ESPN has brought out their best offer to arguably their biggest star, sports media personality Stephen A. Smith, but it may not be enough.
The 56-year-old has been hinting for the past year that he aims to be the network's highest-paid on-air talent, given that he is generally considered the face of the network.
ESPN has reportedly given in to his demands and offered him a new contract worth $18 million annually, the same as their highest-paid on-air talent, Troy Aikman, who is the color commentator for the network's NFL Monday Night Football broadcast.
However, journalist John Ourand of Puck has reported that Smith is now seeking at least $25 million per year, which is significantly higher than ESPN's initial offer.
Smith's deal with ESPN is set to expire in July 2025, giving the two parties a year to finalize negotiations for a new contract if possible.
Stephen A Smith's current ESPN deal was groundbreaking
Smith signed a record-breaking five-year contract worth $60 million with ESPN in 2019, which previously made him the highest-paid sports media personality in the world at that time.
The contract included a personal salary of $8 million per year, along with a $4 million-per-year production contract, resulting in a total annual income of $12 million.
However, subsequent deals for other sports media personalities have dwarfed the New York native's once-megadeal. Fellow ESPN talents Joe Buck and Pat McAfee now each earn $15 million annually.
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