As one of the most talked-about figures, Chris Russo has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.
What Is Chris Russo's Net Worth and Salary?
Christopher Michael Russo was born on October 18, 1959, in Syosset, New York. He is the only child of Anthony Michael "Tony" Russo (from Flushing, Queens) and Vera "Molly" Russo (from England). Chris went to Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York, and Rollins College near Orlando, Florida, where he earned a degree in history. He also spent a semester at the Cranleigh School south of London, England, and another at the University of Sydney in Australia to study Australian history and literature.
Chris Russo is an American sports radio personality who has a net worth of $22 million. Chris Russo is probably best known as the "Mad Dog" from his time as the co-host of the sports radio show "Mike and the Mad Dog." He hosted the show withMike Francesa. The show aired on WFAN in New York City from 1989 to 2008. At its peak, the show was simulcast on the Yes Network TV station and several other radio stations around the country. In August 2008, Chris moved to Sirius XM Radio, where he oversees an entire channel called Mad Dog Sports Radio. He hosts an afternoon show on his channel, "Mad Dog Unleashed."
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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When weekday drive-time host Pete Franklin's contract was not renewed, WFAN paired Chris with Mike Francesa to launch "Mike and the Mad Dog" on September 5, 1989. The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show ran until 2009, when Chris decided he wanted to go in a different direction. It was rumored that Mike and Chris strongly disliked each other, but Russo denied the sentiment, saying it was all about wanting to do something different. On October 16, 2009, Russo joined Francesca for a reunion show at Yankee Stadium. On March 30, 2016, the pair reunited again for a "Mike and the Mad Dog" show at Radio City Music Hall.
Prior to joining WFAN, Chris worked for a station in Orlando for three years and for a different New York station for another three years. While he was in Florida, listeners reportedly had trouble understanding his thick accent and quick way of speaking. When he joined WFAN in 1988, he was an overnight and weekend host. Russo soon caught the ear of radio legendDon Imus, who brought Chris in to be his sports reporter. Imus eventually helped Russo get his own weekend show on WFAN that aired on Saturday mornings.
Upon joining Sirius in 2008, Russo signed a 5-year, $15 million deal, which worked out to a salary of $3 million per year. He signed a similar deal again in 2013. Today, it's believed that his Sirius salary is $5 million per year.
Ultimately, Chris Russo's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.
