Bubba The Love Sponge Net Worth

What is Bubba the Love Sponge's net worth and salary?

Bubba the Love Sponge is an American radio personality who has a net worth of $4 million. Bubba the Love Sponge is a shock-jock radio personality best known for his outrageous on-air antics, frequent FCC battles, and off-air scandals that have often overshadowed his broadcasting career. Born Todd Alan Clem, he rose to prominence in the 1990s while hosting a hugely popular morning show in Tampa, Florida, where his blend of raunchy humor, confrontational style, and boundary-pushing stunts earned both a loyal fanbase and a long list of critics. Bubba became a fixture in Florida radio, eventually catching the attention of Howard Stern, who brought him to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2005 as part of the original lineup on Howard 101.

While his career has included nationally syndicated shows, wrestling appearances, and high-profile friendships—most notably with Hulk Hogan—Bubba has also been fired, fined, and sued repeatedly. He's been at the center of numerous controversies, from animal cruelty charges to defamation lawsuits, and was a key figure in the sex tape scandal that led to Hulk Hogan's $140 million lawsuit against Gawker. Despite career setbacks, Bubba has maintained a dedicated listener base through terrestrial radio and online streaming, remaining a provocative voice in the shock-jock world long after many of his peers have faded from relevance.

Early Life

Bubba the Love Sponge was born Todd Alan Clem on April 23, 1966, in Warsaw, Indiana. Raised in a working-class family in the Midwest, Clem showed an early interest in performance, mischief, and pushing boundaries—traits that would define his radio persona years later. After graduating from high school, he attended Indiana State University, where he got his first taste of radio broadcasting at the campus station, WISU-FM. It didn't take long for him to develop a loud, opinionated on-air style that was already edging into the provocative territory that would become his trademark.

In 1998, well into his professional career, he legally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge Clem—a move that was as much branding as it was personal reinvention.

Early Career

Clem began his professional radio career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, landing gigs at stations in Michigan, Illinois, and Texas. One of his first notable jobs was at WGRD in Grand Rapids, where he hosted an evening show. The gig didn't last long—after a local advertiser pulled their sponsorship over the show's sexual content, management let him go.

Despite setbacks, Bubba's shock-jock persona began to click in Florida. In 1992, he landed a slot at WFLZ in Tampa, where his raw, uncensored approach and blue-collar appeal quickly built a cult following. Tampa would become his professional home base for the next two decades—and the city where his fame, fortune, and most notorious scandals would all take shape.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Peak of Success

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bubba the Love Sponge had become one of the most recognizable and controversial radio personalities in Florida. His morning show on WXTB (98 Rock) in Tampa was a ratings powerhouse, dominating local airwaves with a mix of outrageous stunts, sexually explicit content, and no-holds-barred commentary. At his peak, Bubba was pulling in a reported seven-figure salary, syndicating content to other markets, and operating with a team of producers and sidekicks who became minor celebrities themselves.

In 2005, his profile reached a national level when Howard Stern personally recruited Bubba to join Sirius Satellite Radio as part of the launch lineup for Howard 101, one of two channels Stern was given as part of his landmark satellite radio deal. Bubba's uncensored afternoon show aired alongside Stern's own programming and was promoted heavily to Sirius subscribers looking for edgier content.

At the same time, Bubba returned to terrestrial radio with a censored version of his show, airing weekday mornings on WHPT (102.5 The Bone) in Tampa. For several years, he straddled both formats—broadcasting to satellite radio's national audience in the afternoons and to his loyal Florida fanbase in the mornings.

On-Air Controversies

Bubba the Love Sponge's career has been marked by a steady stream of controversies, many of which stemmed directly from his on-air antics. One of the most notorious incidents occurred in 2001, during a live broadcast on WXTB in Tampa, when Bubba and his team slaughtered and barbecued a wild Florida boar that had been captured by a professional hunter. Although the act itself was legal under Florida hunting laws, the show layered in sound effects of squealing pigs to give the impression that the animal was being tortured or harassed. The stunt sparked outrage and led to criminal charges of animal cruelty against Bubba, his executive producer, and two other individuals. The case drew national attention and was even covered on Court TV. A jury ultimately acquitted all defendants.

Not long after, the FCC issued a $755,000 fine against Clear Channel Communications for airing indecent content on Bubba's show, citing graphic discussions of sex and drug use. It was one of the largest indecency fines ever levied at the time. Shortly thereafter, Clear Channel dropped Bubba's show entirely, and the company's CEO later testified before Congress that Bubba the Love Sponge would no longer be broadcast on any of their stations.

Heather and Bubba (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Bubba the Love Sponge has been married and divorced twice and has one son, Tyler Clem. His most high-profile relationship was with Heather Cole, whom he married in January 2007 in a ceremony attended by close friend Hulk Hogan, who served as best man. The couple separated in 2011 amid growing tension and, ultimately, widespread scandal. Bubba legally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in 1998 — a move that reflected both his on-air persona and his commitment to building a shock-jock media brand around the nickname.

Hulk Hogan Sex Tape

Bubba's name became national tabloid fodder in 2012 when a leaked sex tape revealed that he had allowed — and possibly orchestrated — an encounter between his then-fiancée Heather Cole and Hulk Hogan. The tape, which was secretly recorded in Bubba's bedroom sometime in 2006, showed Hogan and Heather having sex while Bubba remained elsewhere in the house. At one point in the recording, Bubba can be heard telling the couple to "do their thing," and later joking that the footage could be their "retirement ticket."

Hogan later testified that he had no idea he was being recorded and claimed the encounter took place during a period of deep depression, as his own marriage was unraveling. In 2012, Gawker editor A.J. Daulerio published a two-minute excerpt of the tape, including several seconds of explicit footage. When Gawker refused to take the clip down, Hogan sued the site — and ultimately won a $140 million jury verdict in 2016. The case caused Gawker to declare bankruptcy and led to a reduced final settlement of $31 million.

Hogan also sued both Bubba and Heather over the video. That case was resolved separately through a confidential settlement that required Bubba to issue a public apology.

Real Estate

For many years, Bubba's primary residence was a 6,400-square-foot property in Saint Petersburg, Florida. He built the home on what was a vacant lot originally purchased in 2000. This is where the sex tape incident went down. He listed the home for sale in June 2017 for $1.8 million. He finally found a buyer in 2019 for $1.285 million. Here's a video tour, and if you must know, I believe the infamous encounter occurred in the upstairs guest room visible at the 2:45 mark:

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