A well known talk show host, Tavis Smiley is also a liberal political commentator, advocate, philanthropist, host and entrepreneur with a net worth of $10 million in 2012.

After finishing his degree in Public Affairs at Indiana University in 2003, Tavis Smiley started working as aid to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. In 1991, he worked as a radio commentator and five years later, he began hosting BET Talk. After BET refused to renew Smiley's contract with them, the latter started hosting The Tavis Smiley Show. He served as the host of the show from 2002 until 2004. Currently, Tavis Smiley is seen on PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, Democracy Now! and on PBS' Tavis Smiley.

Due to the controversy over President Barack Obama, Tavis Smiley retired as commentator on Tom Joyner Morning Show. Smiley is known to be a critic of President Obama. He cited busy schedule and fatigue for quitting but according to Joyner, Smiley cannot take the hate he's getting from his beloved black people due to Barack issues.

His show BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley earned him NAACP Image Award for the best news, talk, or information series category for three consecutive times, from 1997 through 2009. He owns The Smiley Group, Inc., a communication company and he is the founder of Tavis Smiley Foundation.