John Edward Bayless II, famous as Skip Bayless, is an American sports columnist, TV personality, and author. He is well recognized for his stint as a commentator on the ESPN2 show First Take with Stephen A. Smith, a show which he left in 2016. Then, he debuted his new show, Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe, on September 6, 2016, on Fox Sports 1.
Bayless was born on December 4, 1951, in Oklahoma, U.S. His father used to call him "Skip." Not only that, but he used to call his mom "Skip," as in "skipper of the ship." Due to that, the name stuck, and Bayless was never called by his real name by his parents.
Skip Bayless has an estimated net worth of $17 million, mostly earned through his sports journalism career. In 2016, Bayless got a hefty raise when he went to FS1, pulling in a reported $5 million per annum with a $4 million signing bonus as part of a four-year deal.
Skip Bayless with rapper Lil Wayne. SOURCE: Instagram @skipbayless Currently working in the show Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe on Fox Sports 1, Bayless was believed to be earning $5 million per annum. Reportedly, he signed a contract extension for four-year worth $32 Million with Fox in early 2021. With that deal, he may earn around $8 million a year. Furthermore, Bayless also received offers to play for other stations, including ESPN. But it is said that he rejected the $30 million worth offer from ESPN and decided to stay with Fox.
Bayless is a married man. He tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Ernestine Sclafani. They have been married for several years now. Besides, Bayless and Sclafani met each other for the first time when a client of the latter's was booked for an appearance on the former's ESPN2 series Cold Pizza. So, they met on the set of Cold Pizza.
Skip Bayless and his wife, Ernestine Sclafani. SOURCE: Instagram @skipbayless Shortly, they got to know each other and began hanging out together. Initially, Bayless and Sclafani kept their love life private. After dating for 11 years, the couple tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony on July 28, 2016. Before that, they were engaged for six years.
Despite being together for a long time, the married pair have not welcomed any kids yet. Both of them seems to be focused on their professional life.
Ernestine Sclafani is not only famous as a celebrity wife, but her professional life is going well. By profession, she is a PR agent and media relations specialist. Sclafani hails from Long Island, New York. She has her publicity firm Ernestine Sclafani Bayless PR.
Besides that, Sclafani is also the author of the 2019 book Balls: How to keep your relationship alive when you live with a sports-obsessed guy. Moreover, the celebrity wife once appeared in the FOX Sports program Undisputed.
Since 1989, Bayless has served as a successful television personality. More than that, he was also an important Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity member. He has received various awards and recognition. Skip started his career as a writer in The Miami Herald for The Los Angeles Times, where he served for more than two years. Later, he moved to work for The L.A. Times in the Dallas Morning News. His talent was so admirable that he was the highest-paid sportswriter in the nation to work for the Dallas Times Herald. Unsurprisingly, he earned Texas Sportswriter of the Year three times.
Skip Bayless showing his Jordan shoes in the show. SOURCE: Instagram @skipbayless In 1996, he joined Chicago Tribune and began writing for the San Jose Mercury News. Further, he appeared in ESPN’s “Rome is Burning” show and a weekly “SportsCenter” debate program. He became a full-time staff member of ESPN and ESPN.com in 2004. On September 6, 2016, Bayless debuted his new show, Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe, on Fox Sports 1.
At an early age, Bayless showed his skills in the game of basketball and baseball. He graduated from Northwest Classen High School. He was ambitious and became a sports columnist in his junior and senior years. He completed his graduation from Vanderbilt University. He was also awarded by Grantland Rice Scholarship.
Skip Bayless when he was a child. SOURCE: Instagram @skipbayless Skip Bayless grew up alongside his siblings, a brother, Rick Bayless, and a sister by their parents: John Bayless and Levita Bayless. Bayless used to work in a restaurant with his brothers and sisters. However, working in a restaurant was not his career. His brother Rick Bayless succeeds himself as a Chef as well as a TV personality too.
