How Ernie Johnson Achieved a Net Worth of $16 Million

If you are a sports fan, you probably already know who Ernie Johnson is. He’s been a professional sportscaster since 1989 and during that time, he has established himself as one of the most successful individuals in the business.

Thanks to his longevity, he’s also one of the more recognizable people. He’s also rather eclectic in his sportscasting skills, having worked in everything from the NBA to baseball to soccer and even golf.

If it’s a ball game of any kind, there’s a better than average chance that you will see Johnson working as a sportscaster. Obviously, his duration in the business and the fact that he’s so versatile means that he has the opportunity to make a lot of money.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that he’s done exactly that, having amassed a net worth of $16 million so far. If you want to know exactly how he’s done it, keep reading.

Getting His Start in the Business

Like virtually everyone else in broadcasting, Johnson began on the lower rungs of the ladder and has worked his way steadily upward. As a matter of fact, he was working as a broadcaster in the 1970s.

From there, he kept landing jobs in larger markets until he eventually went to work for the Turner family, the very same group that operates the TNT television channels. They are very heavily immersed in sports, so much so that they have a lot of dedicated programs related to basketball and other types of sports.

For years, he’s been associated with them and has hosted a television show called “Inside the NBA” in addition to all of his on-scene sportscasting duties. Of course, all of this adds up when contributing to his net worth.

Some of the work that he did during the early years of his career may not have paid a lot of money, but he definitely makes more than a fair sum for his work on “Inside the NBA,” not to mention the various gigs that he works as a broadcaster. Johnson travels all over broadcasting these games.

Workaholic

One of the ways that he contributes to his net worth is by working a lot. Even though he’s been in the business for more than 30 years, he is still well regarded as one of the hardest working individuals in the broadcasting arena.

If there is a game being played somewhere, you can almost bet that he’s working. There are even some days where he will work one game, jump on a plane or a helicopter, and end up working a second game later in the day.

Adding to His Skills

Of course, Johnson didn’t stop at merely being a broadcaster working in a booth or even hosting a popular television show. As early as 1991, he was the main host for the FIFA World Cup, a huge honor and something that contributed to his net worth significantly.

The very next year, in 1992, he was one of the main hosts for the Olympic Games, focusing mainly on speed skating. As you can see, he’s always had a strong desire to add to his skills.

That’s why it’s not uncommon to see him hosting something at the Olympics, working a football game or traveling around the globe to help broadcast a soccer match. With every event that he works, he adds to his net worth. Currently, he’s 67 years old and he’s had a number of truly scary health situations that he’s had to deal with, but he says he’s nowhere near retiring.

For him, it’s all about the love of the various games that he broadcasts and it comes naturally. His father was a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and helped him learn how to love sports of all kinds at an early age. He’s made it clear over the years that he doesn’t work because he needs the money, but because he wants to be there.

As a matter of fact, that’s precisely why he keeps getting invited back time and time again. It’s obvious that he wants to do what he’s doing and that makes all the difference in the world in any job, especially in the broadcast booth.

Annual Salary

It’s important to remember that Johnson had long ago endeared himself to the Turners, who operate both TNT and TBS. Since you can find the NBA on TNT and Major League Baseball on TBS, it’s easy to understand at least part of the reason why Johnson has had such a lucrative career.

He basically serves as the lead announcer for both of these networks anytime there is a ball game on and that has earned him an annual salary of approximately $5 million.

As you can see, it doesn’t take long for that net worth to add up to his current value of $16 million when you’re making that much year after year. Johnson is one of the true pioneers of the broadcast booth but more importantly, he’s someone that brings his own level of enthusiasm and love for the sport to every job that he does.

Over the years, he’s had plenty of opportunities to retire and more than his fair share of bona fide reasons to do so, but he chooses to keep coming back on his own accord. His love for all things related to sports is something that truly shows when he’s working and it’s one reason why he will undoubtedly continue to generate additional net worth as long as he chooses to continue working.

By the time it’s all said and done, there’s no telling how much his net wroth will eventually be. As far as Johnson himself is concerned, it’s all about simply doing his best each and every day.

You can also read: