Nick Saban's salary and incentives: How much will the former coach earn?
Nick Saban's salary after retirement is allegedly $500,000 per year through an advisory role at Alabama. Before stepping down, he earned $11.7 million annually under a $93.6 million contract, including talent fees and performance-based incentives.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Nick Saban earns $500,000 annually in retirement through an advisory role with Alabama, working 40 hours per week since March 2024.
- His peak coaching salary was $11.7 million per year under a $93.6 million contract signed in 2022, which included performance bonuses and perks.
- He left over $70 million on the table by retiring early in 2024, walking away from the remaining seven years of his lucrative contract.
- Saban earned $124 million over 17 years at Alabama, coaching six national championship wins and producing 44 first-round NFL Draft picks.
- Forbes estimates his coaching career earnings near $150 million, excluding endorsements, ESPN analyst work, and investment earnings.
Nick Saban's profile summary
| Full name | Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | October 31, 1951 |
| Age | 73 (as of July 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Place of birth | Fairmont, West Virginia, USA |
| Current residence | Jupiter Island, Florida, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'6" |
| Height in centimetres | 168 |
| Weight in pounds | 185 |
| Weight in kilograms | 84 |
| Hair colour | Light brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Mary Saban |
| Father | Nick Lou Saban Sr. |
| Siblings | One |
| Marital status | Married |
| Wife | Terry Saban |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Kent State University |
| Profession | Sportscaster, former professional and college football coach |
| Net worth | $80 million |
| X (Twitter) | @sabanfaux |
What is Nick Saban's salary?
According to Tuscaloosa News and The Sporting News, Nick Saban's current salary as a retiree is $500,000.04 (annually), paid monthly at $41,666.67 through his advisory role with the University of Alabama. He officially began the position on March 1, 2024, working a 40-hour workweek under the professional title rather than the head coach.
Saban also works as a college football analyst for ESPN, but his analyst salary remains undisclosed.
How much was Nick Saban's coaching salary?
Source: Original
According to NBC Sports, Nick Saban's coaching salary peaked at $11.7 million per year under an eight-year, $93.6 million contract signed in 2022. The deal reinstated him as the highest-paid college football coach, briefly surpassing Georgia's Kirby Smart.
Nick Saban's contract included:
- Base salary: $305,000 per year
- Talent fee: $9.595 million annually, increasing by $400,000 each year
- Retention bonus: $800,000 annually through 2025
- Performance bonuses: Up to $1.1 million per season for championships, coaching awards, and academic success
- Perks: Country club membership, two cars, 25 hours of private flight time, and premium game tickets
However, Saban retired in January 2024, walking away from the final seven years of the deal and leaving over $70 million on the table.
How much did Nick Saban make at Alabama?
During his 17-year tenure at Alabama, Nick Saban earned $124 million from the university alone. Over 17 seasons, he captured six national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020). He produced 44 first-round NFL Draft picks, more than any coach ever, and developed four Heisman Trophy winners: Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith, and Bryce Young.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025, Saban retired with a 292–71–1 career record and a legacy in transforming young athletes into champions.
How much are Nick Saban's career earnings?
Source: Getty Images
Forbes estimates Nick Saban's total career earnings, including stints at LSU, Michigan State, Toledo, and the Miami Dolphins, at nearly $150 million before taxes and fees. He reportedly earned around $25 million from earlier coaching roles and $124 million during his 17-year tenure at Alabama.
However, Nick Saban's $150 million career earnings are coaching wages, excluding income from endorsements, commercials (such as Aflac), and business ventures like his Dream Motor Group.
What is Nick Saban's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth and Marca, Nick Saban's net worth in 2025 is allegedly $80 million. He has amassed wealth primarily through his coaching career, endorsements, luxury real estate, and the automotive industry.
In late 2023, Automotive News reported that Saban's Dream Motor Group acquired two Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Miami in a deal worth $700 million, showcasing his successful ventures.
FAQs
- How many rings does Nick Saban have? Nick Saban has won 7 national championships, 1 with LSU in 2003 and 6 with Alabama between 2009 and 2020.
- How much is Nick Saban's retirement? Nick Saban earns $500,000 annually in an advisory role at Alabama, plus additional income as an ESPN analyst. He retired early from a $93.6 million contract, leaving over $70 million on the table.
- What does Nick Saban do with his money? Saban invests in luxury real estate, owns Mercedes-Benz dealerships through Dream Motor Group, and supports children's causes via his Nick's Kids Foundation.
- Who is Nick Saban married to? Nick Saban is married to Terry Saban, his college sweetheart. They've been together since 1971 and co-run the Nick's Kids Foundation.
- Does Nick Saban own an island? Nick Saban does not own an island. He owns a home on Jupiter Island in Florida, which is a peninsula, not an island. He purchased a $17.5 million estate there in 2023.
- Who is the highest-paid coach in college football? As of 2025, the highest-paid coach in college football is Kirby Smart. He earns an annual salary of $13 million.
- What's the highest-paid NFL coach? The highest-paid NFL coach is Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, with an alleged annual salary of $20 million in 2025.
Wrapping up
After retiring, Nick Saban earns $500,000 annually as an advisor and collects additional income from ESPN. His salary once peaked at $11.7 million per year under a $93.6 million deal with Alabama, including a $9.595 million talent fee and bonuses. Forbes estimates he earned nearly $150 million before taxes over his career, and early retirement meant leaving over $70 million on the table.
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Luis, who co-founded Digital Media Solutions, has an impressive net worth. However, his earnings are affected by tax liens, lawsuits, and real estate investments. Learn more about his finances in the article.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
