NBA
Shaquille O’Neal Contract: Shaq Set To Become One Of Highest-Paid Sports Media Personalities
Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.
Get to know Dan Girolamo betterPublished14 Feb 2025
With a new contract at TNT Sports, Shaquille O’Neal is set to become one of the highest-paid sports media personalities.
Shaq To Stay With TNT Sports
BREAKING: Shaquille O'Neal has an agreement in place for an enormous long-term deal with TNT Sports that will pay him over $15 million a year, sources tell @FOS.
Check out our new 'Tuned In' column by myself and @sportsrapport. ⏬https://t.co/QTDTbine85
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) February 14, 2025
Per Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, O’Neal and TNT Sports have agreed to a long-term contract extension. Under the new deal, O’Neal will pay him over $15 million annually.
That’s good news for Inside the NBA, which will continue on ESPN and ABC next season.
McCarthy’s report states that Kenny “The Jet” Smith is expected to re-sign with TNT Sports.
Host Ernie Johnson is expected to remain with the show. Inside the NBA will continue to be produced in the same Atlanta studio, making Johnson’s return more likely.
Charles Barkley has been very open about his contract negotiations.
Barkley, who signed a 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT Sports in 2022, considered leaving the company after this season. TNT lost their NBA rights package, meaning 2024-2025 is the final season on the network.
After entertaining offers from Amazon and NBC, Barkley announced he would continue negotiating a deal with TNT Sports.
Charles Barkley Confirms He Won't Join NBC or Amazon
"I'm informing NBC that I will not accept their offer. I'm gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon… My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports."
(@NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/gnxMFuCmEl
— NBA Beyond Court (@NBABeyondCourt) February 4, 2025
Highest-Paid Sports Media Personalities
| Highest-Paid Sports Media Personalities | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Tom Brady, Fox Sports | $37.5 million |
| Charles Barkley, TNT Sports | $21 million |
| Stephen A. Smith, ESPN* | $20 million |
| Troy Aikman, ESPN | $18 million |
| Tony Romo, CBS | $18 million |
| Pat McAfee, ESPN | $17 million |
| Joe Buck, ESPN | $15 million |
*unofficial, Smith has not signed a contract
Tom Brady remains the highest-paid sports media personality, and it’s not even close.
Brady signed a 10-year contract with Fox worth $375 million ($37.5 million annually). Brady is the network’s No. 1 color commentator on its football broadcasts.
Barkley is second on the list at $21 million.
Smith comes in at No. 3 at $20 million. With his contract expiring in June 2025, Smith’s new deal that would pay him $20 million annually is unofficial.
Reports were that Smith’s new deal was six years and worth $120 million. However, Smith denied that report on a recent appearance with Howard Stern.
