Recently, rumors about Stephen A. Smith’s potential departure from ESPN have been circulating, leading to widespread speculation among his fans and followers.
Stephen A. Smith is the outspoken sports commentator and the face of ESPN’s First Take, who has always been a polarizing figure in sports media.
Highlights
- Stephen has clarified that he was not fired in 2024 but was engaged in disputes regarding his contract’s renewal with ESPN.
- In an interview, Smith revealed that he was fired by ESPN in 2009 and called it one of the scariest moments of his career.
- Smith is among the highest-paid sports personalities, earning around $12 million annually. Due to his diverse earnings, his net worth is approximately $20 million.
Smith, born October 14, 1976, is an American sports television personality, sports radio host, and sports journalist.
Follow along to determine whether Stephen A. Smith was fired from ESPN in 2024 and his contract with ESPN.
Stephen A Smith Cleared His Fired Speculations In 2024 But Reaved He was Fired In 2009
In 2024, Stephen A. Smith was reportedly involved in intense contract negotiations with ESPN regarding his career.
This ongoing battle with his contract negotiations has led numerous fans to believe he will leave the network.
Moreover, Smith has long been one of ESPN’s highest-paid personalities, which made the renewal of his contract a heated topic of discussion.
Although rumors spread that he was fired, Smith has stated that he wasn’t fired but is having disputes about future deals with the network.
Furthermore, this isn’t the first time Smith has had disputes with ESPN, as his relationship with ESPN has seen its ups and downs in the past.
In an interview with the Earn Your Leisure podcast, Smith revealed that ESPN had fired him in 2009.
He also states how being fried then was one of the scariest moments of his life on the network.
Despite the ongoing contract disagreements, Smith’s future at ESPN appears to be assured, with both Smith and the network striving to finalize the terms.
While Smith’s contract with the contract must be lucrative, the changing tides in sports media and the financial pressures on ESPN likely played a role in the disputes surrounding his contract renewal in 2024.
Stephen Smith Is One Of The Top Earners In The Sports Media Industry, Having A Net Worth Of Around $12M
Smith’s salary and earnings have been controversial over the past few years, mainly when ESPN laid off employees and made cuts.
In 2023, Smith expressed empathy for some of his colleagues who had been laid off, stating that the environment at ESPN had changed a lot.
Moreover, in 2024, it was reported that Stephen A. Smith earned approximately $12 million from his contract with ESPN.
His contract covered his basic salary from his performance on First Take and additional earnings from other ESPN shows and his radio show.
As of 2024, Steve Smith’s estimated net worth is around $20 million.
Over the past years, Smith has developed an all-around empire ranging from endorsements and guest appearances to putting himself on the slate as an event speaker.
The Smith brand is built beyond the ESPN gig and includes commercials, podcasts, and on-the-rise social media, all of which have contributed to his substantial net worth.
Additional Infomation
- Stephen Anthony Smith was born in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City.
- His parents were originally from Saint Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands. His father had a hardware store. Smith’s maternal grandmother was white, while the rest of his grandparents were black.
- He graduated from Queens’ Thomas Edison High School in 1986 and attended Winston-Salem State University.
