Shannon Sharpe has become a very wealthy man in his media career. And he used those means this week to end a serious sexual assault lawsuit in pursuit of regaining his lofty perch in sports media.
In April, the Football Hall of Famer found himself embroiled in a scandal when a former love interest filed a massive $50 million lawsuit in Las Vegas. The suit made accusations of sexual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Sharpe.
The eight-time Pro Bowler quickly used his massive reach on his YouTube page to refute the claims. However, audio released by his accuser's lawyer was damaging for Sharpe. He eventually stepped away from his prominent role with ESPN. And the suit likely sunk a deal to distribute his "Night Cap" podcast that was rumored to be worth $100 million.
With his profile significantly hurt following the allegations, Sharpe has taken steps to make the problem go away. And try to restart his media career. This week, the lawyer for his accuser revealed that the two sides have reached an agreement on an out-of-court settlement.
"The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada, making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client. Both sides acknowledge a long-term, consensual, and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution," the statement said. "All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice."
Obviously, what Shannon Sharpe paid to settle the suit won't be made public. However, the former NFL star's current lawyer claimed he tried to settle out of court for around $10 million before he took over as his attorney. Chances are, he may have had to fork over close to $20 million to make the suit go away. The popular podcaster and analyst is believed to have a net worth of $30 million.
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