Examining Power 5 commissioner salaries in 2021, why Larry Scott received $4 million for six months of work
Former PAC 12 commissioner Larry Scott stopped working halfway through 2021, but Scott still received hefty compensation for that year.
According to a report from USA Today, Scott had the largest single-year net total salary among Power 5 commissioners in 2021 at nearly $4.1 million. Scott left his job on June 30, 2021 after a mutual agreement with presidents of PAC 12 schools.
Scott reportedly received $1.5 million in severance pay for leaving his job a year before his contract was set to expire.
George Kliavkoff took over as the PAC 12 commissioner on July 1, 2021 and received just over $1.8 million for the rest of the year.
Scott wasn’t alone in getting paid, despite no longer working. Former ACC commissioner John Swofford remained on payroll through 2022, even though he retired on June 30, 2021. Swofford made $3.4 million in 2021. New ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has been on the payroll since Feb. 1, 2021. Phillips made more than $2.5 million in 2021.
As for other Power 5 conference commissioners, Greg Sankey received more than $3.7 million in total compensation in 2021 for running the SEC.
Former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren received $3.6 million in 2021. Warren is currently the team president and CEO of the Chicago Bears. He was replaced by Tony Petitti.
Former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby made $4.05 million in 2021. He was replaced by Brett Yormark on Aug. 1, 2022.
Big Ten, SEC top $800 million in revenue as Power 5 conferences total more than $3.3 billion in 2022
The report from USA Today also covered how much revenue schools made in 2022.
Every Power 5 conference is trying to keep up with the SEC and Big Ten in terms of revenue. We now know just how much more money those leagues brought in than their competitors in 2022.
According to the report, Power 5 conferences had a combined revenue of more than $3.3 billion in the fiscal year 2022.
USA Today was able to obtain tax records for all five Power 5 conferences. They show that the Big Ten led the way, bringing in $845.6 million last year. Big Ten schools received an average of about $58.8 million in payouts, although Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers received several million less “because of distribution of revenue from the Big Ten Network that was earned before they became entitled to full shares,” according to USA Today.
The SEC wasn’t far behind the Big Ten, bringing in $802 million, for an average of $49.9 million per school. The SEC and Big Ten have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.
The ACC had the third-highest revenue among Power 5 schools, bringing in $617 million in 2022. While that number is in the middle of the Power 5 schools, it is well behind the SEC and Big Ten. ACC schools received between $37.9 million and $41.3 million in payouts. Notre Dame received $17.4 million for the sports it competed in. The Irish are independent in football.
Payouts for ACC programs varied due to “reimbursements for bowl travel and participation in ACC championship events,” according to USA Today.
The Pac-12 brought in the fourth-most money at $580.9 million, while the Big 12 totaled $480.6 million, which was last out of Power 5 schools.
Even though the Big 12 was fifth in terms of total revenue, it paid out the third-highest per school at between $42 million and $44.9 million, just ahead of the ACC.
While the PAC 12 was fourth in total money brought in, its average payout per school was last out of the Power 5. PAC 12 schools received about $37 million each, just behind the Big 12 and ACC.