Howard Stern Sees Green

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/17/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Howard Stern crying poor? He's only kidding. Yet while denying a report that Viacom-CBS (the parent company of the stations that broadcast him) has dangled a five-year, $100 million contract before him, the shock jock did tell his radio listeners that unless the company does ante up a generous new contract, he'd consider jumping to another outlet. For the time being, though, he hasn't heard boo from Viacom. On his show Monday, Stern said, "I've heard from different companies that want to hire me away." Conservative estimates place Stern's annual earnings at $21 million from his radio gigs alone. As for what he would do should he get a raise, he said, "I'd buy a house right next door to Jerry Seinfeld."