What is Colin Cowherd's Net Worth and Salary?
Colin Cowherd is a renowned sports radio host with a net worth of $25 million. Beyond radio, Colin Cowherd is recognized for hosting several sports television shows. After leaving ESPN in 2015, he joined Fox Sports, where he hosts both radio and TV shows. Known for his blunt assessments and controversial statements, Cowherd remains a popular figure in the sports industry and has authored several successful books.
Salary and Contract
During his tenure at ESPN, Colin's salary peaked at $2 million per year. Transitioning to Fox Sports/iHeartRadio in 2015, he secured a contract worth $6 million annually for four years. In 2018, with one year left on his contract, Colin signed an extension with Fox Sports/iHeartRadio, maintaining his $6 million annual salary. The new contract also included an ownership stake in his show, granting him a percentage of the show's net revenue.
Early Life
Colin Cowherd was born on January 6th, 1964, in Aberdeen, Washington. He grew up in Grayland, Washington, alongside his older sister. Describing himself as a "loner" during his childhood, Colin's father was an optometrist, and his mother was a homemaker. His parents divorced when he was young, and his father struggled with alcoholism, leading to Colin being primarily raised by his mother. Colin developed a passion for listening to baseball on the radio during his youth and later attended Eastern Washington University.
Career
Colin Cowherd's career began with the San Diego Padres as their play-by-play voice. He then moved to Las Vegas's KVBC, where he became the sports director, earning the Sportscaster of the Year award in Nevada five times. Colin also worked as a sports anchor for WTVT in Florida and KGW-TV in Portland. In 2001, his radio show "The Herd" started airing on KFXX.
Joining ESPN Radio in 2003, Colin hosted "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" from 2004 to 2015, which later included a TV simulcast on ESPNU. Between 2009 and 2012, he hosted "SportsNation" on ESPN2 and, in 2013, started "Colin's New Football Show" on ESPN.
Post-ESPN in 2015, Cowherd moved to Fox Sports under a four-year contract, continuing to host "The Herd" on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports Radio simulcast. He also contributed to shows like "Fox NFL Kickoff" and "Speak for Yourself with Cowherd & Whitlock."
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Controversy
Colin Cowherd is known for his controversial statements, which have often sparked widespread criticism. Nevertheless, his straightforward approach and conservative views form a significant part of his appeal.
In 2005, Cowherd faced backlash for his insensitive remarks following the death of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero, dismissing it as "not newsworthy" and stating, "who cares that he died?" This prompted ESPN to issue a public apology.
In 2007, Cowherd incited a mass DDoS cyberattack against the sports blog The Big Lead, directing listeners to visit the blog simultaneously, crashing its servers for 96 hours. Despite the severity, he faced no real disciplinary action due to a lack of existing policies prohibiting such actions at the time.
Also in 2007, Colin drew criticism for comments regarding Sean Taylor's death, suggesting the football player's past legal issues contributed to his demise, despite later evidence proving otherwise.
Perhaps Cowherd's most notorious controversy involved derogatory remarks about Dominican Republic baseball players. His implication that players from the Dominican Republic couldn't grasp the sport's complexities due to their educational system led to his dismissal from ESPN after the MLBPA threatened to cut ties with the network.
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Personal Life
Colin married his wife Ann in 2010, and together they have six children, combining Colin's two and Ann's four from previous marriages.
Real Estate
In December 2018, Colin and Ann purchased a home in Manhattan Beach, California, for $6.525 million. They listed the home for $6.999 million in January 2021 and received a contingent offer within a week.
They also own a vacation property in Park City, Utah, acquired in 2017. In March 2021, they purchased a 6,700 square foot mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, for $6.9 million. The property was listed for sale in February 2023 for $11.5 million, potentially yielding a $4 million profit.
Here's a video tour of their Brentwood mansion:
