The BBC has confirmed Gary Lineker will soon move on from Match of the Day after 25 years – but the BBC staple remains the broadcaster’s highest earner after extending his contract
The BBC has confirmed Gary Lineker will soon move on from Match of the Day after 25 years – but the BBC staple remains the broadcaster’s highest earner after extending his contract The BBC has confirmed Gary Lineker will soon move on from Match of the Day after 25 years – but the BBC staple remains the broadcaster’s highest earner after extending his contract
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is moving on from the hit show – but his days with the BBC are far from over.
The former England hitman has confirmed his departure from the MOTD sofa at the end of the current campaign. Lineker, 63, has fronted MOTD’s Premier League coverage for a quarter of a century, but the time has come for him to finally step down.
However, his days as a BBC presenter aren’t quite through considering he has penned a new contract with the broadcaster. Lineker will continue to present FA Cup coverage and is set to lead the BBC’s content at the next World Cup in just under two years.
It’s uncertain precisely how the former Tottenham striker’s salary will be affected after deescalating his duties. However, the BBC’s highest-paid talent will continue to beef up his considerable net worth as the prized pony for the time being.
Gary Lineker’s Net Worth
The BBC will make back a substantial sum when it eventually does part ways with Lineker, given he’s been their most expensive asset for seven years now. His longstanding spell as the host of the Premier League highlights show may be coming to a close, but for now, he maintains a grip on one of the most coveted roles on British television.
It’s been a solid three years since England legend Lineker last graced our screens in a Walker’s crisps advert, but he’s certainly not penny-pinching. Despite accepting a pay cut from his previous BBC salary in 2021, the football icon is still earning a healthy wedge for his BBC contributions.
From clinching the old Second Division title with his hometown team Leicester in 1980, Lineker went on to secure major titles with big names like Tottenham and Barcelona. However, his football earnings are thought to makeup only a small portion of his estimated net worth, which is believed to be around £30m.
As talented a player as Lineker was, some might argue he’s outshone his own career as one of the finest football broadcasters in British TV history. It’s no surprise his expertise has been sought after by the likes of BT Sport (now TNT Sports), NBC and Al Jazeera over the years, padding out his income in the process.
BBC Salary
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Starting from his modest beginnings after taking over from Des Lynam back in 1999, Lineker has ascended to the top spot in Media City. It would be a challenge to find another football personality who earns more for their punditry, with Lineker raking in £1.35m annually, according to the BBC’s 2023/24 figures.
There have also been reports that he was contemplating a further pay cut to £1m per year to ink a new deal. It remains unknown exactly how much Lineker will take home after leaving Match of the Day, with reports merely suggesting a hefty reduction is inevitable.
His current salary is nearly £500,000 more than his closest competitor, DJ Zoe Ball, who could move closer to the No1 spot herself next summer. To give further perspective on Lineker’s earnings, the broadcaster could afford to hire three Alan Shearers – who made £380,000 in the last tax year – and still have enough left over to bring in Louis Theroux part-time.
MOTD Exit and Future
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Speculation is abound regarding who will take over from Lineker as the Match of the Day presenter once his exit becomes official. Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman is among the leading candidates as things stand, though nothing has been confirmed ahead of next year’s split.
Viewers will have to get accustomed to Lineker appearing on their screens much more sporadically in the months and years to come. After his new 18-month contract was confirmed, Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
The former Leicester man still has plenty of irons in the fire, with his Rest Is Football podcast – alongside Shearer and Micah Richards – continuing to go from strength to strength.
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