Molly Qerim salary at ESPN was reportedly around $500,000 per year during her final years as host of First Take. She described the offer during contract renewal as insulting relative to her decade of contributions to the network’s flagship show. After declining a contract extension, she departed ESPN in September 2025 and has since landed a new role with Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+.
Quick Stats: Molly Qerim
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Molly Ann Qerim |
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1984 |
| Age (2026) | 42 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.A., University of Connecticut; M.S.J., Quinnipiac University |
| ESPN Tenure | 2006–2025 (First Take host: 2015–2025) |
| Reported ESPN Salary | ~$500,000/year |
| Estimated Net Worth (2026) | $3–4 million |
| Current Role | Host, Zuffa Boxing (Paramount+) |
Disclaimer: All salary and net worth figures are media-reported estimates. No figures have been officially confirmed by ESPN, Paramount+, or Molly Qerim. For informational purposes only.
Who Is Molly Qerim?
Molly Qerim (born March 31, 1984, in New Haven, Connecticut) is an Emmy Award-winning American sports broadcaster. She is of Albanian-Italian heritage and grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communications at the University of Connecticut and a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism from Quinnipiac University, she began building one of the most recognisable careers in American sports television.
She first joined ESPN in 2006, working on digital and mobile content. In 2008, she joined the ESPN news team and won an Emmy for her work on Fantasy Football Now. She later moved to CBS Sports Network (2010–2012) and then hosted NFL AM and NFL Fantasy Live at NFL Network. In 2015, she returned to ESPN as the permanent host of First Take, a role she held for exactly ten years before her exit in September 2025.
Younger Molly Qerim built her brand steadily across multiple networks, eventually becoming the face of ESPN’s most-watched morning debate show alongside Stephen A. Smith.
Molly Qerim Salary: Year-by-Year Overview
Molly Qerim never officially disclosed her earnings, and ESPN did not publicly confirm her compensation at any point during her tenure. The figures below are based on credible media reports and statements from industry insiders.
| Year | Reported Annual Salary (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~$500,000 | Qerim publicly alluded to a pay disparity with Stephen A. Smith on air |
| 2023 | ~$500,000 | No public revision reported |
| 2024 | ~$500,000 | Marca and multiple outlets cite this figure |
| 2025 | $500,000–$600,000 | Marcellus Wiley (former ESPN colleague) cited ~$500K; some sources suggested up to $600K |
| 2026 | Undisclosed | New role with Zuffa Boxing/Paramount+; salary not yet reported |
All figures above are reported estimates. ESPN did not confirm or deny any specific salary figure.
Molly Qerim Salary at ESPN: The Full Picture
What Did She Actually Earn?
Molly Qerim’s salary at ESPN is most consistently reported at approximately $500,000 per year during her time on First Take. Former ESPN colleague Marcellus Wiley, speaking publicly after her departure, stated that she earned around that amount and felt a “certain type of way” when comparing her pay to that of co-hosts and colleagues who had received substantially higher deals.
In 2022, Qerim herself made a notable on-air comment that she had to “take a much-reduced salary so he can get paid,” pointing at Stephen A. Smith, who was reportedly earning $12 million annually at the time. Smith later secured a five-year deal reportedly worth up to $20 million per year by 2025.
Why Did Molly Qerim’s Salary Feel Low?
- She served as the primary moderator of First Take for 10 consecutive years
- The show is ESPN’s highest-rated morning programme
- She anchored the show through its most commercially successful period
- Peers at ESPN, including Malika Andrews and Mina Kimes, reportedly received more competitive packages
- Stephen A. Smith’s compensation was reportedly 40 times higher than Qerim’s
The salary gap became a central point of frustration during her 2025 contract negotiations, according to multiple sports media reports.
Molly Qerim Salary on First Take: Complete Breakdown
Since Molly Qerim was a salaried television host rather than a government or corporate employee, the standard breakdown differs from a typical payroll structure. Here is how her reported compensation can be understood:
| Component | Reported/Estimated Figure |
|---|---|
| Base Annual Salary | ~$500,000 |
| Additional Incentives/Bonuses | Not publicly disclosed |
| Production/Appearance Fees | Not publicly disclosed |
| Gross Annual Earnings | ~$500,000–$600,000 |
| Estimated Monthly Earnings | ~$41,600–$50,000 |
| Estimated Weekly Earnings | ~$9,600–$11,500 |
These are media-reported estimates. No official payroll breakdown has been confirmed by ESPN or Qerim’s representatives.
