How much does Al Michaels make calling Thursday Night Football, and how has his pay evolved across a broadcasting career that now spans five decades? The longtime NFL play-by-play voice remains one of the highest-paid commentators in sports media, and his current Amazon Prime Video contract keeps him near the top of that list heading into the 2026 season.
Current Amazon Prime Video Salary
Michaels signed his original three-year deal with Amazon in March 2022, a contract worth roughly $45 million, or about $15 million annually. Multiple industry reports place his yearly pay in the $14 million to $16 million range, a figure that put him in rarefied company among sports broadcasters when the deal was announced. Insiders at the time described the terms as being in the same financial tier as Joe Buck’s move to ESPN.
That original three-year agreement ran through the 2024 season. Rather than sign another multi-year extension, Michaels and Amazon shifted to a year-by-year arrangement. He returned for the 2025 campaign on a one-year deal, and Prime Video confirmed in January 2026 that he would be back again for the 2026 season. Reports describing the current deal indicate his pay has stayed consistent with his earlier Amazon earnings, keeping him in the eight-figure range annually.
How His Pay Compares to His NBC Years
Before joining Amazon, Michaels spent 15 seasons as the lead voice of Sunday Night Football on NBC, a run that began in 2006. Reporting on his NBC compensation has varied, with some outlets citing salaries approaching or exceeding $20 million in his later years there. More conservative and frequently cited estimates put his NBC pay closer to $8 million annually. The exact figure has never been officially disclosed by the network, so readers should treat any single number as an approximation rather than a confirmed fact.
What is clear is that his move to Amazon represented a significant pay increase, reflecting both his stature in the industry and the streaming giant’s aggressive push to secure a marquee voice for its first exclusive weekly NFL package. Amazon’s 11-year rights deal for Thursday Night Football was the first time a streaming platform held sole broadcast rights to a regular NFL package, and landing Michaels was viewed as central to establishing credibility with football audiences.
Estimated Net Worth
Michaels’ net worth is commonly estimated at around $40 million, a figure widely cited by financial and entertainment outlets that track celebrity wealth. That total reflects decades of broadcasting income across ABC, NBC, and Amazon, along with business ventures outside the booth.
One notable source of outside income came from Asylum Entertainment, a production company Michaels co-founded. The company was sold to Legendary Entertainment in 2013 for a reported $100 million, a transaction that added meaningfully to his overall financial picture beyond his on-air salary. As with most celebrity net worth figures, the exact number isn’t independently verified through public financial records, so it should be understood as a well-supported estimate rather than an official figure.
A Broadcasting Career That Built the Brand
Michaels’ compensation reflects a career that stretches back to 1975 and includes some of the most recognizable moments in American sports television. He is best known for his call of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey game at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, a broadcast that remains one of the most replayed sports calls in U.S. history.
Beyond that signature moment, Michaels called Monday Night Football on ABC from 1986 through 2005, giving him nearly two decades as the voice most associated with prime-time NFL football before he ever reached NBC or Amazon. He has broadcast 11 Super Bowls and eight World Series, along with coverage of nine Olympic Games. That volume of high-profile assignments is a major reason networks have consistently been willing to pay top dollar to keep him in the booth.
His Role at NBC Continues in a Limited Capacity
Even after leaving Sunday Night Football for Amazon, Michaels maintained ties to NBC through what the network described as an “emeritus” arrangement. Under that deal, he has continued to appear on select high-profile NBC properties, including NFL playoff games and Olympic broadcasts, while remaining under contract with Amazon as his primary employer. NBC Sports leadership described the continued relationship as a way of keeping his voice associated with the network’s biggest events even after his exit from the weekly Sunday Night Football chair.
Why Amazon Keeps Bringing Him Back
At 81 years old, Michaels has faced ongoing questions about how much longer he plans to continue calling games, along with criticism from some viewers about his energy level during broadcasts. He has addressed the scrutiny directly, saying his continued presence depends on whether he still believes he can perform at the level he expects of himself.
Michaels has said repeatedly that the decision to keep working is a two-way conversation between him and Amazon, acknowledging that the streamer could choose to move in a different direction at any point. For now, both sides have opted to continue the partnership. Prime Video’s decision to bring him back for a fifth season calling Thursday Night Football suggests the company still views his experience and name recognition as valuable, even as it evaluates schedule quality and broadcast talent from year to year.
Kirk Herbstreit, Michaels’ broadcast partner since Amazon launched its NFL package, signed a longer five-year deal in 2022, meaning his contract runs through the 2026 season regardless of what happens with Michaels beyond that point. That contrast highlights how Amazon has structured its two lead broadcasters differently, locking in long-term certainty with Herbstreit while keeping Michaels’ arrangement flexible and reviewed annually.
Where Things Stand Heading Into 2026
As of the confirmation from Prime Video in January 2026, Michaels is set to call Thursday Night Football games for at least one more season, continuing a run that began when Amazon first acquired exclusive NFL rights. His current pay is widely reported in the $14 million to $16 million range, consistent with the terms of his original three-year contract, even though he has been working on shorter, year-to-year deals since that agreement expired.
Whether Amazon extends him further beyond 2026 remains an open question that neither side has definitively answered. Michaels has indicated a willingness to continue as long as he feels he can meet his own standards in the booth, while Amazon has shown it’s willing to keep renewing on a season-by-season basis rather than commit to another multi-year deal.
Al Michaels’ current earnings place him among the best-compensated voices in American sports broadcasting, a reflection of a career built on some of the most memorable calls in television history. Between his Amazon salary, his lingering NBC ties, and outside business ventures like Asylum Entertainment, his overall financial picture remains substantial even as questions about his broadcasting future continue heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Let us know in the comments what you think about Al Michaels’ future behind the mic, and check back for updates as the 2026 season approaches.