Skip Bayless is a very popular sports writer, speaker, and TV figure from the United States.
He became famous for the ESPN2 program First Take with Stephen A. Smith, but he stopped doing that in June 2016. Then, he started a new show called Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe on Fox Sports 1, which started on September 6, 2016.
Early life and career
John Edward Bayless II grew up in Oklahoma City, where his father nicknamed him Skip. Despite his parents owning a restaurant, he didn’t see it as his future. He loved sports, excelled academically, and wrote for his school newspaper. He attended Vanderbilt University, studying English and history, and graduated with honors. He was involved in fraternity life and worked for the university’s newspaper.
After graduating from Vanderbilt, Bayless started his career at The Miami Herald, then moved to the Los Angeles Times, where he gained recognition for investigative stories. He won awards for his sports writing and wrote books about the Dallas Cowboys. His work appeared in national publications like Sports Illustrated. He shifted to the Chicago Tribune in 1998, winning awards there too, before leaving in 2001.
In 1991, Bayless hosted a sports talk radio show in Dallas. He invested in a radio station in 1994 and hosted The Skip Bayless Show until 1996. He appeared on ESPN Radio and other shows. By 2001, he was hosting The Jim Rome Show and later co-hosted an ESPN Radio show until 2004, when he shifted focus to television.
In 1989, Bayless joined ESPN’s The Sports Reporters and later became a regular panelist on the show. He appeared on NFL Prime Monday’s “Knights of the Roundtable” segments. He provided golf commentary in 1999 and 2000, and appeared on shows like The Last Word and The Best Damn Sports Show Period. He joined ESPN full-time in 2004 for segments like “1st and 10” and First Take. In 2016, he moved to Fox Sports to co-host Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe, known for criticizing LeBron James and Aaron Rodgers.
Bayless faced criticism for remarks about Dak Prescott’s depression in September 2020. In March 2021, he signed a $32 million deal with Fox Sports. In January 2023, he made a controversial tweet about an injured player, leading to backlash from sports figures. He later apologized for the tweet, emphasizing the player’s health.
In 2008, Bayless was added to the Oklahoma City Wall of Fame. He joined the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, he was nominated for a Sports Emmy and won a Webby People’s Voice Award for a video mashup featuring his defense of Tim Tebow.
Skip Bayless net worth
Bayless earns about $8 million per year for hosting Undisputed. He extended his deal with FS1 for four more years in 2021. This happened amid rumors that ESPN wanted to rehire him. His total worth is estimated at around $17 million, which comes from endorsements and his long career in writing and sports commentary spanning nearly 50 years.
| Name | Skip Bayless |
| Salary | $8 million |
| Net Worth | $17 million |
