Highest-Paid ESPN Personalities 2026: Top Salaries Ranked

Updated: May 2026

ESPN’s highest-paid personalities in 2026 are led by Stephen A. Smith, whose ESPN extension is worth at least $100 million across five years. That puts his ESPN salary at $20 million a year or more, while his total annual media earnings may now be closer to $40 million when SiriusXM, podcasting, YouTube and outside projects are included.

The rest of ESPN’s salary table is dominated by NFL power. Troy Aikman and Joe Buck remain expensive Monday Night Football investments, Pat McAfee gives ESPN a daily personality-led show with a strong digital audience, and Adam Schefter remains one of the network’s most valuable NFL insiders.

Highest-Paid ESPN Personalities In 2026

Rank	ESPN personality	Estimated ESPN salary	Wider annual earnings estimate	Main ESPN role
1	Stephen A. Smith	$20m+	Up to around $40m	First Take, NFL, NBA, ESPN studio coverage
2	Troy Aikman	$18m–$18.5m	Around $18m–$18.5m	Monday Night Football analyst
3	Pat McAfee	$17m	Higher with outside activity	The Pat McAfee Show
4	Joe Buck	$12m–$15m	Around $12m–$15m	Monday Night Football play-by-play
5	Adam Schefter	$9m	Around $9m+	NFL insider
6	Mike Greenberg	$6.5m	Around $6.5m+	Get Up, ESPN studio coverage
7	Michael Wilbon	$6m	Around $6m+	Pardon the Interruption
8	Tony Kornheiser	$6m	Around $6m+	Pardon the Interruption

These figures are based on reported contract values, annualised deal estimates and credible sports-media reporting. ESPN does not publish a complete salary list, so the numbers should be read as best available estimates rather than audited payroll figures.

ESPN Salary Versus Total Media Earnings

Stephen A. Smith needs a separate line in this article because his ESPN salary and total annual earnings are no longer the same thing. AP reported in March 2025 that Smith agreed a five-year ESPN extension worth at least $100 million, putting his ESPN pay at $20 million a year or more.

Smith’s total media income may be much higher. Reports in September 2025 said his ESPN deal, SiriusXM contract, YouTube revenue, podcast income and other media activity pushed his annual earnings close to $40 million. The New York Post later reported that Smith earns about $21 million a year from ESPN, another $12 million from SiriusXM, and close to $40 million a year once digital and podcast income are included.

How The ESPN Salary Workings Are Calculated

Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN figure starts with the reported five-year, $100 million-plus extension. Divide $100 million by five years and the ESPN salary is at least $20 million a year. If the ESPN deal is closer to the $105 million figure reported elsewhere, the annual ESPN figure rises to around $21 million.

Pat McAfee’s ESPN deal has been widely reported at five years and $85 million, which annualises to $17 million. Troy Aikman’s reported five-year, $90 million deal works out at $18 million per year, while Joe Buck’s reported five-year, $75 million deal works out at $15 million at the high end. Adam Schefter’s reported five-year, $45 million extension annualises to $9 million.

1. Stephen A. Smith — $20 Million+ ESPN Salary, Up To Around $40 Million Total Annual Earnings

Stephen A. Smith is ESPN’s highest-paid on-air personality after agreeing a five-year extension worth at least $100 million. ESPN did not announce the financial terms, but AP reported that a person with knowledge of the agreement said the deal was worth at least $100 million. That puts Smith’s ESPN salary at $20 million a year or more.

Finance Monthly has previously estimated Smith’s total annual earnings at around $40 million when his ESPN contract, SiriusXM deal, podcasting, YouTube revenue, production work and outside media projects are included. That distinction is important for this ranking: Smith is ESPN’s highest-paid personality by ESPN salary, but his full media income is even larger.

2. Troy Aikman — $18 Million To $18.5 Million Per Year

Troy Aikman remains one of ESPN’s biggest broadcasting investments. His move from Fox to ESPN in 2022 helped rebuild Monday Night Football around a premium NFL booth, with Aikman joining longtime broadcast partner Joe Buck. Aikman’s reported five-year deal is commonly placed around $90 million, giving an estimated annual salary of about $18 million. That puts him just behind Smith’s ESPN-only salary and ahead of most studio and insider talent at the network.

