he’s going to get paid big money.
Last month, The Puck’s John Ourand reported that ESPN had initially offered Smith $18 million a year, but he immediately turned it down.
Via Puck News
“ESPN has been working hard to re-sign Smith, whose contract ends in a year; last week, ESPN made its initial offer of $18 million per year for five years. I’m told ESPN execs pitched Smith’s WME agents that he would be their highest-paid star, earning more than Monday Night Football’s Troy Aikman or Joe Buck. “It’s an insane amount of dough for a TV personality… but it still might not be enough.”
According to a new report from Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, there’s a good possibility that Smith will become the company’s first $100 million talent.
McCarthy says he’s hearing that Smith could make up to $125 million in his new contract.
The stars are aligning for Smith to possibly become ESPN’s first $100 million talent. Sources have relayed that his new compensation could eventually come in between $20 million and $25 million per year over five years, compared to five years, $90 million for Aikman, five years, $85 million for McAfee and five years, $75 million for Buck.
Smith earning over $100 million would be wild, but he does work hard and the ratings show that he’s probably worth it.