Gary Lineker has left BBC’s Match of the Day and has had a successful career as a footballer and broadcaster. His personal life has also been equally turbulent.
Gary Lineker, who cried before leaving his mark on Match of the Day on Sunday, hasn’t shied from disclosing his romantic past.
Despite schedules to cover the FA Cup and World Cup of the following summer, the sports TV presenter, 64, confirmed that his final appearance on BBC’s Match of the Day after 26 years in the spotlight would occur sooner than expected. After Gary was met with backlash for sharing and then deleting a pro-Palestine video featuring an “antisemitic” rat emoji, the abrupt exit occurred.
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.
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Impressive wealth
Gary won 80 caps for England, making him one of the most recognizable footballers of his time, playing for Leicester, Everton, Spurs, and Barcelona. Given that he hung up his boots before the Premier League’s financial collapse, his main source of income is still his illustrious football career.
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 is reportedly worth around $30 million. His eye-watering wealth is significantly bolstered by his sizable BBC earnings, which the broadcaster disclosed in its annual salary report that Gary made between £1,300, 000 and £1,354, 999 in 2023/24.
Gary had offered to take a substantial pay cut of about £350, 000 to remain on MOTD despite already being the BBC’s top earner for the previous seven years, but he is now set to step down.
Love life
The former England goalkeeper married twice and had four children with Michelle Cockayne, his first wife, in 1986 before getting divorced 20 years later.
The actress and her boyfriend Danielle Bux married in Italy in 2007 after dating her for 20 years. However, their six-year union was terminated shortly after their split, according to reports that the two had different perspectives on starting a family.
Gary stated in 2019 that, despite texting constantly, Diane and I still communicate best. She stays with me when she travels to London, and I see her when I travel to LA.
Gary has openly discussed his dating life and is still thought to be single. He admitted that he was in a decline in his testosterone levels when he claimed he was no longer interested in intimacy. He has stated more recently that he doesn’t miss getting married and that his sons and work life make up the majority 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 setup
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.
She later wed American entertainment lawyer Nate Greenwald after Gary and Danielle split, and the couple welcomed their now four-year-old daughter Romy. The exes continue to live together with their families, though.
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 Danielle’s current husband never becomes “jealous” of their relationship, and how he keeps in touch with his ex.
“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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Source: Mirror
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