What is Bob Costas' Net Worth and Salary?
Bob Costas is a renowned American sportscaster with a net worth of $50 million. Best known for his association with NBC Sports, Bob hosted numerous significant sporting events, including twelve Olympic Games. His remarkable career with NBC began in 1980 and concluded in 2019. Additionally, he is celebrated for his play-by-play commentary and contributions to MLB Network, and he hosted his own show, "Studio 42 with Bob Costas."
Throughout his illustrious career, Bob Costas has garnered numerous prestigious awards. These accolades include 8 National Sportscaster of the Year awards from the NSMA and four Sportscaster of the Year awards from the ASA. Additionally, Bob has won over twenty Sports Emmy Awards for his various hosting and announcing roles, making him the only individual in television history to have won Emmys in sports, news, and entertainment categories.
His other notable awards include the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, a TV Guide Award, the Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism, and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. Furthermore, Bob Costas has been honored with the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Early Life
Robert Quinlan Costas was born on March 22, 1952, in Queens, New York. Raised in a family with Greek heritage in Commack, Robert shared a difficult relationship with his father, which persists. After graduating from high school, Bob pursued his studies at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and graduated in 1974 with a degree in communications.
Career
Bob’s career in sportscasting started early, even before he graduated college. In 1973, he worked at an ABC TV affiliate and served as an announcer for the Syracuse Blazers hockey team. Post-graduation, he joined KMOX radio in St. Louis at the age of 22, providing play-by-play commentary for the Spirits of St. Louis basketball team in the American Basketball Association. Bob also provided commentary for the Missouri Tigers, Chicago Bulls, and St. Louis Blues whenever the primary announcer was unavailable.
In 1980, at age 28, Bob began his tenure at NBC, hired by Don Ohlmeyer. Over the years, he became a central figure, hosting coverage of NFL, NBA, and baseball games, boxing matches, NASCAR races, and golf tournaments, among other events. His appearances include shows like "Game of the Week," "PBC on NBC," "Showtime," "Sunday Night Football," "Football Night in America," "The NFL on NBC," "NHL Live," and hosted every Olympic Games coverage by NBC from 1988 to 2016.
In 2017, Bob announced his departure from NBC, which became official in 2019. Outside sports, Bob hosted several talk shows including "Later with Bob Costas," "Larry King Live," and "On the Record with Bob Costas."
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Relationships
In 1983, Bob Costas married Carole "Randy" Randall Krummenacher. They had two children before separating in 2001. Bob famously promised to name his child after Kirby Puckett if his batting average exceeded .350, leading to his son being named Keith Michael Kirby Costas. Both of Bob's children pursued sports journalism and have won Sports Emmys. In 2004, Bob married Jill Sutton and they currently reside in New York.
Controversy
In 2012, Bob made headlines by critiquing America’s gun culture, suggesting it contributed to domestic violence deaths, sparking backlash from Republican factions. Later, in 2014, comments that seemed to praise Vladimir Putin's handling of Middle East tensions drew ire; however, his remarks were taken out of context as he had also criticized Putin.
In 2017, Bob claimed football was in decline due to the brain damage concussions caused, advocating against his son playing the sport. These comments led to his removal from hosting Super Bowl LII and reportedly influenced his separation from NBC after nearly four decades.
Salary
Bob began his career with NBC in 1979, earning a $100,000 annual salary, equivalent to $300,000 today. Over his nearly four-decade tenure, Bob amassed around $100 million in pre-tax earnings. At the time of his departure from NBC, his annual salary was $7 million.
Real Estate
In 2013, Bob and his wife purchased a property in Newport Coast, California, valued at $4.7 million. Situated on a half-acre in a gated community, the estate features a saltwater swimming pool, spa, pool house, cabana, and a guest casita, with the main residence covering about 4,500 square feet of living space.
