Gary Lineker is back with the latest episode of ITV's Sitting on a Fortune and, as most people know, it's not his only TV job.
The 62-year-old is also the BBC's lead presenter for live football and is the face of Walkers crisps. Earlier this year Lineker was at the centre of a huge controversy after being pulled from, and later reinstated to, Match of the Day amid a row over his social media posts.
It came after the presenter was embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new UK Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
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At the time a BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
He was reinstated to MOTD after the BBC apologised the following week. Director-General Tim Davie said he recognised "the potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC's social media guidance" following a "difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters, and most importantly, our audiences".
Gary Lineker's salary and net worth
When the BBC revealed its highest on-air earners for 2021/22, Lineker was top of the pile for the fifth year running, Wales Online reports.
It was revealed he earned between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for work including Match of the Day and Sports Personality Of The Year – a reduction of £10,000 on the previous year. Fellow Match of the Day regular Alan Shearer is third on the list, earning over £450,000.
It is estimated by Celebrity Net Worth that he is worth around £29m. Lineker has made money from commercial tie-ups with brands and enjoyed a hugely successful football playing career before that.
He also owns his own TV production company, Goalhanger Films.
Gary Lineker's ex wife and family
Gary has been married and divorced twice. He and Cardiff-born actress Danielle Bux, now 43, got divorced in January 2016, after seven years together.
They had initially met on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend. The couple reportedly split because Danielle, who has a daughter from a previous relationship, was desperate to have another child but father-of-four Gary felt he was too old to start a new family.
Gary has four sons from his marriage to first wife Michelle Cockayne, to whom he was married from 1986 to May 2006. They are George, 31, Harry, 29, Tobias, 27, and Angus, 25.
Since splitting from Lineker, Danielle has had another child, five-year-old daughter Romy, with American entertainment lawyer Nate Greenwald who she married in 2019. Danielle relocated to Los Angeles shortly after splitting with the former England footballer to pursue an acting career.
The pair have maintained a close relationship since the split with Lineker revealing he frequently socialises with Greenwald on his trips to visit Danielle in California. Lineker and Danielle also speak on a daily basis via phone or text.
Gary told the Radio Times: "He’s not got a jealous bone in his body. 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?"
Gary and Danielle actually opted against involving divorce lawyers when they split, instead filling out all the required forms together. The friendship Gary has maintained with Danielle extends to her first daughter who she had at the age of 22.
Lineker describes Ella as his step-daughter and still visits her in the US.
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