Stephen A. Smith spent months preparing for a run at the Presidency, but he just realized what he’d have to leave behind

Stephen A. Smith is officially putting the brakes on any presidential aspirations for 2028. He’s been teasing a run as a Democrat for a while now, but he just revealed the real reason he won’t be seeking the Oval Office. According to the New York Post, he simply doesn’t want to give up his massive income.

Smith, recently appeared on the episode of Fox News Media’s Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast. Sean Hannity pretty directly asked him about the rumors. He said, “2028’s coming pretty, pretty quick. If you had to pick, I think it’s all b*******. I don’t think you’re running, am I right?” Smith’s reply was just as blunt.

“I don’t think I’m running either because I’ve got to give up my money. Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening,” Smith said. The message was pretty clear.

Turns out walking away from $40 million isn’t that easy

When you look at his earnings, you can’t really blame the guy. This isn’t just a little side hustle we’re talking about. Smith pulls in a whopping $21 million annually from ESPN. He’s the unmistakable face of the “First Take” morning debate show. That alone is a massive paycheck.

He reportedly makes another $12 million a year from SiriusXM. Then, when you factor in revenue from his YouTube channel and podcast, the numbers jump even higher. His yearly earnings are pushing close to an incredible $40 million. That’s a pretty hefty sum to walk away from.

The 58-year-old sports commentator has become more vocal about his political views in recent years. He even hosts his own two-hour weekly political show. It’s called Straight Shooter with Stephen A. and airs on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel. That platform has helped him expand beyond sports talk. Smith’s political commentary has already stirred debate recently, especially after he suggested racism isn’t “as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe” while discussing the idea of a potential 2028 run.

He told CBS Sunday Morning that he was “giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027.” He mentioned needing this year and 2026 to think about it. He wanted time to study and understand the issues.

Despite all the talk and consideration, it was probably always a bit of a long shot. Running for such a demanding office would require a massive lifestyle shift. The financial sacrifice alone is enormous. Walking away from tens of millions every year isn’t easy. It just goes to show that even with a strong voice and a huge platform, some things are hard to give up. A multi-million dollar paycheck is definitely one of them. For Smith, the math clearly didn’t add up. So the presidential talk is officially off the table.

During his chat with Hannity, Smith also shared who he would vote for in 2028. That’s assuming he wasn’t considering a run himself. Even without running, he still has opinions on the political field. He listed three individuals he’d support for president. Those names were Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.