Jeremy Clarkson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Jeremy Clarkson’s net worth and salary?

With a net worth estimated at $70 million, Jeremy Clarkson is a prominent English television presenter, journalist, and writer. His fame largely stems from hosting the globally popular sports car program “Top Gear,” which consistently ranks as one of the most-watched shows worldwide.

Early Life

Born on April 11, 1960, in Doncaster, England, Jeremy Clarkson is the son of Shirley and Edward. His parents, uncertain about how to finance his tuition, had enrolled him in private school years ahead of time. Shortly before the start of his education, they crafted two Paddington Bear toys for their children, which gained such popularity that they decided to sell them. However, they faced a cease and desist demand from Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear. Edward Clarkson traveled to London to meet with Bond’s legal team but fortuitously encountered Bond in the elevator. Their friendly interaction led to Bond granting the Clarksons the global licensing rights to Paddington Bear, an income that funded Jeremy’s schooling.

Clarkson has recounted that he endured severe bullying and unhappiness during his time at Repton School, where he studied alongside former “Top Gear” Executive Producer Andy Wilman and Formula One engineer Adrian Newey. Ultimately, he was expelled from Repton School due to multiple infractions.

Career

While he is most recognized for hosting the esteemed “Top Gear,” Clarkson’s initial job was as a salesman for his parents’ Paddington Bears venture. His career as a journalist began at various newspapers, including the Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, and Shropshire Star. It was at the Shropshire Star that he had his first chance to write about automobiles, starting with Peugeots and Fiats before advancing to Range Rovers and Ford Granadas. Eventually, after seven years, he had the opportunity to drive an Aston Martin Lagonda, and after a decade, he experienced his first Lamborghini.

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

Alongside his role in “Top Gear,” Clarkson pens columns for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and the Toronto Star, and he has authored several books pertaining to automobiles and various other themes.

His significant television debut occurred as the presenter/host of “Top Gear” in its original format from October 1988 until February 2000 and again from October 2002 until March 2015. Clarkson is largely acknowledged for transforming “Top Gear” into BBC Two’s most-watched program.

He also hosted the inaugural UK version of “Robot Wars.” Between November 1998 and December 2000, he produced and hosted a talk show named “Clarkson,” featuring interviews with musicians, politicians, and television figures across 27 half-hour episodes.

In 2007, alongside co-host James May, Clarkson became the first individuals to drive to the North Pole, as showcased on “Top Gear: Polar Special.”

In March 2015, following an altercation with a producer during filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire, the BBC suspended Clarkson from “Top Gear.” Upset with being offered soup and a cold meat platter due to the chef having gone home, he confronted the producer. Consequently, the BBC decided not to air the subsequent episode of “Top Gear” as well as the final two episodes of that season after the incident.

which producer Oisin Tymon was punched by Clarkson so forcefully that it necessitated hospital treatment. Clarkson’s contract with the BBC lapsed at the end of March, and a proposed three-year renewal was subsequently retracted.

On April 19, 2015, Clarkson took to his column in the Sunday Times to disclose that just two days prior to hitting Tymon, his doctor had informed him of a potential tongue cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, it was revealed that Clarkson did not actually have cancer. In November 2015, Tymon filed a lawsuit against Clarkson and the BBC citing racial discrimination due to the verbal abuse he faced during the March incident. In the following February, Clarkson formally expressed his apologies to Tymon and resolved the racial discrimination and personal injury lawsuit for $130,000.

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

Personal Life

Clarkson entered into marriage with Alex Hall in 1989. However, she left him for one of his friends just six months later. In May 1993, he wed his manager, Frances Cain, with whom he had three children. Cain initiated divorce proceedings in April 2014.

In September 2010, Clarkson was awarded a privacy injunction against his first wife to stop her from disclosing that their sexual relationship persisted after his marriage to Cain.

A notable fan of the progressive rock band Genesis, Clarkson attended their 2007 reunion concert at Twickenham Stadium in London. Additionally, he contributed sleeve notes for the reissue of “Selling England by the Pound” as part of the “Genesis 1970-1975” box set.

Clarkson has owned a variety of luxury automobiles, including 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, and McLaren 675LT.

Historically, Clarkson has shown a lack of empathy towards the green movement, often ridiculing organizations such as Greenpeace, referring to them as “eco-mentalists” stemming from “old trade unionists and CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) lesbians.” He has described wind farms as future reminders of a time when humanity temporarily lost its mind, believing that wind, waves, and tofu could somehow provide enough electricity for the entire planet.

Salary Highlights

Despite the extensive reach of the show, Clarkson’s salary for Top Gear was unexpectedly modest at $4 million per year. However, he maintained a 30% ownership stake in the rights to Top Gear, allowing him to benefit from profits accrued through licensing agreements, DVD sales, syndication, and merchandise revenue. Typically, Clarkson earns an additional $7.5 – $13 million annually in dividends and bonuses related to the show. In 2013, the BBC, which already possessed 50% of the show, acquired all remaining stakes to gain full control of the Top Gear franchise, resulting in a payout of approximately $21 million to Clarkson.

Real Estate

In 2012, Clarkson purchased a five-bedroom cottage on 312 acres in the Cotswolds for $5.5 million. He later demolished it in 2018 during an episode of “The Grand Tour.” Once the debris was cleared, Clarkson announced intentions to construct a six-bedroom, three-story mansion.