Gary Lineker is BBC top earner AGAIN as former MOTD host secures £1.35m salary amid scandal-hit year - see list in FULL

GB NEWS

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WATCH: Tom and Emily react to the newly published list of BBC Salaries

Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 15/07/2025

- 12:00

Updated: 15/07/2025

- 14:40

The former Match of the Day host has been confirmed as this year's BBC top earner once more

Gary Lineker has retained his spot at the top of the list of the BBC's salaries, seeing off his closest competition by over £800,000.

Following the publication of the BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts, it was confirmed that Lineker pocketed a staggering £1,350,000-£1,354,999.


The seven-figure salary remains the same as what the now-former MOTD host secured last year.

However, Lineker has faced a rather tumultuous 12 months since the publication of last year's report, stepping down from his role on long-running football show MOTD and BBC coverage as a whole.

The 64-year-old also found his departure coming sooner than expected after he shared an offensive post on Instagram that was deemed antisemitic.

The social media post about Zionism included a drawing of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult, something Lineker claimed he hadn't realised.

In a statement at the time, Lineker said: "I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am."

Lineker ended up leaving the BBC following the final Match of the Day of the 24-25 Premier League season.

Gary Lineker

REUTERS

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Gary Lineker was this year's top earner at the BBC once again

Similar to last year, Lineker's closest earner in the list is Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball.

However, the radio personality has seen a rather drastic drop in pay this year from her £950,000-£954,999 salary in 2023-24.

According to this year's report, Ball took home £515,000-£519,999 for her work.

Elsewhere, Radio 1 star Greg James saw a slight pay rise on his 23-23 salary of £415,000-£419,999. He earned £425,000-£429,999.

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Zoe BallPA |

Zoe Ball saw a drastic reduction in her salary

BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan took home £405,000-£409,999 over the past 12 months, the same as the year previous.

Question Time and Antiques Roadshow star Fiona Bruce saw a slight increase from her 23-24 salary of £405,000-£409,000. This year's report shows her salary stands at £410,000-£414,999.

While Lineker topped the list, there was good news for his MOTD co-star Alan Shearer. The former Newcastle striker took home £440,000-£444,999.

This marked a huge boost on his 23-24 salary of £380,000-£384,999.

Naga Munchetty

BBC

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Naga Munchetty also enjoyed a slight pay rise

Meanwhile, BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty saw her salary of £345,000-£349,999 go up to £355,000-£359,999 over the past 12 months.

Today presenter Nick Robinson saw his salary go up by £65,000. His £345,000-£349,000 pay cheque transformed into £410,000-£414,999 for the past year.

Alan ShearerPA |

Alan Shearer celebrated a salary hike this past year

BBC News star Mishal Husain saw a slight decrease in her £340,000-£344,999 salary from last year, taking home £325,000-£329,999 for 24-25.

Meanwhile, BBC News at Six star Sophie Raworth pocketed £350,000-£354,999 over the past 12 months.

Laura Kuenssberg's Sunday talk show landed her a £70,000 pay increase, taking her from £325,000-£329,999 to £395,000-£399,999.

Other notable earners include Vernon Kay (£390,000-£394,999), Justin Webb (£365,000-£369,999), Scott Mills (£355,000-£359,999), and Mark Chapman (£325,000-£329,999).