Shannon Sharpe has brilliantly showcased how athletes can transition from competition to the next chapter of their lives. He parlayed his Hall of Fame NFL career into a successful media empire, which led to more opportunities.
Now, he’s set to receive a spectacular bag from ESPN, which announced earlier this month that the “Club Shay Shay” host signed a new multi-year deal with the sports media giant that will expand his role on “First Take” and other programs.
“Being a part of this family has been a blessing. Everything about this relationship with ESPN, Stephen A. [Smith], and ‘First Take,’ has been tremendous,” Sharpe said in a statement. “I look forward to expanding my role and showing more of the world what I have to offer. The show goes on!”
So how much is Sharpe worth these days...? Well, the answer isn’t clear without him actually letting us take a gander at his bank statements, but we can do a little guesstimating.
The financial details of Sharpe’s ESPN deal have not been revealed, but his “First Take” colleague Stephen A. Smith just signed a five-year deal worth $18 million a year. Per the Wall Street Journal, Smith is the face of ESPN, so while Sharpe is likely not making as much as his colleague, any multi-year ESPN deal won’t be for chump change.
During his NFL days, Sharpe played as a wide receiver with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. His penultimate contract with the Ravens was valued at $14 million, according to ESPN. He retired from the Broncos in 2003 on a seven-year, $16 million contract that he didn’t complete; he earned more than $2 million a year in salary in his later years in the league.
But Sharpe hasn’t played in the league for more than two decades, leaving plenty of time for those millions to dry up. It’s worth noting that he claimed on his “Nightcap” podcast that his ultra-viral ”Club Shay Shay” Katt Williams interview — which currently has more than 71 million views on YouTube — earned him more money than any one year he played in the NFL.
The site Celebrity Net Worth puts Sharpe’s net worth at around $14 million. But that site isn’t Forbes and should be taken with a grain of salt. But even if that number is close to accurate, Sharpe’s ESPN deal, along with various endorsement deals — including a luxury cognac and yogurt brand OIKOS — pretty much guarantee that number will start climbing.
With his new ESPN deal, Shannon Sharpe has put himself in line to level up his media empire into fresh areas and introduce himself to non-sports fans, ensuring that he’ll become a household name before long.