Jeremy Clarkson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Jeremy Clarkson’s net worth and salary?

With a net worth of $70 million, Jeremy Clarkson is an English television presenter, journalist, and writer, renowned for hosting the globally popular sports car show “Top Gear,” which remains one of the most viewed television programs worldwide.

Early Life

Born on April 11, 1960, in Doncaster, England, Jeremy Clarkson is the son of Shirley and Edward. His parents took the initiative to enroll him in private school years ahead of time, despite being uncertain about how to cover the tuition fees. Just before Clarkson was set to start school, his parents created two Paddington Bear toys for their children, which became so popular they decided to sell them. Unfortunately, they soon received a cease and desist order from Michael Bond’s legal team, the creator of Paddington Bear. Edward Clarkson traveled to London for a meeting with Bond’s lawyer, only to bump into Bond in the elevator; the two quickly developed a rapport. Consequently, Bond granted the Clarksons worldwide licensing rights to Paddington Bear, which helped finance Jeremy’s education.

Clarkson has shared that his time at Repton School was marred by severe bullying and huge unhappiness. During his tenure there, he shared moments with Andy Wilman, the former Executive Producer of “Top Gear,” and Formula One engineer Adrian Newey. Ultimately, he was expelled from Repton School after multiple incidents.

Career

Although he is primarily recognized as the host of the acclaimed sports car show “Top Gear,” Clarkson’s initial role was as a salesman for his family’s Paddington Bear business. He subsequently ventured into journalism, writing for various newspapers such as the Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, and Shropshire Star. It was at the Shropshire Star where he got his first chance to cover automobiles, beginning with Peugeots and Fiats and progressing to Range Rovers and Ford Granadas. After working there for seven years, he finally got the opportunity to drive an Aston Martin Lagonda, and after a decade, he experienced driving his first Lamborghini.

In 1984, Clarkson established the Motoring Press Agency (MPA), collaborating with fellow motoring journalist Jonathan Gill to conduct road tests for various newspapers and car magazines. Since the magazine’s launch in 1993, he has been a consistent contributor to Top Gear magazine.

Beyond “Top Gear,” Clarkson pens columns for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and the Toronto Star, as well as authoring books on automobiles and a variety of other topics.

His significant television debut came when he presented/hosted “Top Gear” in its original form from October 1988 to February 2000, and later from October 2002 to March 2015. He played a vital role in transforming “Top Gear” into the most-watched program on BBC Two.

Clarkson also hosted the inaugural UK version of “Robot Wars.” From November 1998 to December 2000, he aired a talk show named “Clarkson,” producing 27 half-hour episodes featuring interviews with musicians, politicians, and other television personalities.

In 2007, Clarkson and co-host James May accomplished the extraordinary feat of being the first individuals to drive to the North Pole, as showcased in “Top Gear: Polar Special.”

In March 2015, following an altercation with a producer, the BBC suspended Clarkson from “Top Gear.” His frustration stemmed from being presented with soup and a cold meat platter while filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire, after the chef had left, which limited the available options. As a result, the BBC opted not to air the next episode of “Top Gear,” as well as the final two episodes of that season.

Producer Oisin Tymon was punched so hard by Clarkson that he required hospital treatment. At the end of March, Clarkson’s contract with the BBC expired, and a previously suggested three-year renewal was retracted.

In his Sunday Times column on April 19, 2015, Clarkson disclosed that just two days before striking Tymon, his doctor had informed him that he might have tongue cancer. Ultimately, it was confirmed that Clarkson did not have cancer. In November 2015, Tymon filed a lawsuit against Clarkson and the BBC for racial discrimination due to the verbal abuse he encountered during the March incident.  The following February, Clarkson issued a formal apology to Tymon and resolved the racial discrimination and personal injury claim by paying $130,000.

On July 30, 2015, Amazon made the announcement that Clarkson, along with his former “Top Gear” co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, would host a new series titled “The Grand Tour.” The inaugural season premiered on November 18, 2016. By the end of 2019, the series concluded its fourth season.

Personal Life

Clarkson tied the knot with Alex Hall in 1989, but she left him for one of his friends six months afterward. In May 1993, he wed his manager, Frances Cain, with whom he had three children. Cain initiated divorce proceedings in April 2014.

A privacy injunction was granted to Clarkson in September 2010 against his first wife to prevent her from disclosing claims about their continued sexual relations after his marriage to Cain.

Clarkson has a strong affinity for the progressive rock band Genesis, attending their 2007 reunion concert at London’s Twickenham Stadium. Additionally, he contributed sleeve notes for the reissue of “Selling England by the Pound” as part of the “Genesis 1970-1975” box set.

His collection of luxury vehicles includes a Range Rover TDV8 Vogue SE, Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser, Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, Lotus Elise 111S, BMW M3 CSL, Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, Ferrari F355, Aston Martin Virage, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6, McLaren 675LT, among others.

Historically, Clarkson has displayed a lack of sympathy towards the green movement and has occasionally ridiculed groups such as Greenpeace, describing them as “eco-mentalists” resulting from “old trade unionists and CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) lesbians.” He has remarked that wind farms will eventually serve as “a reminder of the time when mankind temporarily took leave of its senses and decided wind, waves, and lashings of tofu could somehow generate enough electricity for the whole planet.”

Salary Highlights

Despite the show’s extensive reach, Clarkson’s salary for Top Gear was a comparatively modest $4 million annually. However, he also owned 30% of the show’s rights, allowing him to benefit from profits from licensing deals, DVD sales, syndication, and merchandise. Alongside his base salary, Clarkson generally secures an extra $7.5 – $13 million each year in dividends and bonuses from the show. In 2013, the BBC purchased all outstanding stakes to take complete control of the Top Gear franchise, resulting in Clarkson earning approximately $21 million.

Real Estate

In 2012, Clarkson purchased a five-bedroom cottage situated on 312 acres in the Cotswolds for $5.5 million. In 2018, he demolished it on “The Grand Tour.” Once the debris was cleared, Clarkson planned to construct a six-bedroom, three-story mansion.