John Tesh Net Worth

What is John Tesh's net worth and salary?

John Tesh is an American television host and singer/songwriter who has a net worth of $30 million. Best known for his work as a pianist and composer of contemporary instrumental music, John Tesh has sold millions of albums and earned multiple Emmy Awards for his compositions. He first gained national visibility as a journalist and television host, serving as co-anchor of "Entertainment Tonight" from 1986 to 1996, where his smooth delivery and versatility made him a familiar face in American households.

Before television fame, Tesh built a reputation in broadcasting, working as a sportscaster and news reporter for major networks including CBS and NBC. However, his lifelong passion for music—rooted in classical piano training—eventually took center stage. In the 1980s and 1990s, he began composing themes for sports and broadcast events, most notably the iconic NBA on NBC theme "Roundball Rock," which remains one of the most recognizable sports themes in U.S. television history.

Tesh's transition to a full-time music career proved remarkably successful. He became one of the leading figures in the adult contemporary and new age genres, known for albums such as "Live at Red Rocks," "Grand Passion," and "Avalon." His live performances, often blending instrumental music with inspirational speaking, attracted devoted audiences and established him as a fixture in public television specials.

Beyond music, Tesh built a thriving radio career with "The John Tesh Radio Show: Intelligence for Your Life," a syndicated program blending music with lifestyle commentary that has aired on hundreds of stations worldwide. A cancer survivor, author, and motivational speaker, Tesh has used his platform to share messages of perseverance and faith. His enduring success across multiple mediums reflects both artistic range and a deep connection with his audience.

Early Life

John Frank Tesh was born on July 9, 1952, in Garden City, New York. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a chemist. John began taking piano and trumpet lessons when he was six, and while in high school, he earned a spot on the New York State Symphonic Orchestra.

After graduating from Garden City High School in 1970, he enrolled at North Carolina State, where he intended to focus on physics and chemistry. He also took a radio and TV course on the side. Radio and TV soon became John's passion. After graduating from college, he landed a gig reading the news for Rick Dees, who was hosting a show on WKIX-FM in Raleigh.

During this period, John's roommate was a TV anchor at a local TV station in Raleigh. His roommate helped John enter the world of television, and within a few years, he was also working as a local news anchor.

John followed gigs to Orlando, then Nashville, before finally landing at WCBS-TV in New York. During his time in Nashville, Oprah Winfrey was his main rival at a competing station. The two often competed for scoops and interviews. He would remain at WCBS for the next 12 years. When he began at WCBS, he was 22 years old.

(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Entertainment Tonight

John is probably most well-known today for being the co-host of "Entertainment Tonight" from 1986 to 1996. His co-host during the entire run was Mary Hart, who had been hired four years earlier as a correspondent and stayed with the show through 2011.

The Tesh and Hart years of Entertainment Tonight generated some of the show's best ratings.

In early 1995, John asked Paramount Studios, the production company responsible for E.T., for permission to take three months off in the summer to go on a musical tour. The studio declined. As the summer approached, Tesh made it clear that he was going to take the time off regardless. At that point, Paramount filed a temporary restraining order it hoped would prevent John from leaving. Just one year earlier, the studio signed Tesh to a contract that was supposed to run through 1998.

Salary

At the peak of his career with Entertainment Tonight, under that last contract that was supposed to run from 1994 through 1998, John was earning $4 million per year as a salary from Paramount Studios. The salary made him one of the highest-paid personalities on syndicated television. Today, John earns at least $5 million per year from his radio show.

Other Television Work

As his star rose thanks to Entertainment Tonight, Tesh began working as a sports broadcaster for NBC and CBS special events such as the Tour de France, the US Open, and the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. He was the first American broadcaster to cover the Tour de France for a national network.

Music

John never gave up his passion for music, specifically the synthesizer keyboard. In the early 1980s, he befriended new-age musician Yanni. In 1987, when Yanni was putting together a touring band to support his album "Out of Silence," he asked John to join as the keyboardist. At this point, John had never actually performed onstage in front of a live audience.

He went on to perform with Yanni at 12 shows while maintaining his full-time job at Entertainment Tonight.

In the early 1990s, John began to develop his songwriting and composing skills. In 1990, he composed the theme music for Howie Mandel's animated series "Bobby's World," which went on to air 81 episodes over seven seasons.

In October 1995, John released the album "John Tesh Live at Red Rocks." The album reached #2 on Billboard's New Age chart.

After leaving Entertainment Tonight in 1996, John began to focus his energy on music. He soon became one of the most successful "contemporary worship" musicians ever, having sold more than 8 million albums globally. As of this writing, he has released more than 30 albums.

"Roundball Rock"

Many people are surprised to learn that John Tesh is the composer behind one of the most recognizable pieces of sports music ever written — the NBA on NBC theme song, "Roundball Rock." The upbeat, brass-driven anthem became synonymous with professional basketball during the 1990s, playing under highlight reels of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and countless other NBA legends. From 1990 to 2002, "Roundball Rock" served as the heartbeat of NBC's NBA coverage, becoming one of the most iconic network sports themes in television history.

Tesh has often described the unusual circumstances of its creation. In the early 1990s, while staying in a hotel room in France, he woke up in the middle of the night with a melody stuck in his head. Fearing he would forget it before morning, he called his home answering machine in the United States and sang the tune into it. When he returned home, he replayed that message and used it as the foundation for what would become "Roundball Rock." The fanfare, rhythmic build-up, and musical "handoff" between brass and strings were all carefully crafted to match the pacing and emotion of a live basketball broadcast — including the moments where commentators like Marv Albert would cut in to introduce a game.

The song became so closely tied to the NBA's golden era that fans continue to associate it with the league decades later. Tesh has joked that "Roundball Rock" turned out to be the single most profitable composition of his career, earning him more royalties than any of his other musical projects combined. After NBC lost NBA broadcast rights in 2002, the song took on a nostalgic afterlife, later being licensed by Fox Sports in 2018 for college basketball coverage. NBC regained the rights for NBA games in October 2025. More than thirty years after its debut, "Roundball Rock" remains an enduring part of sports culture — a musical time capsule of the NBA's 1990s glory days and a testament to Tesh's unlikely genius as a sports composer.

(Photo by Earl Gibson III/WireImage)

John Tesh Radio Show

John is the host of the "John Tesh Radio Show," which is syndicated nationally on adult contemporary/easy listening stations. Outside of playing soft rock, classic hits, and Christian music, Tesh intersperses his show with factoids and trivia that has formed into its own segment called "Intelligence for Your Life." This segment is syndicated on dozens of other morning shows and has been built into its own 3-hour weekend program, which is hosted by John's longtime wife, Connie Sellecca. Through these various syndication deals, "Intelligence for Your Life" is one of the most-listened-to radio programs in the world, reaching 8 million daily listeners.

Personal Life

John and actress/model/producer Connie Sellecca have been married since 1992. They have one daughter together, and she has a child from a previous relationship.

Real Estate

For over 30 years, John and Connie have lived high up in the hills of Beverly Hills within a gated community. In 2005, they tore down the previous mansion and custom-built a 10,500 square-foot mansion that today is likely worth $13-16 million.

Awards

John was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2018. A year later, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. He was named the Syndicated Personality/Show of the year in 2007. He was nominated for a "Best Pop Instrumental Album" in 2003. As of this writing, he has won six Emmys for his sports theme songs.

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