The $40 Million Voice: 5 Shocking New Details About Jim Nantz's 2025 Career Shifts

The iconic voice of CBS Sports, Jim Nantz, remains one of the most distinguished and recognizable figures in sports broadcasting, yet the year 2025 marks a significant inflection point in his legendary career. With a professional tenure spanning four decades, Nantz is not only calling his 40th Masters Tournament but is also making a landmark decision to step away from another major pillar of his broadcasting "Triple Crown," signaling a strategic and personal shift in his professional life. This deep dive, updated for the current date of December 11, 2025, explores the latest financial valuations, career pivots, and long-term plans of the man whose signature "Hello, friends" has welcomed millions to the biggest events in sports.

The veteran sportscaster continues to be the lead play-by-play announcer for the National Football League (NFL) on CBS, partnering with analyst Tony Romo, but recent moves confirm a focused approach to his remaining years behind the microphone. From his estimated net worth to his definitive retirement date for the Masters, the following details provide a fresh look at the current status and future trajectory of James William Nantz III, a true titan of the sports world.

Jim Nantz: A Complete Biography and Career Profile

James William Nantz III was born on May 17, 1959, in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father, Jim Nantz Jr., was a corporate executive, and his mother, Doris, was a homemaker. Nantz spent part of his childhood in New Orleans and later Houston, where he graduated from the University of Houston in 1981. While at Houston, he was a member of the golf team and roomed with future professional golfers Fred Couples and Nick Price, a relationship that would later intertwine with his broadcasting career at The Masters.

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• Full Name: James William Nantz III
• Date of Birth: May 17, 1959
• Place of Birth: Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
• Education: University of Houston (B.A., 1981)
• Spouse(s): Lorrie Carlsen (m. 1983; div. 2009), Courtney Richards (m. 2012)
• Children: Caroline (with Lorrie Carlsen), Finley and Jameson (with Courtney Richards)
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): $40 Million
• Career Start: Joined CBS Sports in 1985
• The "Triple Crown": First broadcaster to call the Super Bowl, NCAA Men's Final Four, and The Masters in the same year (2007, 2010, 2013).

The 2025 Career Pivot: Stepping Away from March Madness

One of the most significant and recent developments in Jim Nantz’s career is his decision to step away from his role as the lead voice of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness. Nantz made the 2023 Final Four his last, a poignant decision that concluded over 30 years of calling the event, including some of the most iconic moments in college basketball history.

The transition means that the 2025 March Madness tournament will be the first in decades without Nantz's voice guiding viewers through the bracket-busting action. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline his demanding schedule, allowing him to focus on the two other major pillars of his "Triple Crown": the NFL and The Masters. The decision allows Nantz to spend more time with his family, particularly his younger children, while maintaining his high-profile roles.

Despite his exit, Nantz remains the lead NFL play-by-play announcer for CBS, a role he shares with his popular broadcast partner, former NFL quarterback Tony Romo. Their duo is a central component of CBS’s coverage, and Nantz’s presence continues to dominate the network’s biggest games, including the AFC playoffs and the Super Bowl in the years CBS holds the broadcast rights. Nantz has also been vocal about his excitement for the 2025 NFL season, predicting that certain matchups could set new viewership records, a testament to his enduring enthusiasm for the sport.

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The Masters, Legacy, and The Definitive Retirement Plan

The Masters Tournament at Augusta National remains the most personal and enduring fixture of Jim Nantz’s career. The year 2025 is particularly momentous as he is scheduled to call his 40th Masters, a rare and impressive milestone in sports broadcasting.

His signature opening, “Hello, friends,” which he debuted at the PGA Championship over two decades ago, has become synonymous with the Masters broadcast, immediately setting a tone of reverence and tradition. The tournament is deeply meaningful to Nantz, not just professionally, but personally, as he co-founded the Nantz National Alzheimer Center (NNAC) in honor of his father, Jim Nantz Jr., who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

The 2036 Retirement Deadline

Nantz has been remarkably transparent about his ultimate broadcasting farewell to the Masters. He has publicly stated that he plans to retire from calling the tournament after the 2036 event, which will be the 100th anniversary of the Masters. This definitive timeline, while still years away, provides a clear horizon for his final chapter at Augusta National. He has expressed that he is "having more fun now than I ever have in my career," suggesting that this planned retirement is less about burnout and more about a chosen, dignified conclusion to a legendary run.

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Beyond the Booth: The Calling Wine

Outside of the broadcast booth, Nantz has successfully transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship with his wine venture, "The Calling." Co-founded with Peter Deutsch, the brand is rooted in Sonoma County, California, and is another extension of Nantz’s personal passions and his love for the Pebble Beach area, where he resides.

The company’s name, "The Calling," is a nod to Nantz’s own career and the idea of finding one's true vocation. The venture is a successful passion project that adds another layer to his $40 million estimated net worth, diversifying his income beyond his lucrative CBS contract. His wife, Courtney Richards, is also actively involved in overseeing the wine business, making it a true family enterprise.

Jim Nantz’s 2025 schedule is a clear indication of a master broadcaster entering his final, highly focused phase. By stepping away from the grueling schedule of March Madness, he is ensuring that his voice remains fresh, authoritative, and deeply connected to the two sports he loves most: the NFL and the timeless tradition of The Masters. His enduring legacy is not just in the games he has called, but in the respect he commands and the intentionality with which he is scripting his final, historic years in the booth.