3. Pat McAfee — $17 Million Per Year

Pat McAfee sits near the top of ESPN’s pay list through his five-year, $85 million deal. Annualised, that gives him an estimated ESPN deal value of $17 million per year.

McAfee’s value to ESPN comes from a different audience profile from the network’s traditional studio programming. His daily format blends NFL conversation, interviews, humour, social clips and personality-led discussion, giving ESPN a bridge between cable television, YouTube and short-form sports media.

4. Joe Buck — $12 Million To $15 Million Per Year

Joe Buck’s ESPN salary is usually estimated between $12 million and $15 million per year. The high-end figure comes from reports that his ESPN contract could be worth up to $75 million across five years, which annualises to $15 million. Buck’s value comes from live-event authority rather than daily debate volume. With Aikman, he gives ESPN a Monday Night Football booth that carries familiarity, advertiser value and prime-time credibility.

5. Adam Schefter — $9 Million Per Year

Adam Schefter remains ESPN’s highest-profile NFL insider and one of the most valuable news-breakers in sports media. His reported five-year, $45 million extension works out at around $9 million per year. Insiders are paid differently from hosts and game commentators. Schefter’s value comes from access, speed and credibility during the NFL calendar, especially free agency, trades, coaching changes, injury news and draft coverage.

6. Mike Greenberg — $6.5 Million Per Year

Mike Greenberg’s estimated ESPN salary is around $6.5 million per year. His value comes from consistency across morning television, radio-style sports discussion and major ESPN studio assignments. Greenberg has moved through several versions of ESPN’s media machine, from Mike & Mike to Get Up and wider NFL and NBA coverage. He does not dominate the salary table like Smith, Aikman or McAfee, but he remains one of ESPN’s most recognisable studio anchors.

7. Michael Wilbon — $6 Million Per Year

Michael Wilbon is estimated to earn around $6 million per year through his long-running ESPN role. His main platform remains Pardon the Interruption, the debate show he has co-hosted with Tony Kornheiser since 2001. Wilbon’s salary reflects longevity, recognition and a format that has aged better than many sports talk shows. PTI remains one of ESPN’s strongest examples of personality chemistry rather than constant format reinvention.

8. Tony Kornheiser — $6 Million Per Year

Tony Kornheiser is also estimated to earn around $6 million per year. Alongside Wilbon, he helped make Pardon the Interruption one of ESPN’s most durable daily shows. Kornheiser’s ESPN workload is narrower than some of the network’s other top earners, but PTI’s staying power keeps him in the highest-paid group. The show still gives ESPN a familiar bridge between sports news, opinion and entertainment.

Stephen A. Smith’s SiriusXM Deal Pushes Him Into A Different Earnings Tier

Smith’s ESPN contract alone makes him the highest-paid ESPN personality, but his SiriusXM deal pushes his annual income beyond the normal ESPN salary table. Reports in September 2025 said his SiriusXM contract was worth $36 million over three years, equal to $12 million per year.

Using those reported figures, the rough calculation is straightforward: about $21 million from ESPN, about $12 million from SiriusXM, then additional income from YouTube, podcasting and production. That is how Smith’s total annual earnings reach the reported close-to-$40 million range.

Molly Qerim’s Exit Changed First Take Around Smith

Molly Qerim’s exit from First Take gives the ESPN salary story a stronger 2026 update. Front Office Sports reported in October 2025 that Shae Cornette would replace Qerim as host alongside Smith, after ESPN tried a rotating group of candidates following Qerim’s departure. Qerim was not believed to be close to Smith’s salary bracket, but her departure shows the gap between the franchise star and the host role around him. First Take is financially built around Smith, while the hosting chair appears to sit in a much lower pay range.

Who Replaced Molly Qerim On First Take?

Shae Cornette replaced Molly Qerim as host of First Take. The New York Post reported that Cornette was officially selected by ESPN after a month-long audition period and was due to debut in the role on November 3, 2025.

There is no credible public salary figure placing Cornette among ESPN’s highest-paid personalities. Her appointment belongs in this ranking because First Take remains one of ESPN’s most important talent platforms, even though the biggest salary is attached to Smith rather than the host role.

Peter Schrager Joins ESPN’s NFL Roster

Peter Schrager joined ESPN in 2025 after leaving Good Morning Football and NFL Network. ESPN said he signed a multi-year agreement and would contribute across Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, podcasts and ESPN.com.

