Stephen A. Smith Speaks On Rumored $100 Million ESPN Deal: ‘I’m Very Happy With It’

Stephen A. Smith Speaks On Rumored $100 Million ESPN Deal: ‘I’m Very Happy With It’

Stephen A. Smith isn’t denying the nine-figure rumors…

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the First Take host was asked point-blank if it’s true that he signed a $100 million deal with #ESPN.

He responded,

“I don’t answer questions about my dollars, but what I’ll say to you is that the contract that I signed with ESPN and Walt Disney, I’m very happy with it. It’s over five years.”

While he didn’t confirm the dollar amount, Smith emphasized that the real value lies in the freedom the deal gives him outside of ESPN.

 

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“I have obligations to ESPN, but I also have freedom,” he explained. “If I wanted to, I could do my own talk show tomorrow. I could do my own news show tomorrow. I could do a game show tomorrow. I have my audio rights. I have an inordinate amount of freedom that I have never had in my career, and that is the biggest part of the contract that a lot of people don’t realize.”

When asked for advice on knowing your worth and negotiating for it, Smith said:

“You have to study the math in your industry… It’s imperative that you understand what their definition of success is.”

He added:

“Then I could say, ‘I have met those expectations if not exceeded it,’ which positioned me to say, ‘This is what I’m worth. This is why I deserve this.’”

Good for him! Share your thoughts below.

[VIA]