Gary Lineker Tops BBC Pay List with £1.35m Salary in 2025
- Admin
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 31
As public trust in the BBC faces renewed pressure, the broadcaster’s latest salary disclosures ignite a fierce debate over value, accountability, and elite privilege in public broadcasting.
Veteran presenter Gary Lineker has once again topped the BBC's annual list of highest-paid on-air talent, taking home £1.35 million before his departure from Match of the Day earlier this year. The broadcaster, which is funded in large part by the UK’s compulsory licence fee, released the figures as part of its 2024–2025 transparency report prompting fresh criticism over inflated presenter salaries and a perceived disconnect from ordinary Britons struggling under the cost-of-living crisis.
Lineker’s Exit Didn’t Dampen Pay
Despite stepping down in May 2025 following a political social media row and ongoing internal friction at the BBC, Lineker’s earnings still placed him firmly at the top — a symbolic flashpoint for critics who argue the broadcaster is out of touch with its public service mandate.
The £1.35 million figure marks the eighth consecutive year that Lineker has led the BBC pay chart.
The Top Earners (2024–25):
Presenter | Salary Band |
Gary Lineker | £1.35m – £1.354m |
Zoe Ball | £515k – £519k |
Alan Shearer | £440k – £444k |
Greg James | £425k – £429k |
Fiona Bruce | £410k – £414k |
Naga Munchetty | £355k – £359k |
Nick Robinson | £414k (up 18%) |
Laura Kuenssberg | £395k – £399k |
In total, over £17 million was paid to the BBC’s top-tier talent many of whom saw salary increases compared to previous years.
Austerity vs Excess?
The salary revelations come at a precarious time for the BBC. The broadcaster has faced allegations of institutional dysfunction, an eroding public mandate, and criticism over past scandals from gender pay gaps to leadership controversies.
Amid this turmoil, the BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie also received a £15,000 pay increase, bringing his salary to £540,000. This further intensified questions about leadership priorities, especially as departments within the BBC continue to face budget cuts and redundancies.
The Public’s Verdict: Growing Discontent
With the average UK household under increasing financial strain, many see the multi-million-pound earnings of celebrity presenters as unjustifiable especially from a publicly funded institution.
“Paying TV stars millions while ordinary workers face freezes is indefensible,” said one media ethics analyst. “It reflects a corporate culture increasingly out of step with the people it serves.”
The BBC defends these salaries as necessary to compete with private broadcasters and streaming giants, but critics argue that the salaries have become symbols of elitism and institutional excess.
What Comes Next for the BBC?
The broadcaster remains under pressure to redefine its role, restore public trust, and justify its spending particularly in light of ongoing debates about whether the licence fee should continue in its current form.
As Gary Lineker exits and new figures take the spotlight, the question remains: Can the BBC strike a balance between star power and public accountability, or will growing public discontent force deeper reform?
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