Why Did Molly Qerim Leave ESPN?
Why did Molly Qerim leave First Take? Based on reporting by Sports Business Journal, The Athletic, and confirmed statements from Stephen A. Smith and Marcellus Wiley, the primary reasons were:
- Contract dissatisfaction: ESPN offered a renewal, but Qerim found the terms unsatisfactory and felt the offer did not reflect her decade of contributions to the show
- Role limitations: ESPN reportedly declined to expand her role to additional shows or programming within the network
- Pay gap frustration: Awareness of how differently colleagues such as Malika Andrews and Mina Kimes were compensated reportedly intensified her sense of being undervalued
- Creative ambitions: Reports suggest Qerim wanted broader opportunities than the network was willing to offer
Stephen A. Smith confirmed on his SiriusXM show that she “abruptly resigned” and that ESPN did not want to lose her. Sports Business Journal, which first broke the story, reported that both sides had already agreed she would be moved off First Take when her contract expired at the end of 2025. Qerim chose to leave immediately rather than wait out the remaining months.
On September 16, 2025, she posted an emotional message on Instagram: “After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take. Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career.”
Molly Qerim leaves First Take was one of the biggest sports media stories of 2025.
Molly Qerim Disease: Health Battle She Has Spoken About Openly
When people search Molly Qerim disease, they are typically referring to her long-documented struggle with endometriosis, a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing significant pain and complications.
Qerim was first diagnosed in 2008 after experiencing severe pelvic pain that was initially misdiagnosed as appendicitis. She underwent two surgeries to manage the condition and has been a public advocate for endometriosis awareness, speaking openly about the physical and emotional toll of living with it. This is not a condition linked to her broadcasting career; she has continued working professionally throughout.
Molly Qerim New Job: What Is She Doing Now?
What is Molly Qerim doing now? After a roughly four-month break from television following her ESPN exit, Molly Qerim announced her new job in January 2026.
She is the desk host for Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+, the boxing promotion co-founded by UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh. The role reunites her with former ESPN colleague Max Kellerman, who serves as a commentator for the same promotion.
Her desk team for Zuffa Boxing includes:
- Antonio Tarver (former light heavyweight champion)
- Mike Coppinger (boxing insider)
- Mark Kriegel (veteran boxing reporter)
On her new role, Qerim shared: “Beyond excited to host Zuffa Boxing — a sport I’ve loved since Friday Night Fights — and to reconnect with so many longtime friends… I’m back.”
Her first public event after leaving ESPN was a Q&A with University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley on October 1, 2025.
Molly Qerim Net Worth in 2026
Molly Qerim’s net worth is estimated by multiple sources at between $3 million and $4 million as of 2026. Celebrity Net Worth placed her fortune at approximately $2 million in early 2025, but Marca updated the estimate to $3–4 million by mid-2025, which aligns with her decade-long career earnings across ESPN, NFL Network, and CBS Sports Network.
Her wealth comes primarily from:
- 10 years as First Take host at ESPN
- Previous stints at NFL Network and CBS Sports Network
- Emmy Award-winning production work
- Brand endorsements and public appearances
Salary Comparison: Molly Qerim vs. Other Sports Media Personalities
| Host/Personality | Network (2025–26) | Role | Reported Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molly Qerim | ESPN (exited Sept 2025) / Paramount+ | First Take Host / Zuffa Boxing Host | ~$500,000 |
| Stephen A. Smith | ESPN | First Take Host & Exec. Producer | ~$20 million |
| Mina Kimes | ESPN | NFL Analyst, NFL Live | ~$1.7 million (+ ~$300K via Omaha Productions deal) |
| Malika Andrews | ESPN | NBA Today & NBA Countdown Host | ~$1 million+ (multi-year extension signed Sept 2025; exact figure not disclosed) |
| Maria Taylor | NBC Sports | Football Night in America Host | ~$5–6 million |
| Max Kellerman | Zuffa Boxing / Paramount+ | Play-by-Play Commentator | ~$3–4 million |
What this table shows:
- Mina Kimes, an NFL analyst at ESPN, reportedly signed a contract worth approximately $1.7 million per year. With a separate deal through Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, her total annual earnings are reported to exceed $2 million. This is more than three times what Qerim was reportedly earning for anchoring ESPN’s top-rated morning show.
