At 71 years old in 2025, Mike Francesa is still the undisputed voice of New York sports. With a net worth of $20 million, a happy 25-year marriage to Rose Francesa, an annual salary around $3 million from podcasts and horse-racing wins, and a career that refuses to retire, the man once nicknamed “the Pope” keeps proving why generations of fans still hit play the second his voice comes on.
Early Life: From Long Island Pain to Radio Royalty
Mike Francesa was born on March 20, 1954, in Long Beach, New York. Life wasn’t easy. When he was only eight, his father walked out, leaving his mother to raise three boys alone. The deepest wound came in 1990 when his younger brother Marty died by suicide at age 34 — a loss Mike still calls the darkest day of his life. Instead of breaking him, those hardships built the relentless work ethic that carried him from college football statistician to the biggest microphone in sports radio.
Career Timeline: The King Who Keeps Coming Back
Few broadcasters have reinvented themselves as many times as Francesa has — and won every time.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989–2008 | Co-hosts Mike and the Mad Dog with Chris Russo — turns WFAN into the most powerful sports station in America |
| 2008 | Russo leaves; Francesa goes solo and still dominates ratings |
| 2017 | First “retirement” after 30 years at WFAN |
| 2018 | Returns four months later, launches paid app |
| 2019 | Second retirement |
| 2020 | Third retirement… then comes back again during COVID |
| 2022–present | The Mike Francesa Podcast on BetRivers — still pulling 150,000+ downloads per episode at age 71 |
| 2025 | Emergency gallbladder surgery (Oct 8), head injury from car trunk (Jan), broadcasts through both |
Net Worth & Salary in 2025: How He Reached $20 Million
Francesa’s net worth sits at $20 million. His peak WFAN years paid north of $5 million annually, but today the money flows from the BetRivers podcast deal (roughly $3 million a year including bonuses), residuals, endorsements, and his JEH Racing Stable. Horses like Casa Creed have already earned the family over $2.6 million in purses.
Height, Weight & Health: The 2025 Reality at Age 71
Mike stands 5 feet 10 inches (1.77 m) and weighs about 176 lbs (80 kg). He’s been open about weight battles, a 2006 angioplasty, and knee replacement, but 2025 tested him harder: a nasty head laceration in January and emergency gallbladder removal in October. True to form, he was back on the mic days after surgery — proof that mental toughness often beats physical age.
Married Life & Family: 25 Years with Rose
Mike has been happily married to Rose “Roe” Francesa since July 14, 2000 — that’s a quarter-century in 2025. His first marriage to Kate (1983–1994) ended quietly as his career exploded. With Roe he has fraternal twins Emily Grace and Jack Patrick (born 2005, now 20) and son Harrison James (born 2008, now 17). The family splits time between Manhasset, Long Island and a second home in South Florida.
Dating History & Personal Side
There’s no long trail of public romances. After the divorce from Kate, Mike kept his private life private until he met Rose in the late ’90s. No scandals, no tabloid mess — just a rock-solid marriage that survived multiple “retirements” and the pressure of being New York’s most opinionated voice.
Quick-Fire Biography Table (2025 Edition)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Patrick Francesa |
| Age (2025) | 71 |
| Height | 5’10” (1.77 m) |
| Weight | 176 lbs (80 kg) |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
| Annual Earnings | ≈ $3 million |
| Married | Rose Francesa (m. 2000) |
| Children | Emily, Jack (twins, 20), Harrison (17) |
| Current Show | The Mike Francesa Podcast (BetRivers) |
| Hobbies | Horse racing, golf, family |
| Biggest Rival Show | The Michael Kay Show (still trading #1 ratings) |
| Health 2025 | Recovered from gallbladder surgery & head injury |
Why Mike Still Matters in 2025
Most hosts half his age chase TikTok clips. Mike Francesa, at 71, drops two-hour podcasts that feel like sitting next to your brutally honest uncle who actually knows the salary cap inside out. He’ll rip the Jets one minute and tear up talking about his late brother the next. That mix of encyclopedic knowledge and real humanity is why, three “retirements” later, New York still stops when Mike talks.
For the full career encyclopedia, visit his Wikipedia page. For.org. For daily rants and horse-racing celebrations, follow @MikeFrancesa and The Mike Francesa Podcast on X.
