Ernie Johnson Jr Net Worth

What is Ernie Johnson Jr.’s Net Worth and Salary?

Ernie Johnson Jr. is a renowned American sportscaster with a net worth of $16 million dollars and an annual salary of $5 million. He is affiliated with Turner Sports and is known for his role as a studio host on TBS for Major League Baseball coverage.

Aside from his work in baseball, Johnson is also a host for “Inside the NBA” on TNT and NBA TV and contributes to CBS Sports’ coverage of NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. He is also a play-by-play commentator for the PGA Tour.

Ernie Johnson Jr.’s Background

Ernie Johnson Jr. was born in 1956 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, Ernie Johnson Sr., was an MLB pitcher and later became a play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves. Johnson moved with his family to Atlanta, Georgia after his father’s retirement from professional baseball in 1959. He graduated from Marist School in Brookhaven in 1974 and went on to attend the University of Georgia. Johnson played first baseman on the school’s baseball team during his freshman year and graduated summa cum laude in 1978 with his bachelor’s degree.

Early Career

Ernie Johnson Jr began his career as a news anchor and reporter at various local news outlets. He landed his first sportscasting gig at the WAGQ-FM radio station in Athens, Georgia while still in college. Johnson became a news anchor at WMAZ-TV in Macon in 1979 and held the position until 1981. He then became a news reporter at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina before returning to Atlanta to work as a general assignment news reporter at WSB-TV. In 1983, he became the weekend sports anchor at WSB-TV as well.

Ernie Johnson’s Hosting Gigs in Basketball Coverage

Ernie Johnson joined Turner Sports in 1989 and began hosting the postgame show “Inside the NBA” on TNT in 1990. He is joined in studio by analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. Johnson also cohosts “Tuesday Fan Night” with Chris Webber and Greg Anthony on NBA TV and moderates the channel’s “Open Court” panel show. He contributes to NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament joint coverage on CBS Sports.

“Inside the NBA” has received multiple Sports Emmy Awards over the years. Johnson’s hosting gigs have made him one of the most respected figures in basketball coverage.

Ernie Johnson Jr.’s Career Beyond Basketball

Ernie Johnson Jr. has covered various sports throughout his career. He covered college football for TBS and Atlanta Braves baseball games with his father for SportSouth. He was also a studio host for MLB coverage on TBS and became a play-by-play announcer for the network. Johnson does play-by-play announcing for PGA Tour golf coverage on TNT.

Aside from these, Johnson served as a studio host covering Wimbledon and the NFL on TNT. He was also the lead studio host for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and a speed-skating play-by-play announcer for the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. He subsequently became a studio host for “MLB on TBS,” and since 2010, has been the play-by-play announcer.

Personal Life and Health Struggles

Ernie Johnson Jr. has been married to his wife Cheryl, a professional counselor, and they have five children together. Two of their children are biological, while three were adopted. Tragically, one of their adopted children, Michael, passed away in 2021 due to a severe form of muscular dystrophy.

Although Johnson was raised Catholic, he now identifies as an evangelical and frequently works with religious groups such as Athletes in Action, Samaritan’s Feet, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In 2003, Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He continued working through 2006, but had to miss the final two major golf tournaments of the year due to his treatment. Johnson returned to his position on “Inside the NBA” in October of that year while still undergoing chemotherapy. In 2018, he was diagnosed with blood clots in both of his legs, which caused him to miss the MLB postseason on TBS.