Gary Lineker, a household name in British football and broadcasting, has built an illustrious career both on the pitch and in the studio. Known for his prolific goal-scoring ability and his long tenure as the host of BBC’s Match of the Day, Lineker has amassed significant wealth and fame.
Gary Lineker’s net worth is estimated to be around £30 million as of now. This substantial fortune stems primarily from his post-football career in broadcasting, lucrative endorsement deals, and savvy business ventures
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Net Worth
While his football career was highly successful, it predated the Premier League’s financial boom, meaning his on-pitch earnings were modest compared to modern players. Gary Lineker’s net worth is estimated to be around £30 million as of now. His wealth has been built through consistent high-profile media roles and entrepreneurial activities, making him one of the UK’s most recognizable and financially successful sports personalities.
Earnings
Lineker’s earnings come from multiple streams, including his BBC salary, commercial endorsements, and media production ventures. His primary income source has been his role at the BBC, where he has been the corporation’s highest-paid star for several years. For the 2023/24 financial year, Lineker earned between £1.3 million and £1.35 million, a figure that reflects a voluntary 23% pay cut from his 2019 salary of £1.75 million. Despite the reduction, he remained £500,000 ahead of the BBC’s second-highest earner, Zoe Ball.
Beyond the BBC, Lineker has secured significant income through endorsements, most notably with Walkers Crisps. Since 1995, he has been the face of the brand, appearing in over 150 adverts. In 2020, he signed a £1.2 million three-year deal to continue as a brand ambassador, focusing on grassroots sports and sustainability initiatives. This partnership alone has been a consistent earner, reportedly worth over £1 million annually at its peak.
Lineker’s media production company, Goalhanger Podcasts, has also become a major financial success. Co-founded by Lineker, the company produces popular shows like The Rest Is Football, hosted with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. In May 2024, Goalhanger’s accounts showed a worth of £1.9 million, with £2.7 million in bank reserves, and the company recorded a £1.4 million profit in the previous year. This venture is poised to potentially surpass his BBC earnings in the future.
Additional income has come from work with other broadcasters, including TNT Sports, Al Jazeera, NBC Sports Network, and BT Sport’s UEFA Champions League coverage. These roles, while less regular than his BBC work, have contributed to his diversified income portfolio.
Career
Football Career
Gary Winston Lineker, born on November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England, began his football career with his hometown club, Leicester City, in 1978. Turning professional in the 1978–79 season, he helped Leicester win the Second Division title in 1980. Lineker’s breakout came in 1983–84, when he was the First Division’s second-highest scorer with 22 goals. In 1985, he joined Everton, scoring 40 goals in a single season and earning both the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
In 1986, Lineker moved to Barcelona for £2.8 million, a record fee at the time. He scored 42 goals in 103 appearances, winning the 1987–88 Copa del Rey and the 1988–89 European Cup Winners’ Cup. However, tactical changes under Johan Cruyff saw him play out wide, reducing his goal output. In 1989, he returned to England with Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 67 goals in 105 league games and winning the 1991 FA Cup, his only major domestic trophy. His final stint was with Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight, where injuries led to his retirement in 1994.
Internationally, Lineker earned 80 caps for England, scoring 48 goals, making him England’s fourth-highest scorer. His six goals in the 1986 World Cup earned him the Golden Boot, and he played a key role in England’s 1990 World Cup semi-final run. Remarkably, Lineker never received a yellow or red card, earning the 1990 FIFA Fair Play Award. Over his 16-year career, he scored 331 goals in 654 competitive games.
Broadcasting Career
After retiring, Lineker transitioned into broadcasting, joining the BBC as an analyst before replacing Des Lynam as Match of the Day host in 1999. His 26-year tenure made him the show’s longest-serving presenter. He also led BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup, World Cups, and European Championships, as well as hosting BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Lineker’s wit and professionalism set the benchmark for sports broadcasting.
He worked with other networks, including Al Jazeera Sports, NBC Sports Network, and BT Sport, and wrote columns for The Sunday Telegraph. In May 2025, Lineker left the BBC following a controversy over a social media post, marking the end of his Match of the Day era. He plans to focus on his podcast business and travel, ruling out a return to television presenting in the near future.
Salary
Lineker’s BBC salary has been a focal point of public scrutiny. In 2017, it was revealed he earned £3 million annually for Match of the Day, making him the BBC’s highest-paid talent. By 2019, his salary was £1.75 million, which he voluntarily reduced to £1.35 million in 2020. For 2023/24, his earnings ranged between £1.3 million and £1.35 million. He reportedly offered a further £350,000 pay cut to continue with Match of the Day, but his departure was confirmed in May 2025.
Personal Life
Lineker’s personal life has been as eventful as his career. He married Michelle Cockayne in 1986, with whom he has four sons: George, Harry, Tobias, and Angus. The couple divorced in 2006, citing Lineker’s alleged “unreasonable behaviour.” In 2009, he married Welsh actress and model Danielle Bux, whom he met on a blind date in 2007. They divorced in 2016, reportedly due to differing views on having children, but remain close friends. Lineker maintains an amicable relationship with Bux and her new husband, Nate Greenwald, often dining together in Los Angeles.
Lineker has been linked to various women, including chef Gizzi Erskine and Jemima Goldsmith, but these rumors were dismissed. As of now, he is single, stating he enjoys his own company and has no plans for a serious relationship. He has a strained relationship with his brother Wayne, a nightlife entrepreneur, with whom he has been estranged since 2008, partly due to Lineker’s marriage to Bux.
Lineker is a Leicester City supporter and led a consortium in 2002 to save the club from bankruptcy, earning the title of honorary vice-president. He adopted a rescue dog named Filbert, after Leicester’s former stadium, in 2022. Lineker is health-conscious, particularly about the risks of dementia and Parkinson’s disease linked to heading the ball during his career. He has spoken openly about his concerns, citing research showing footballers are 50% more likely to develop dementia.
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Assets
Lineker owns a £4 million mansion in Barnes, South London, featuring a cinema room, chic living spaces, and a tree-lined garden. His property investments include GCGL Properties Ltd, co-founded in 2020. His business ventures, particularly Goalhanger Podcasts and Films, represent significant assets, with the podcast company valued at £1.9 million in 2024. His long-term endorsement deals and media projects further bolster his asset portfolio.
FAQs
What is Gary Lineker’s net worth in 2025?
Gary Lineker’s net worth is estimated at £30 million, derived from his broadcasting career, endorsements, and business ventures.
How much did Gary Lineker earn at the BBC?
For the 2023/24 financial year, Lineker earned between £1.3 million and £1.35 million, making him the BBC’s highest-paid star.
What are Lineker’s major endorsement deals?
His most prominent deal is with Walkers Crisps, worth £1.2 million over three years as of 2020, and he has appeared in over 150 adverts since 1995.
What clubs did Gary Lineker play for?
Lineker played for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Why did Gary Lineker leave the BBC?
Lineker left the BBC in May 2025 following a controversy over a social media post with antisemitic imagery, which he apologized for, but his position was deemed untenable.
