“A big part of success is just not being lazy and just doing it. Just get there and start working,” Joe Rogan said in one of his podcast episodes in the past. The UFC commentator is a name that all MMA fans and even people who don’t watch MMA know of. But was this success easy? Not at all! He has seen career fluctuations, bullying, and hardships before he reached the pinnacle of success at a later age. From seeing his parents divorced when he was five, to experiencing criticism for his views, the UFC commentator has seen it all.

The Newton South High School graduate, who loved MMA and baseball, started his career in stand-up comedy when he was almost 21. Rogan has dipped his toes in many industries, including acting and anchoring. He was Frank Valente in the sitcom Hardball, he played Joe Garelli on NBC Sitcom News Radio, and then became the host of Fear Factor. However, the success of News Radio was fraught with internal conflict and the tragic demise of cast member Phil Hartman.

With Fear Factor, he did experience stardom but criticism too, and more importantly, he was not happy in that role. Recently, he spoke to Tim Dillon about the same and how the advent of the UFC changed his entire life. But when did he feel like he was successful? Well, former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria asked the question to Rogan in JRE MMA Show #166, and the UFC color commentator got down to his explanation. 

Rogan explained, “Well, I guess the moment was when I didn’t worry about success. I don’t think about success, I think about what I enjoy doing. And am I doing it the best that I can do it? That’s what I think about. I don’t think, oh, I am going to make more money. Oh, I am gonna do this, I want this goal and that goal. I am a process-oriented person. I think about the process of what I am doing, and then the results come. So I think, like what am I doing and am I doing it the best that I can do it.”

Today, with a net worth estimated at $200 million, Rogan is one of the most successful podcasters in the world. The Joe Rogan Experience consistently ranks among the top podcasts on Spotify globally, including in 2024. That success paid off handsomely, as Rogan inked a new deal with Spotify worth nearly $250 million over three years. Not bad for a guy who was once doubted for simply talking into a mic.

According to CNBC, Spotify has shelled out over $100 million to top-ranking podcasters like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and Alex Cooper in the first quarter of 2025 in a bid to compete with other competitors. When comparing this to other competitors like Patreon, it paid nearly $472 million to podcasters from more than 6.7 million paid memberships in 2024.

Moreover, YouTube’s payouts are humungous by comparison, but include more than just podcasts. The company said it paid $70 billion to creators between 2021 and 2024, with payouts rising each year, according to CEO Neal Mohan. Rogan has been a fixture in the UFC for nearly 25 years, working exclusively under Dana White and the UFC banner in that role. Despite early criticism from figures like Howard Stern, who mocked his decision to start a podcast, Rogan has proven the skeptics wrong in spectacular fashion. As for Stern’s jabs—well, Rogan didn’t just respond with words. He let the numbers do the talking! Let’s get to that front!

Joe Rogan revealed how Howard Stern once mocked him

In episode #2291 of The Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC color commentator stated how the famous shock jock completely dismissed his podcasting idea. “No, everybody thought I was out of my mind for even doing mine. Like, people mocked me openly,” Rogan narrated. “Howard Stern famously mocked all people who were doing podcasts: ‘You’re wasting your time.'”

For Stern, Radio was the way to go. While podcasts were amateur goals that could never be a career in the 90s. But today? Everyone wants to become a podcaster, so Rogan started at the right time back in 2009 when no one was really into podcasting. The timing might also have been a factor in making him famous as a podcaster. With an estimated 14 million monthly listeners (as of March 2024), the UFC commentator’s reach has exceeded radio shows. 

Their rivalry reached beyond this, though, as once amicable acquaintances became enemies. Rogan, who had even been on The Howard Stern Show, had a bitter fallout with the famous radio host. Well, because Stern had reservations about Rogan’s personality. “I don’t listen to Joe Rogan. I know Joe from 100 years ago. We’re no longer friendly. We were friendly at one point.” Nonetheless, what do you think about the UFC commentator’s success? Share your take in the comments below!