Jeremy Clarkson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Jeremy Clarkson’s net worth and salary?

Known for hosting the globally popular car show “Top Gear,” Jeremy Clarkson, an English television presenter, journalist, and writer, has amassed a net worth of $70 million. The show remains one of the most-watched television programs worldwide.

Early Life

Jeremy Clarkson was born on April 11, 1960, in Doncaster, England, to parents Shirley and Edward. They enrolled him in a private school well ahead of time, unsure of how they would manage the tuition costs. Before his school years began, they created two Paddington Bear toys for their children, which gained such popularity that they started selling them. However, they quickly received a cease and desist notice from Michael Bond’s legal team, the creator of Paddington Bear. During a visit to London to discuss the matter with Bond’s lawyer, Edward Clarkson fortuitously met Bond in the elevator, which led to a friendly relationship. This resulted in the Clarksons securing the worldwide licensing rights to Paddington Bear, providing the necessary funds for Jeremy’s education.

While at Repton School, Clarkson faced severe bullying and was quite unhappy. Amid studies, he attended the same school as Andy Wilman, a former executive producer of “Top Gear,” and Adrian Newey, a Formula One engineer. Ultimately, he was expelled due to multiple infractions.

Career

Although he is best recognized as the host of the renowned “Top Gear,” Clarkson’s career commenced as a salesman in his parents’ Paddington Bear business. He later transitioned to journalism, working for various newspapers such as the Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, and Shropshire Star. His foray into automotive journalism began at the Shropshire Star, writing about Peugeots and Fiats before progressing to Range Rovers and Ford Granadas. After seven years, he was finally permitted to drive an Aston Martin Lagonda, and a decade later, he experienced driving a Lamborghini for the first time.

In 1984, Clarkson established the Motoring Press Agency (MPA), along with fellow motoring journalist Jonathan Gill, conducting road tests for car magazines and newspapers. Since the launch of Top Gear magazine in 1993, he has contributed regularly.

Besides hosting “Top Gear,” Clarkson also writes columns for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and the Toronto Star, alongside authoring books on various topics, including cars.

His first significant television role came as the presenter of “Top Gear” in its original format from October 1988 to February 2000 and later from October 2002 to March 2015. His efforts were pivotal in transforming “Top Gear” into BBC Two’s most-watched show.

Clarkson also had the honor of hosting the inaugural UK edition of “Robot Wars.” Between November 1998 and December 2000, he ran a talk show titled “Clarkson,” producing 27 half-hour episodes featuring interviews with musicians, politicians, and celebrities.

In a remarkable feat, Clarkson and co-host James May became the first individuals to drive to the North Pole, showcased in “Top Gear: Polar Special” in 2007.

However, in March 2015, following an altercation with one of the producers, Clarkson was suspended from “Top Gear.” Upset over being offered only soup and a cold meat platter while filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire, he was frustrated when informed that the chef had left, and such was all that was available. After this incident, the BBC did not air the subsequent episode of “Top Gear” or the last two episodes of that season.

Producer Oisin Tymon was punched by Clarkson with such force that he required hospital treatment. Clarkson’s contract with the BBC came to an end in March, and a previously suggested three-year renewal was later rescinded.

On April 19, 2015, Clarkson revealed in his Sunday Times column that he had been informed by his doctor two days prior to the incident with Tymon 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 regarding the verbal abuse he experienced during the March incident.  The following February, Clarkson issued a formal apology to Tymon and reached a settlement for the racial discrimination and personal injury claims totaling $130,000.

Amazon made an announcement on July 30, 2015, that Clarkson, along with his former “Top Gear” companions Richard Hammond and James May, would be the hosts of a new show entitled “The Grand Tour.” The first season premiered on November 18, 2016, and the series concluded its fourth season by the end of 2019.

Personal Life

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

In September 2010, Clarkson was granted an injunction to protect his privacy against his first wife, preventing her from making claims about their sexual relationship continuing after his marriage to Cain.

Clarkson has expressed a strong admiration for the progressive rock band Genesis, attending their reunion concert in 2007 at London’s Twickenham Stadium. He also 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, a Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser, a Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, a Lotus Elise 111S, a BMW M3 CSL, a Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, a Ferrari F355, an Aston Martin Virage, a Lamborghini Gallardo, an Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6, and a McLaren 675LT, among others.

Clarkson has historically shown a lack of sympathy towards the environmental movement, at times ridiculing organizations like Greenpeace, referring to them as “eco-mentalists” stemming from “old trade unionists and CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) lesbians.” He described wind farms as reminders of a time when humanity lost its common sense, believing that wind, waves, and copious amounts of tofu could somehow provide enough electricity for the entire planet.

Salary Highlights

Given the extensive audience of the show, Clarkson’s salary on Top Gear was surprisingly modest at $4 million annually. However, there’s no need for concern regarding his financial situation. In addition to this base pay, Clarkson held a 30% stake in the rights to Top Gear, allowing him to profit from all licensing deals, DVD sales, syndication, and merchandise. On top of his base salary, he generally earns between $7.5 million and $13 million each year in dividends and bonuses from the show. In 2013, the BBC, which already owned half of the show, acquired all remaining stakes to gain full control over the Top Gear franchise, resulting in a payout of approximately $21 million for Clarkson.

Real Estate

In 2012, Clarkson purchased a five-bedroom cottage on 312 acres in the Cotswolds for $5.5 million. He subsequently destroyed it on “The Grand Tour” in 2018. After the debris was cleared, plans emerged for a six-bedroom, three-story mansion to be constructed in its place.