Gary Lineker's net worth, love life and unusual set-up with model ex-wife
Gary Lineker has enjoyed a successful career as a footballer and broadcaster, but has now stepped away from BBC's Match of the Day - and his personal life has been just as eventful
Gary Lineker, who bid a tearful goodbye to his time on Match of the Day on Sunday, hasn't shied away from opening up about his love life.
The sports TV presenter, 64, confirmed his last appearance on BBC's Match of the Day after 26 years in the hot seat was coming earlier than expected despite schedules to cover the FA Cup and next summer's World Cup. The sudden exit came after Gary was hit with backlash for sharing and then deleting a pro-Palestine video featuring an 'antisemitic' rat emoji.
Despite this, Gary has been one of the most recognisable faces on television thanks to his hugely successful football career and role as a pundit. But it's not just his career that has made headlines, as he's notably gone through two public divorces, has spoken about one unusual set-up and has earned a whopping amount from his time with the BBC.
Impressive net worth
Gary is one of the most iconic footballers of his era, turning out for Leicester, Everton, Spurs and Barcelona, and earning 80 caps for England. Despite his illustrious football career, the majority of his fortune hails from his television work, given he hung up his boots before the Premier League's financial explosion.
He first joined the BBC 's Premier League highlights programme in 1999 when he took over from Des Lynam and has been part of some of the show's most unforgettable moments. In addition to his longstanding role with the BBC, the 63 year old has also been associated with TNT Sports and is well-known for leading promotional campaigns for brands such as Walkers crisps.
Gary's net worth is thought to be around a whopping £30 million. His eye-watering wealth is significantly bolstered by his hefty BBC earnings - the broadcaster divulged in its annual salary report that Gary pocketed between £1,300,000 and £1,354,999 in 2023/2024.
Despite already being the BBC's top earner for the previous seven years, Gary had offered to take a substantial pay cut of about £350,000 to stay on MOTD but is now set to depart from the show.
Love life
The ex-England goalscorer has been married twice and shares his four children with his first wife, Michelle Cockayne, whom he married in 1986 and divorced 20 years later.
In 2007, the star began dating Danielle Bux, who was 20 years his junior, and they later married in Italy. But their marriage only lasted six years before the pair announced they were splitting in early 2016, reportedly due to their differing opinions on starting a family.
In 2019, Gary explained: "Danielle and I are best mates, we still speak three times a day, we text all the time. When she comes to London, she stays with me, and when I go to LA, I see her."
Gary is thought to still be single and has candidly opened up about his dating life. Back in 2021, he claimed to be unbothered about intimacy anymore, conceding he was at an age where his testosterone levels had dropped. More recently, he has insisted he doesn't miss being married and is content that his working life and sons occupy the bulk of his time.
In an interview with The Times, Gary said: "I like being on my own... I don't feel lonely. I have the odd date here and there, but nothing, not in terms of a long relationship. I've been married most of my adult life. Two really good marriages, I'm friends with both."
Unusual set-up
The pundit described his second wife Danielle as his 'best mate' and refused to comment on his sex life. He insisted: "I am still single. I am not going down that route! I have been there before and tried to explain myself and I got slaughtered by my friends." Gary also denied ever using dating apps and refused to let his sons set up an online profile for him.
After Gary and Danielle split, she went on to marry Nate Greenwald, an American entertainment lawyer, in 2019 and the couple welcomed their now-four-year-old daughter, Romy. Although, the exes still come together with their families.
Back in Christmas 2023, Danielle posted a photo with Gary alongside her eldest daughter Ella, whom she shares with a former partner Adam Willis. She captioned the photo "Our annual Christmas dinner", and Gary shared the picture with the comment, "Always a delight".
The sports presenter previously explained how he continues to keep in touch with his ex, and Danielle's current husband never gets 'jealous' of their relationship.
"He's not got a jealous bone in his body," Gary said to the Radio Times. "We get on really well. We go out for dinner when I'm in LA. It might be unusual and people might go, 'That's weird ' but, frankly, I don't care. What is normal? Is it better to get divorced and end up fighting, screaming and shouting? Or is it better to get on if you can?"
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