Gary Lineker receives a seven-figure pay cheque from the BBC as the broadcaster’s highest-paid presenter. However, the 63-year-old reportedly offered to take a pay cut earlier this month to continue presenting Match Of The Day which today he stepped down from. In July, the BBC published its annual salary report which revealed the former England player earned £1,300,000 to £1,354,999 for 2023/2024.
In second place was Zoe Ball, who banked considerably less with £950,000 to £954,999 for the same period. Gary has been the BBC’s top-earning star for the past seven years but reportedly volunteered to take a £350,000 cut to continue helming MOTD. Now, though, the ex-Leicester City striker has announced his departure from the show after 25 years .
But it is not the end of Gary’s career at the BBC as the corporation revealed he had agreed in principle a contract extension. Under the renewal, Gary will lead coverage of the 2026 World Cup and will also host BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025/26 season. In a statement, Gary did not address his MOTD exit and instead said: ‘I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.
’ Meanwhile, Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: ‘Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup. ‘After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD.
