What is Ernie Johnson Jr.'s Net Worth and Salary?
Ernie Johnson Jr is an American sportscaster who has a net worth of $16 million dollars and annual salary of $5 million. Ernie Johnson Jr. is a sportscaster for Turner Sports who serves as a studio host on TBS for Major League Baseball coverage. Additionally, he hosts "Inside the NBA" on TNT and NBA TV, and contributes to NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament coverage on CBS Sports. Beyond basketball, Johnson does play-by-play coverage for the PGA Tour.
Early Life
Ernie Johnson Jr. was born in 1956 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father was Ernie Johnson Sr., an MLB pitcher who later became a play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves. Following his father's retirement from professional baseball in 1959, Johnson moved with his family to Atlanta, Georgia. He went to the private Catholic school Marist School in Brookhaven, graduating in 1974. Subsequently, he attended the University of Georgia, where he was first baseman on the baseball team during his freshman year. Johnson graduated summa cum laude in 1978 with his bachelor's degree.
Career Beginnings
Johnson began his career as a news anchor and reporter at a variety of local news outlets. While still in college, he landed his first sportscasting gig at the WAGQ-FM radio station in Athens, Georgia, serving as the news and sports director. Following this, in 1979, he became a news anchor at WMAZ-TV in Macon, a position he held through 1981. Johnson then became a news reporter at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina, before returning to Atlanta to serve as a general assignment news reporter at WSB-TV. In 1983, he became that station's weekend sports anchor as well.
NBA Coverage
In 1989, Johnson joined Turner Sports. The following year, he began hosting the postgame show "Inside the NBA" on TNT. Joining Johnson in studio are analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal, with occasional fill-ins from other analysts such as Grant Hill, Draymond Green, and Chris Webber. Over the years, "Inside the NBA" has received multiple Sports Emmy Awards.
Among his other hosting gigs for basketball coverage, Johnson cohosts "Tuesday Fan Night" with Chris Webber and Greg Anthony on NBA TV. He also hosts and moderates that channel's "Open Court," a panel show on which he's joined by rotating panelists who discuss NBA history, current events, and more. In addition to appearing on TNT and NBA TV, Johnson contributes to NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament joint coverage on CBS Sports.
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Other Sports Coverage
Beyond basketball, Johnson has been assigned to cover a number of other sports throughout his career. He has covered college football for TBS, and from 1993 to 1996, called Atlanta Braves baseball games with his father for SportSouth. From 2007 to 2009, Johnson was a studio host for MLB coverage on TBS alongside Cal Ripken Jr. Following this, he became a play-by-play announcer for the network, serving as the lead broadcaster for MLB playoff coverage. Meanwhile, on sister station Peachtree TV, he broadcast numerous Atlanta Braves games. Johnson also does play-by-play announcing for PGA Tour golf coverage on TNT.
Among his numerous other positions, Johnson served as a studio host covering Wimbledon from 2000 to 2002, and was a studio host covering the NFL from 1990 to 1997; all of this he did on TNT. On the international stage, Johnson was the lead studio host for the 1990 FIFA World Cup; a speed-skating play-by-play announcer for the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics; and the lead play-by-play announcer for "Golf on TNT" from 2002 to 2006. He subsequently became a studio host for "MLB on TBS," and since 2010, has been the play-by-play announcer.
Personal Life and Health
With his wife Cheryl, a professional counselor, Johnson has five children. Eric and Maggie are the couple's biological offspring, while Carmen, Ashley, and Allison were adopted. Another adopted child, Michael, passed away in 2021 from a severe type of muscular dystrophy. Although he was raised Catholic, Johnson identifies as an evangelical, and regularly works with such religious groups as Athletes in Action, Samaritan's Feet, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
In 2003, Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He continued to work through June of 2006, after which time his treatment caused him to miss the final two major golf tournaments of the year. In October, Johnson returned to his "Inside the NBA" position while continuing with his chemotherapy. Later, in 2018, he was diagnosed with blood clots in both of his legs, causing him to miss the MLB postseason on TBS.