- Malika Andrews agreed to a multi-year ESPN extension in September 2025 (announced the same day Qerim’s departure was confirmed). The exact figure has not been publicly reported, but industry observers note it was significantly more competitive than Qerim’s deal.
- Maria Taylor departed ESPN in 2021 after turning down a $3 million per year offer, seeking $5 million. She joined NBC Sports and is now one of the highest-paid female broadcasters in the industry, with estimates placing her current NBC salary in the $5–6 million range.
- Max Kellerman, now Qerim’s colleague at Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+, is estimated to earn approximately $3–4 million annually from his various broadcasting commitments.
- Stephen A. Smith secured a five-year contract with ESPN in 2025 reported to be worth up to $20 million per year, making him the highest-paid on-air personality in ESPN history.
All salary figures are media-reported estimates. ESPN, NBC Sports, and Paramount+ have not publicly confirmed any of these figures. Molly Qerim’s Paramount+ salary from her Zuffa Boxing role has not been reported.
Career Timeline: From Local TV to First Take and Beyond
- 2006: Joins ESPN for digital/mobile content
- 2008: Joins ESPN news team; wins Emmy for Fantasy Football Now
- 2010–2012: Moves to CBS Sports Network, covers college football and basketball
- 2012–2015: Joins NFL Network; hosts NFL AM and NFL Fantasy Live
- 2015: Returns to ESPN; named permanent host of First Take (September 15, 2015)
- 2022: Makes public on-air comment about salary disparity with Stephen A. Smith
- 2025: Contract negotiations break down; departs ESPN on September 15–16, 2025
- January 2026: Announced as host of Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+
Conclusion
Molly Qerim’s story at ESPN is a study in how talent and visibility do not always translate into proportional compensation in sports media. Earning a reported Molly Qerim salary of approximately $500,000 per year while anchoring the network’s top-rated morning show for ten years, she made the decision in 2025 to walk away rather than accept terms she considered insulting. Her departure was one of the most-talked-about sports media exits of the year.
Now with Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+, the younger Molly Qerim who once built her reputation at ESPN is building a new chapter with the same professionalism that defined her decade on First Take. Her story remains relevant not just for sports fans, but for anyone following pay equity discussions in the media industry.
? FAQs: Molly Qerim Salary and Career
Q: What is Molly Qerim’s salary?
Her ESPN salary was reported at approximately $500,000 per year. Her Zuffa Boxing/Paramount+ salary has not been disclosed.
Q: How old is Molly Qerim?
Molly Qerim age is 42 years old as of 2026. She was born on March 31, 1984.
Q: Why did Molly Qerim leave First Take?
Contract negotiations broke down. She felt her pay did not reflect her decade of contributions, and ESPN reportedly declined to expand her role across other programming.
Q: What is Molly Qerim doing now in 2026?
She is the host for Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+, working alongside Max Kellerman and a team of boxing analysts.
Q: What is Molly Qerim’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at $3–4 million as of 2026, based on a career spanning ESPN, NFL Network, and CBS Sports.
Q: What disease does Molly Qerim have?
She has endometriosis, diagnosed in 2008. She has spoken openly about the condition and undergone two surgeries.
Q: How much did Stephen A. Smith make compared to Molly Qerim?
Smith’s ESPN contract by 2025 was reportedly worth approximately $20 million per year. Qerim’s reported salary was around $500,000, roughly 40 times less.
Q: Did ESPN offer Molly Qerim a new contract?
Yes. Sports Business Journal reported that ESPN offered her a renewal, but she declined and chose to leave immediately rather than complete her contract through end of 2025.
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