“Ever since I’ve been in this town, everybody says to me, ‘Corso, you’re stupid. You always pick the wrong team. Pick Auburn to lose. Okay, Auburn loses. You wanted it, you wanted it, you got it!” This was the famed ESPN commentator Lee Corso in front of thousands of Auburn supporters, declaring support for the Gators and donning their mascot to declare the team winning the game. Auburn did lose in that game by 10-24 as the Gators went on to finish the 1997 season 10-2. This is how College GameDays were when Corso was in his prime. The announcer who gave us hundreds of unparalleled moments with his iconic headgear picks will be the stuff of legends forever. But now comes the heartbreaking news.

After 40 years of donning those mascots, the legendary announcer has finally declared that he will be retiring from the broadcasting world. At 89 years old, Corso may look like he has his good days behind him. But we will still see the announcer one last time on ESPN’s College GameDay for Week 1 of the 2025 season. After that, Corso will finally retire. Corso, in his years, has amassed a massive fan following of his own. So, let’s delve into the legend’s life and find out everything about it.

Corso was born to his Italian parents, Alessandro and Irma Corso. His father was an immigrant in the country and worked as a laborer with limited formal education. Moreover, the announcer’s mother, though an Italian-American, also worked in school cafeterias and played a pivotal role in Corso’s formative years. Corso has been married to his wife, Betsy, since 1957, and the couple shares 4 children and ten grandchildren. Now comes Corso’s net worth.

The announcer, who also served as head coach of football programs like Louisville and Indiana before coming into the broadcasting business, is reported to have a $12 million net worth right now. He joined the broadcasting world in 1987 as an ESPN college football analyst and is still known for his charismatic and entertaining personality. Corso’s chemistry with his fellow announcer is like SpongeBob and Patrick, always entertaining us and always ready to provide that added thrill. Apart from the $12 million net worth, the former Indiana head coach also has a beautiful home in Florida.

Corso’s beautiful 3,000-square-foot house is situated at a 1.21-acre lakefront property at Lake Mary, Florida. The Hall of Fame head coach had purchased the property in 1986 for around $82,500. He built his residence with a beautiful lake view in 2000. Moreover, in 2017, ESPN had signed a multimillion-dollar contract. That kept Corso for several more years at ESPN before finally announcing retirement.

All About Millionaire ESPN Legend’s other stints

In 2009, Corso suffered from a stroke, which led to him being partially paralyzed. This limited his ability to speak on television, but he still gradually recovered from the traumatic phase. Apart from his long stint in college football, the announcer also has other ventures that give him stable earnings. Notably, he is the director of business development for Dixon Ticonderoga, a Florida-based company of arts and supplies. Corso’s work in the business is also notable.

In the year 2001, the announcer spearheaded a campaign that made crayons entirely out of organic substances like soybeans. The former announcer also regularly appeared in Nike commercials with football celebrities like Deion Sanders, Michael Vick, and Jimmy Johnson. Corso was also involved in EA Sports’ NCAA video games alongside Kirk Herbstreit. Herbstreit even sent a message to the legend.

“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it. He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me.” Corso will leave a legacy behind that will be nearly impossible to match by anyone else. His iconic moments will always be cherished, and his mascot moments will live in every football fan’s heart.