Ever since Dean Blevins officially signed off from News 9 in 2025, everyone in Oklahoma seems to have an opinion on his bank account. It’s funny, really. You spend forty years as the face of local sports, and suddenly people treat your finances like a public record.
Honestly, pinpointing the Dean Blevins net worth isn't as simple as checking a scoreboard. Most online "wealth trackers" are basically guessing into a void, throwing around numbers that don't account for the reality of a four-decade career in regional media.
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The Reality of a 40-Year Career
Let’s be real for a second. Local TV news isn't the NBA. You aren't seeing $100 million contracts. But Blevins wasn't just any anchor; he was a brand. Since joining KWTV in 1997 and taking over as Sports Director in 2001, he occupied the top tier of the market.
Industry experts usually peg salaries for veteran Sports Directors in mid-sized markets like Oklahoma City anywhere between $150,000 and $250,000 a year. When you factor in his longevity—nearly 30 years at a single station—those earnings compound.
Diversifying the Income
Dean didn't just sit behind a desk and read highlights. He worked the "hustle" before it was a buzzword. His income streams were remarkably varied for a local personality:
- Network Gigs: For 14 years, he did college football for ABC, CBS, and ESPN. Network talent fees are significantly higher than local rates.
- Radio Dominance: "The Total Dominance Hour" on The Sports Animal wasn't just a hobby. High-profile radio hosts often negotiate talent fees or a percentage of advertising revenue.
- Coaches’ Shows: Hosting for legends like Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops, and Brent Venables comes with its own set of production stipends.
- Endorsements: If you lived in OKC during the 2000s, you saw Dean’s face on more than just the news.
When you add up forty years of multi-platform work, you’re looking at a career earnings total that comfortably reaches into the multi-millions.
Why Net Worth Figures Are Often Misleading
You’ve probably seen sites claiming he’s worth $5 million or maybe $10 million. Take those with a massive grain of salt. Net worth is assets minus liabilities. It’s not a cash-on-hand figure.
Blevins has lived a very "Oklahoma" life. He’s a golfer—a 3-handicap at one point—and a fixture at charity tournaments. His lifestyle in Edmond and Oklahoma City reflects someone who has succeeded, but he isn't living like a Silicon Valley mogul. He has always been a "workhorse" journalist, even with the "best-dressed" awards and the Hall of Fame inductions.
The Impact of Retirement in 2025
Retirement changes the math. Pension plans, 401(k) growth over four decades, and real estate appreciation are the real drivers of the Dean Blevins net worth today. Property values in the OKC metro area, particularly in high-end pockets of Edmond where he has resided, have skyrocketed in the last decade.
He also recently transitioned into a role as a news desk editor and columnist for the Enid News & Eagle. This suggests he’s not just sitting on a pile of cash; he’s someone who genuinely loves the grind of the newsroom. Or, at the very least, he enjoys the steady paycheck that comes with a "retired" lifestyle.
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The "Stream" and the Controversies
You can't talk about Dean without the "noise." From the infamous "Dean the Stream" radio incident to some polarizing tweets that landed him in hot water, his career has had bumps.
Did these affect his net worth? Probably not directly. He wasn't "canceled" in a way that stripped him of his contracts. In fact, his ability to weather these storms and stay on the air until his own chosen retirement date in 2025 shows just how much "equity" he had with his audience and his employers at Griffin Media.
Looking at the Hard Evidence
If we look at comparable media personalities in similar markets who have had 40-year runs, a conservative estimate for net worth usually lands in the $2 million to $5 million range.
- Primary Residence: $800k - $1.2M (estimated based on area)
- Retirement Accounts: 40 years of contributions plus employer matching.
- Liquid Assets: Savings from high-earning years (network TV and radio).
Is he "rich"? By Oklahoma standards, absolutely. Is he "wealthy" on a national celebrity scale? Not quite. But he’s achieved what most journalists dream of: a graceful exit on his own terms with a legacy that is literally carved into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.
What You Should Take Away
If you're looking for a specific dollar amount, you’re chasing a ghost. Private individuals don't post their tax returns. However, we can learn a lot from how he built his value.
1. Longevity is King: Staying in one market for 30 years allowed him to become an institution.
2. Multi-Channel Presence: By doing TV, radio, and print simultaneously, he protected himself against the decline of any single medium.
3. Personal Branding: Whether you loved him or hated him, you knew who he was. In media, that visibility is the primary currency.
If you’re interested in following his next chapter, keep an eye on his columns in Enid or his occasional appearances on the Sports Animal. He might be retired from the anchor desk, but the "Total Dominance" brand is clearly still active.
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To get a better sense of how media salaries work in your own area, check out the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data for broadcast news analysts—it’s a sobering reminder of why Blevins' career is so unique.