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If you're an avid NFL enthusiast tuning into Thursday Night Football games on Prime Video this season, the voice of Al Michaels is likely familiar to your ears. This broadcasting legend has etched his name into the history of television sports commentary, boasting a career that spans nearly half a century.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Michaels was an active sports enthusiast during his years at Alexander Hamilton High School, playing both baseball and football. However, 1962 marked the end of his playing days as he stepped into the world of higher education.
Michaels' Academic Pivot
Choosing to focus on the intricacies of sports analysis over active play, Michaels pursued his academic endeavors at Arizona State University. There, he majored in radio and television, with a minor in journalism.
This foundation set the stage for his illustrious career in the world of sports broadcasting. Post-graduation, Michaels found himself behind the microphone for the Los Angeles Lakers. But his journey didn't stop there. He soon lent his voice to the Hawaii Islanders baseball team and other collegiate teams sprinkled across Hawaii.
ABC recognized his potential in 1976 and quickly onboarded him. Within a mere year, Michaels was the voice behind almost every major game ABC telecasted, with football taking center stage. A significant leap in his career trajectory arrived a decade later when he was presented the golden opportunity to commentate for Monday Night Football, an iconic live television show.
Michaels became synonymous with the program until 2006 before transitioning to the NBC Network. Over the decades, Michaels has graced the commentary boxes of several Super Bowls, NBA Finals, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and Olympics.
His expertise hasn't gone unnoticed. With a cabinet boasting honors like the Walter Cronkite Award, three NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year Awards, and an impressive ten Emmy Awards, his legacy is sealed. Before the onset of the 2022 NFL season, Michaels inked a lucrative three-year, $33 million contract with Amazon, positioning him as the face of their "Thursday Night Football" broadcast.
This sees him pocketing a cool $11 million annually. This partnership between the NFL and Amazon is slated to run until the conclusion of the 2033 NFL season, with Amazon already deep into their second year. As of 2023, sources like Celebrity Net Worth estimate Al Michaels' net worth to be around the $40 million mark, a testament to his enduring contributions to sports broadcasting, coupled with endorsements and roles with leading networks like NBC Sports and Amazon.