July 8th 2024.
Gary Lineker has become a familiar face to many, and with his charming smile and quick wit, it's no wonder he has plenty to smile about. As one of the top earners at the BBC, he brings in a hefty £1.35 million salary. But his success doesn't stop there. In fact, his business ventures have the potential to be just as lucrative.
At 63 years old, Gary has become a household name and a regular on the list of the BBC's best-paid stars. He has held the top spot for six consecutive years, with the most recent being in 2023. As a broadcaster, Gary's responsibilities include presenting Match of the Day and leading coverage of major sporting events like Euro 2024. He has also delved into the world of podcasting, co-hosting the popular show The Rest Is Football with former England players Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
But Gary's involvement in the world of podcasting goes beyond just hosting. In fact, he is the founder of Goalhanger, a company that produces a variety of podcasts on different subjects. These include The Rest Is Entertainment, hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is Politics: US, The Rest Is History, and The Rest Is Money. The company also produces other series outside of The Rest Is group, such as Wars That Shaped The World and Disorder, which aim to explain complicated news in a simpler way. As the UK's largest independent podcast group, Goalhanger entertains millions of listeners each month.
When Gary founded Goalhanger, it was originally intended to produce sporting documentaries. However, in 2022, the company added a podcast division, and it has been a huge success ever since. Gary's partners, Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport, also benefit from the company's success as directors and shareholders. In the most recent filing for Goalhanger Podcasts, Gary is listed as a person with "significant control." Their micro company accounts for the financial year ending in May 2023 show a remarkable increase in capital and reserves, from £207,883 to £590,985. With a growth rate of 184%, it's safe to say that Gary's side hustle of selling old clothes on Vinted for £3 pales in comparison.
Podcasting is a rapidly growing sector, with the number of listeners increasing each year. Accountancy firm PwC predicts that advertising revenues from podcasts in the UK will reach £64 million by next year. As the hosts of the main titles, Gary and his fellow presenters also benefit from Goalhanger's financial prosperity through a revenue-sharing business model. This means that the hosts receive a third of the podcast's revenues, while Goalhanger takes the remaining two-thirds. Rory Stewart, who co-hosts The Rest Is Politics with Alastair Campbell, described their earnings as "Championship footballer money."
When asked about the success of his venture, Gary attributes it to a combination of factors. "I think we started early, recognized that podcasting was going to be interesting, got a bit lucky and made some good choices...The business is performing staggeringly well," he stated in an interview with The Financial Times. With such impressive success, it's no surprise that Gary would consider becoming a full-time podcaster. In an interview with The New Statesman, he described podcasting as "a relatively new genre," with endless possibilities for growth. He emphasized that it's a "very, very good business" and even hinted at the possibility of leaving the BBC to pursue it full-time.
But for now, Gary's focus remains on his current contract with the BBC, which has almost three years left. When asked about his future plans, he joked about getting his bus pass and taking a ride on a double-decker while listening to his own podcast. But in all seriousness, Gary knows that life can throw unexpected opportunities his way, and he is open to whatever the future may hold.
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