Gary Lineker boasts huge net worth but doesn’t compare to BBC colleague Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker were iconic footballers in their prime and the two former England internationals have each grown their bank balance from broadcasting
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker make for a great team in the broadcasting world, but the former is in a different league when it comes to wealth.
They rarely shared the pitch, but their chemistry is undeniable when they're in front of the camera or microphone. Lineker, 64, is usually the one posing questions to Shearer, 54, on the BBC sofa.
The ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward will step down from Match of the Day's Premier League highlights at the end of the season. That said, Lineker will continue to present the FA Cup for the broadcaster next season, as well as the 2026 World Cup.
Despite Lineker being the one steering the conversation, it's Shearer who has the larger bank balance. As expected, a significant chunk of both players' wealth comes from their highly successful football careers.
Lineker's included memorable spells at Barcelona and Tottenham, while Shearer became a Newcastle United legend after winning the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers. However, they've also managed to increase their wealth through business ventures. It's understood that Lineker has a net worth of £30million, a substantial portion of which comes from his BBC salary.
According to the BBC's accounts for 2023-2024, this was between £1.3m and £1,354,999. Lineker's earnings were nearly £1m more than Shearer's (£380,000), as Shearer primarily serves as a pundit rather than a show host. However, this significant salary gap hasn't prevented the Toon icon from amassing an estimated net worth of around £40m, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In addition to his BBC salary, Shearer has also worked as a pundit and co-commentator for platforms such as Amazon Prime and Al-Jazeera. He is also a stakeholder in the fitness company Speedflex.
After being dismissed as manager of Newcastle, Shearer invested in the company and now serves as a director. Company Check reports that the company is valued at approximately £13.6m.
On the other hand, Lineker has multiple income streams. Besides his broadcasting career, he owns a podcast media company named 'Goalhanger', which he established in 2014 with former ITV controller Tony Pastor.
His podcast, The Rest Is Football, which he hosts alongside Shearer and Richards and occasionally invites guests, is one of many audio shows produced by his company.
They also broadcast The Rest Is Politics' and The Rest Is History, both of which have gained considerable popularity in the UK. As of May 31st, 2024, the company's accounts showed a worth of around £1.9m, plus an additional £2.7m in bank reserves.
Lineker continues to collaborate with crisp brand 'Walkers', whom he initially signed a £200,000 contract with in 1995. In 2020, he inked a new £1.2m deal with the firm.
Interestingly, the new deal allowed him to feature in fewer adverts but participate more in ambassadorial roles and initiatives targeting grassroots sports and plastic consumption.