Gary Lineker's net worth still £30m after leaving BBC as he lands ITV World Cup job and Netflix podcast deal

When Gary Lineker stepped down from his role at the BBC, many wondered what the future held for the legendary broadcaster. The answer, it seems, is a surprising pivot that sees him crossing traditional battle lines. In a move that has raised plenty of eyebrows, the 65-year-old is set to make a shock appearance as a pundit on ITV for their coverage of the 2026 World Cup clash between Germany and Ivory Coast. The switch is particularly striking given Lineker's 26-year association with the BBC, where he was the definitive face of Match of the Day and a long-time staple of their international tournament coverage. Taking up a punditry slot on ITV - the BBC's direct broadcasting rival - is a bold statement, especially after walking away from an enormous BBC contract in May of last year. Lineker had consistently been the BBC's highest-earning on-air talent, commanding a staggering salary of more than £1.35m annually before his controversial departure. However, anyone thinking Lineker might be feeling the financial sting of leaving his lucrative BBC safety net behind would be sorely mistaken. Despite no longer working regularly in TV, the former England striker's bank balance remains incredibly healthy. Today, Lineker's net worth is widely estimated to stand at around £30m. His fortune was built through a combination of his playing career, his decades at the very top of British sports broadcasting and lucrative commercial endorsements. But recently, it's his booming podcast empire that's been padding his bank balance. In fact, much of Lineker's wealth accumulation can be credited to Goalhanger Podcasts, the media production firm he co-founded with Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport in 2018. The company has experienced explosive growth - fuelled by the massive cultural success of their The Rest Is... podcast series, including shows like The Rest is History, The Rest is Entertainment, The Rest is Politics, and The Rest is Football, the latter of which Lineker hosts. Lineker retains at least a 25 per cent stake in the business, which generated nearly £38m in revenue last year and recently surpassed 250,000 paid subscribers. The 2026 World Cup has also been something of a financial goldmine for Lineker. He and his The Rest is Football co-hosts, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, have temporarily set up shop in a luxurious New York City apartment overlooking Times Square. There, they are recording a 40-episode run of their podcast for streaming giant Netflix. The platform reportedly paid an eye-watering £14m for the exclusive rights to host the daily show, delivering another massive payday to Lineker's accounts.