After landing ninth job, how does BBC's highest-paid star juggle work?
Walkers crisps, books, Match of the Day… as Gary Lineker lands his NINTH job (hosting a gameshow called Sitting On A Fortune), how does the BBC’s highest-paid star find time to juggle all his work?
- Gary Lineker, 60, bagged his ninth job with host role on ITV Sitting On A Fortune
- He already earns £1.36m at BBC, making him Corporation’s highest-earning star
- Lineker is also face of Walkers, writes books, promotes TM Lewin and more
He’s the highest-earning ‘talent’ at the BBC and is kicking off another season of Match Of The Day this weekend – part of a starring role at the Corporation that earns him £1.36 million a year.
Now Gary Lineker, 60, has scored another big payday over at rival team ITV as host of a new gameshow – with the rather appropriate title Sitting On A Fortune.
It’s just another job up front for the former goalscorer at Leicester, Spurs and Barcelona who, since retiring from football in 1994, has transformed himself into one of television’s most sought-after presenters.
Becoming a gameshow host will mean Lineker now has nine jobs.
Apart from his high-profile presenting roles, he features in big-brand television advertising campaigns and also runs a TV production company – which he uses to sell even more of his work to the BBC.
It’s certainly a big fixture list to juggle and it all got us thinking – how does Gary find the extra time to do all this…
Walkers Crisps
One of his first TV jobs was as the face of Walkers crisps, and the Leicester-born star last year signed a new three-year deal with the firm – the snacks are made in his home city.
The deal sees him feature in television advert campaigns and on social media.
He has been working with the brand for 27 years, first teaming up with Walkers in 1994, and has now appeared in 150 adverts.
Gary Lineker has been working with the brand for 27 years, first teaming up with Walkers in 1994, and has now appeared in 150 adverts
Earlier this year he found himself at the centre of an unexpected race row over his latest lucrative advert.
The commercial, which promoted the company’s tie-in with KFC, has been described as racist for perpetuating a negative stereotype of black people liking fried chicken.
Ticker Car Insurance
Lineker is an investor in an insurance company which aims to reduce premiums for drivers between the ages of 17 and 25.
Ticker sends a box to the driver which they then place on their windscreen.
The gadget pairs to a phone via bluetooth, sending the driver’s behaviour on the road to the Ticker app, with the idea that the information can be used to provide cheaper insurance for safer young motorists.
Described as the future of car insurance, the company is also backed by former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell.
BBC/Match of the Day
As part of Lineker’s £1.36 million deal with the Beeb, he presents Match Of The Day and other big sporting events.
This summer he fronted many of the Euro 2020 matches both from Wembley and the BBC studios in Salford.
As part of Lineker’s £1.36 million deal with the Beeb, he presents Match Of The Day and other big sporting events. Above: Lineker at the 2021 FA Cup Final
He is also one of the hosts of the Sports Personality of the Year event.
Lineker is paid nicely for it all too. He was the organisation’s biggest earner for the 2020-21 financial year – even after taking a £400,000 pay cut from the year before when the Corporation paid him £1.75 million.
Goalhanger Films
Few BBC viewers will know that some of the programmes Lineker hosts are not part of his deal with the broadcaster but shows he sells to them through his production company.
Last year he hosted and made Football, Prince William And Our Mental Health through Goalhanger Films.
Few BBC viewers will know that some of the programmes Lineker hosts are not part of his deal with the broadcaster but shows he sells to them through his production company Goalhanger Films
He has made others for the Corporation with stars including Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney, and featuring his beloved Leicester City.
He also produces podcasts for the BBC. He recently announced a show he is making about tennis superstar Serena Williams, which he has sold to Amazon.
Lineker quit one big-money deal at BT Sport for another – transferring to La Liga to present football matches from the top Spanish division, live from Barcelona.
Lineker still speaks Spanish after his time playing for the Catalan giants and he signed a multi-year contract with LaLigaTV ahead of the new season.
Lineker still speaks Spanish after his time playing for the Catalan giants and he signed a multi-year contract with LaLigaTV ahead of the new season
Speaking of his new job, he said he was ‘thrilled’, adding: ‘I have fond memories of my time playing in Spain and very much look forward to sharing the excitement of La Liga with viewers in the UK and elsewhere.’
Books
In 2019, along with his friend and fellow broadcaster Danny Baker, Lineker published a book full of football anecdotes called Behind Closed Doors.
A bestseller, it was culled from a podcast the pair presented and reveals jaw-dropping stories from the dressing room and open-top bus ceremonies, apparently ‘all served up with lashings of wit and ribald humour.’
In 2019, along with his friend and fellow broadcaster Danny Baker, Lineker published a book full of football anecdotes called Behind Closed Doors
Vision Express
As one of television’s most prominent spectacle-wearers, it was only a matter of time before Lineker cashed in on them.
He promotes his own range of sunglasses and glasses, which he handpicks, for high street chain Vision Express.
He also promotes his own range of sunglasses and glasses, which he handpicks, for high street chain Vision Express
The firm says in the ‘edit’, Lineker ‘pays homage to the various fashion eras and styles which have influenced him throughout his life, specifically Italian and Mediterranean styles.’
And he’s hoping to score with the public in terms of pricing – Lineker spectacle frames cost from £99 and sunglasses are from £39.
TM Lewin
Lineker is renowned for his snappy suits when presenting his TV shows, which was clearly noticed by upmarket shirt brand TM Lewin, which signed him up to promote the label.
He has appeared on its website where he has advertised the budget range, starting at £25.
Lineker is renowned for his snappy suits when presenting his TV shows, which was clearly noticed by upmarket shirt brand TM Lewin, which signed him up to promote the label
He also used to encourage his millions of social media followers to shop at TM Lewin stores before the business went online only.
In one he wrote: ‘What better way to finish off the week than a new shoot wearing Britain’s Favourite Shirt. The @tmlewin pure two-fold cotton essential shirt has got me covered for all-day wear.’
ITV gameshow
Last month it was announced that Lineker would be straddling the BBC and ITV after being lured by the latter to host a new gameshow, named Sitting On A Fortune.
In the show contestants can win up to £100,000 and it seems the presenter has hit the jackpot too.
Last month it was announced that Lineker would be straddling the BBC and ITV after being lured by the latter to host a new gameshow, named Sitting On A Fortune
It’s not known how much he is being paid but TV insiders suggest ‘he won’t be doing it for peanuts’.
Lineker said: ‘I am delighted to be hosting what I think and hope will be a show that people love, full of tension with high stakes and bags of drama from start to finish – everything a great game show should be.’
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