Gary Lineker is poised to move to Netflix after securing a lucrative deal with the streaming giant. The soccer icon will present ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast on the North American World Cup service after leaving the BBC in May. Following his decision to step down as Match of the Day host for the first time in a quarter of a century, the company had originally planned for Mr Lineker, 65, to be the BBC’s broadcaster for next summer’s tournament, but that deal was scrapped.
The former Leicester forward’s sudden departure came after he faced criticism for posting and later deleting a pro-Palestinian video that included an “anti-Semitic” rat emoji. Mr Lineker’s well-received podcast was previously broadcast on BBC Sounds, but since his sudden departure from the broadcaster it has had no fixed platform and is now accessible on YouTube and alternative services.
It remains to be seen whether Lineker’s regular podcast partners Alan Shearer and Micah Richards will accompany him on the new Netflix project. Nevertheless, the deal is expected to significantly improve Lineker’s financial position.
From his wealth to his personal affairs, The Express investigates the former Match of the Day presenter’s life away from the cameras
Netflix contract and net worth
Regarding the new arrangement, a source told the Daily Mail: “The Rest Is Football is currently available on YouTube, but it is not affiliated with any other network or broadcaster.”
“This is completely new for Netflix and has been described as an exciting new thing among bosses at Netflix. It means Gary will receive a big paycheck. This is a hugely popular show, and he took it with him when he left the BBC.”
“This means that Gary’s profile will skyrocket again, but it also means that Gary will be attending the World Cup in a completely different capacity.”
Mr Lineker’s fortune is estimated to be around £30 million. His vast wealth was greatly increased by his income from the BBC. The company revealed in its annual salary report that the former striker earned between £1.3 million and £1,354,999 in 2023/2024.
Mr Lineker has already been the BBC’s highest-paid presenter for seven consecutive years, but before he left the show this year he had agreed to take a significant pay cut of around £350,000 to remain on MOTD.
It has been revealed that after leaving the BBC, he will host an ITV quiz show called The Box, in which celebrities are taken to undisclosed destinations. Despite this, Mr Lineker’s wealth is widely expected to increase significantly, although the exact figures for his new Netflix deal and ITV show have yet to be revealed.
Lineker’s personal life
The former striker has been married twice and has four children with his first wife Michelle Cockayne, whom he married in 1986 and divorced 20 years later. In 2007, the presenter began dating Danielle Backes, who is 20 years her junior.
The couple tied the knot in Italy, but in early 2016 they announced they were living separately, ending their six-year marriage.
Gary revealed in 2019: “Danielle and I are best mates and we still talk three times a day and we text all the time. We hang out when she comes to London and I see her when I go to Los Angeles.”
Lineker described Daniel as his “greatest mate” but declined to discuss his love life. He previously stated, “I’m still single. I’m not going down that road! I’ve been there before, I tried to explain myself, but I got slaughtered by my friends.”
The former footballer previously opened up about the interesting arrangement that allowed him to maintain contact with Danielle and why her now-husband harbors no “jealousy” of their bond.
“There’s not a jealous bone in his body,” Gary told Radio Times. “We get along very well. When we’re in Los Angeles, we go out to dinner. That might be unusual and people might say, ‘That’s weird,’ but frankly, I don’t care. What is normal? Is it better to get divorced and end up fighting and screaming and screaming? Or is it better to just get along if you can?”