Reuters also reported ESPN’s announcement of the Schrager deal in April 2025, noting that he was expected to contribute to several ESPN programmes and take part in the network’s NFL Draft coverage. No reliable salary figure has been published that would put Schrager in the top ESPN pay bracket.

ESPN’s Biggest Salaries Follow The NFL

ESPN’s top salary list is heavily shaped by NFL programming. Aikman and Buck are tied to Monday Night Football, Schefter is the network’s lead NFL insider, McAfee’s show leans heavily into NFL conversation, and Schrager has been added across ESPN’s football coverage.

The network’s pay structure shows how expensive premium football programming has become. A top NFL booth, a daily NFL-heavy personality show and fast insider coverage all sit near the centre of ESPN’s talent spending.

Highest-Paid ESPN Personality By Category

Stephen A. Smith is ESPN’s highest-paid debate personality, Troy Aikman is its highest-paid game analyst, Joe Buck is its highest-paid play-by-play voice, Pat McAfee is its biggest personality-led show investment, and Adam Schefter is its highest-paid NFL insider.

That split explains why ESPN’s salary table does not follow one simple ladder. A daily debate host, a former Hall-of-Fame quarterback, a play-by-play announcer, a digital-first personality and an insider all create value in different ways.

Who Is The Highest-Paid ESPN Personality?

Stephen A. Smith is the highest-paid ESPN personality. His ESPN extension is worth at least $100 million across five years, which puts his ESPN salary at $20 million a year or more. His total annual media earnings may be closer to $40 million when SiriusXM, YouTube, podcasting and outside work are included.

How Much Does Stephen A. Smith Make At ESPN?

Stephen A. Smith makes at least $20 million per year from ESPN based on his reported five-year, $100 million-plus extension. Some reports place the ESPN figure closer to $21 million a year.

How Much Does Stephen A. Smith Make In Total?

Stephen A. Smith’s total annual media earnings have been reported close to $40 million. That wider figure includes ESPN, SiriusXM, YouTube, podcasting and other media activity.

How Much Is Stephen A. Smith’s SiriusXM Deal Worth?

Stephen A. Smith’s SiriusXM deal has been reported at $36 million over three years, equal to about $12 million per year. That sits on top of his ESPN contract rather than replacing it.

How Much Does Pat McAfee Make From ESPN?

Pat McAfee’s ESPN deal has been reported at five years and $85 million, which works out at around $17 million per year.

How Much Does Troy Aikman Make At ESPN?

Troy Aikman is estimated to make around $18 million to $18.5 million per year at ESPN. His reported five-year deal is commonly placed around $90 million.

How Much Does Joe Buck Make At ESPN?

Joe Buck is estimated to make between $12 million and $15 million per year at ESPN. The high-end estimate comes from a reported five-year, $75 million deal.

How Much Does Adam Schefter Make At ESPN?

Adam Schefter is estimated to make around $9 million per year. That figure comes from a reported five-year, $45 million extension.

Did Molly Qerim Leave ESPN?

Yes. Molly Qerim left ESPN and First Take in 2025. ESPN later selected Shae Cornette as her replacement on First Take.

Who Replaced Molly Qerim On First Take?

Shae Cornette replaced Molly Qerim as host of First Take. She was selected after ESPN tried several candidates following Qerim’s exit.

Is Peter Schrager At ESPN Now?

Yes. Peter Schrager joined ESPN in 2025 on a multi-year agreement, with appearances planned across Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and ESPN podcasts.

Final Ranking: ESPN’s Highest-Paid Stars In 2026

Stephen A. Smith leads ESPN’s salary list after securing a deal worth at least $100 million across five years. His ESPN-only salary is above $20 million a year, while his total annual media earnings may be close to $40 million once SiriusXM, digital video, podcasting and production income are included.

Troy Aikman, Pat McAfee and Joe Buck remain close behind because ESPN’s largest cheques still flow toward NFL broadcasts, personality-led shows and talent who can carry daily attention. The 2026 update strengthens the ranking without overturning it: Smith’s ESPN deal is confirmed, his wider income has grown, First Take has changed around him, and ESPN has added Peter Schrager to its NFL coverage.