Exploring Howard Stern’s Earnings
Howard Stern, the American radio and television personality, possesses a net worth of $650 million. In the late 70s and early 80s, he evolved into the first “shock jock” with a broad fan base, refining his hosting style on rock stations and talk shows. Despite his honesty earning him awards initially, it did not lead to significant pay raises or a stable audience. He switched stations frequently until joining WNBC in Washington, D.C. Stern’s confrontations with the station and provocative on-air segments propelled him to national fame. Upon his dismissal by station management, his show became WNBC’s highest-rated program.
Throughout the mid-80s to early 2000s, his radio show was the most popular morning program in the nation. He expanded his show into two late-night talk shows, two bestselling books, various pay-per-view programs, successful albums, and even a gubernatorial campaign in New York. “The Howard Stern Show” was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005, after which he moved to Sirius Satellite Radio with a 5-year $500 million contract. His Sirius show debuted on January 9, 2006, ultimately earning him over $1 billion at Sirius and hundreds of millions from regular radio.
By December 9, 2020, Stern inked a 5-year extension deal with Sirius reportedly valued at $120 million annually, totaling $600 million. While it is said he “earns” $120 million yearly, this income covers all production expenses, including salaries for personalities like Robin Quivers and Gary Dell-Abate. Estimates suggest Robin earns $10 million and Gary $4 million yearly, totaling $14 million. Factoring in $10-15 million in additional costs, Stern is left with approximately $90 million before taxes and agent fees. With agents typically claiming around 10%, he retains about $80 million. After half of that goes towards taxes, Howard’s net income is approximately $40 million annually.
Maintaining a schedule of three new shows per week roughly over 40 weeks yearly means 120 shows annually. Considering a net earnings of $40 million post-expenses, Stern makes $333,333 per show, equivalent to a brand-new Ferrari each broadcast.
Early Life
Howard Allan Stern, born on January 12, 1954, in the Jackson Heights area of Queens in New York City. His mother, Ray, worked as an office clerk while his father, a World War II Army veteran, was a radio engineer at WHOM in Manhattan. He co-owned Aura Recording, Inc., a Manhattan recording studio that produced commercials and cartoons. Stern has an older sister named Ellen. His family moved to Long Island, New York, when he was one year old.
Expressing interest in radio from age five, Stern's father created a makeshift recording studio in their Roosevelt, New York home's basement for Stern to record pretend radio shows. He attended Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School and later moved to Rockville Center, New York, enrolling at South Side High School, graduating in 1972. Stern then pursued studies at Boston University.
While in college, Stern joined the college radio station WTBU during his sophomore year and gained admission to Boston University's School of Public Communications in 1974, graduating magna cum laude in May 1976.
Early Career
From 1976 to 1982, Stern hosted morning shows at WRNW in Briarcliff Manor, New York, WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut, WWWW in Detroit, Michigan, and WWDC in Washington, D.C., where he developed his on-air persona.
Success
Starting in 1982, Stern worked the afternoon slot at WNBC in New York City until 1985, followed by a 20-year tenure at WXRK in New York City beginning in 1985. His morning show went into 60-market syndication in 1986, amassing 20 million listeners.
Stern became the first individual with the top-rated show in both New York City and Los Angeles simultaneously.
Private Parts
In 1993, Stern penned a $1 million deal with Simon & Schuster to write his memoir "Private Parts," released in October with instant success. Selling out its first print run of 225,000 copies within hours, it became Simon & Schuster's fastest-selling book to date. Debuting at #1 on the "New York Times" Best-Seller list, it remained for 20 weeks.
In 1997, the film adaptation of "Private Parts" featuring Stern, Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, Gary Dell'Abate, and Jackie Martling premiered. The film, released on March 7, 1997, debuted at the U.S. box office's top spot, grossing $14.6 million in the opening weekend and ending with a total domestic gross of $41.2 million.
Other Work
Stern also authored "Miss America" in 1995 and "HowardIn 2019, Stern returned with "Stern Comes Again." Stern announced in 2011 his role as a judge on the seventh season of "America's Got Talent," succeeding Piers Morgan. Following the seventh season, Stern continued as a judge for the eighth, ninth, and 10th seasons until his departure at the end of the 10th season in September 2015.
(Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
Howard Stern Salary and Contracts Details
Stern joined Sirius when the platform had 600,000 subscribers, losing $226 million annually on $13 million revenues. Today, SiriusXM has 35 million paying subscribers, generating $1.8 billion in profits on $7.2 billion revenue. On Sirius, Stern enjoys uncensored free speech. Analysts estimate 10-15% of Sirius' customers subscribed to listen to Stern exclusively.
In 2004, Stern became one of the highest-paid radio hosts after signing a $500 million five-year deal with Sirius, equating to $100 million annually. Stern signed another five-year $500 million deal in 2010, and in December 2015, inked a 12-year deal believed to pay him $80 million yearly. Stern confirmed on December 9, 2020, a five-year extension worth $600 million.
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Personal Life Overview
Stern met Alison Berns through a mutual friend while studying at Boston University. They married on June 4, 1978, in Brookline, Massachusetts, when they were both 24. They have three daughters: Emily Beth (1983), Debra Jennifer (1986), and Ashley Jade (1993). The couple separated amicably in October 1999.
Model Angie Everhart and actress Robin Givens dated Stern in the few months between his separation from Alison and meeting Beth Ostrosky in 2001. Stern began dating model and television host Ostrosky in 2000. Their engagement took place on February 14, 2007, and their wedding ceremony was held on October 3, 2008, at Le Cirque restaurant in New York City.
Stern holds the record for the highest total of fines imposed on a radio host by the FCC, which amounted to $2.5 million for content deemed indecent.
Battling obsessive-compulsive disorder, Stern disclosed his struggle with OCD in his 1995 book "Miss America" and employs Transcendental Mediation, a practice his parents adopted in the early 1970s, to manage it.
By 2012, Stern transitioned to a pescetarian diet.
As advocates for the North Shore Animal League of America, Stern and Ostrosky have fostered almost 900 cats. They also have four pet cats of their own named Bella, Yoda, Walter, and Pebble.
Expressing a desire to run for President of the United States in 2024 should Donald Trump become the Republican nominee again, Stern shared this ambition in June 2022.
Real Estate
Acquiring a 4,000-square-foot apartment on the 54th floor of the Millennium Tower on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for $4.9 million in 1998, Stern later purchased the adjoining 1,011-square-foot unit for $5.75 million. In 2008, he acquired two apartments on the 53rd floor for $15.1 million; these apartments are situated just below his 4,011-square-foot penthouse, providing an additional 2,546 square feet of space.
Investing $20 million in 2005, Stern bought an empty lot in Southhampton, New York, where he erected a custom mansion.
Having bought a 12-bedroom mansion on 3.25 oceanfront acres in Palm Beach, Florida, for $52 million in 2013, the property spans a total of 40,000 square feet. The primary mansion covers nearly 19,000 square feet and boasts grand columns, meticulously landscaped grounds, ocean-protecting walls, and a stunning central pool.
In April 2023, the neighboring property to Stern's Palm Beach estate sold for $170 million, setting a local record. The seller, Bob Stiller, made his fortune with Keurig coffee pods. Stiller's estate, half the size of Stern's, hints that Stern's mansion could be valued at over $300 million.