What is Craig Carton's Net Worth and Salary?
Craig Carton, a notable American sports talk-show radio personality, has an estimated net worth of -$4 million.
Widely recognized for his roles on shows like "Carton and Roberts," "The Carton Show," and "Boomer and Carton," Carton's tenure on "Boomer and Carton" catapulted it to become the most-listened-to show in New York's WFAN radio history.
On September 6, 2017, Craig Carton was arrested by the FBI in relation to an alleged $5.6 million ticket scam fraud. He was accused of defrauding investors to cover "staggering gambling debts," having millions in debt to two casinos and $825,000 to an individual. Allegedly, he used fake documents to pitch a fraudulent ticket resale business.
After serving a year in prison, Craig returned to WFAN. In 2023, he signed a substantial contract with Fox Sports 1, where part of his salary will go towards paying off his restitution debts.
Salary
At the peak of his career, Carton could earn up to $2 million per year. Before his legal troubles, his earnings were around $1 million annually. Although his Fox Sports 1 salary is undisclosed, it has been described as "massive."
Early Life and Education
Born on January 31, 1969, in New Rochelle, New York, Craig Carton attended New Rochelle High School, where he announced high school sports events. He later graduated with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 1991.
Broadcasting Career
Carton's broadcasting career began in 1991 at WGR radio in Buffalo, New York. He then worked at WWWE in Cleveland, Ohio, and WIP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was a weekend host nicknamed "The Kid." Moving to Denver, Colorado, Carton hosted a top-rated morning show on KKFN 950 AM and later a successful local morning show on KBPI. In late 2000, he moved to WNEW-FM's "Sports Guys" in New York, later co-hosting "The Jersey Guys" on WKXW in New Jersey, which was nominated for a Marconi Award.
In 2007, Carton joined New York's WFAN as a co-host with Boomer Esiason on "Boomer and Carton." The show quickly rose to number one in the Arbitron ratings for male listeners aged 25-54, eventually becoming WFAN's most-listened-to program. It was simulcast on the MSG Network and CBS Sports Network, earning multiple award nominations.
Following his 2017 arrest, Carton resigned from WFAN. Upon his release from prison in late 2020, he co-hosted "Carton and Roberts" with Evan Roberts. He also hosted "Hello, My Name is Craig" and "The Carton Show" on Fox Sports 1. In mid-2023, he left WFAN to focus solely on his Fox Sports 1 show.
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Arrest and Conviction
In September 2017, Carton was arrested at his New York City home on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. He was accused, along with others, of defrauding investors of $4.8 million by falsely claiming access to concert tickets. A civil complaint by the SEC alleged that he gambled some of the investor funds and later purchased the tickets he had claimed to possess.
After a week-long trial in November 2018, Carton was convicted and sentenced in April 2019 to three-and-a-half years in prison, along with $4.8 million in restitution. He reported to the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg in June and was released a year later to a halfway house and home confinement. His early release was due to his completion of a 500-hour cognitive behavioral therapy course.
Personal Life
In 1999, Craig married businesswoman Kim. The couple has four children: daughter Mickey and sons Sonny, Lucky, and Anthony.
