The rest is... a share of a £5m podcast bonus for Lineker

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Gary Lineker received over £1 million in dividends from Goalhanger Podcasts after the company more than doubled its pre-tax profits to £9.8 million and significantly grew its subscriber base and revenue. This rapid expansion, fueled by major platform partnerships and a growing content portfolio, has positioned Goalhanger as one of Britain’s fastest-growing media companies, valued at approximately £100 million.

Gary Lineker has received a dividend payout exceeding £1 million following a significant increase in profits at his podcast company, Goalhanger Podcasts. The firm distributed more than £5 million in dividends last year, a sharp rise from the £36,000 paid out in 2024, reflecting the rapid growth of the business.

Goalhanger reported a pre-tax profit of £9.8 million for the latest financial year, more than double the previous year’s £4.2 million. Revenue increased to £37.8 million, up from £15.4 million in 2024. The company attributed this expansion to strong audience growth, increased engagement, and successful partnerships with platforms including Spotify, YouTube, and Apple.

Goalhanger’s paid subscriber base more than doubled last year, reaching 243,000, while total video and audio plays across its 13 shows hit 667 million. Two-thirds of its revenue is generated through advertising, aided by premium sponsorship deals targeted at an “affluent, influential and highly engaged” audience. The company also secured a £14 million deal with Netflix for its daily podcast, The Rest Is Football, during the recent World Cup, with the agreement later extended for two years. The show, hosted by Lineker alongside former footballers Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, attracts over seven million monthly streams, ranking it among the world’s most popular sports podcasts.

Lineker co-founded Goalhanger in 2019 with Tony Pastor, a former ITV controller, and Jack Davenport, a former BBC executive, each initially holding a one-third share. Earlier this year, the company sold a minority stake to The Chernin Group, an American investment firm, leading to some dilution of the founders’ holdings. Although the value of this stake has not been publicly disclosed, analysts estimate Goalhanger’s valuation at around £100 million.

The 65-year-old former Match of the Day presenter stepped down from the BBC position last year amid controversy over his social media posts and discussions around anti-Semitism. Since leaving the BBC, Lineker has made occasional media appearances, including a cameo on ITV’s World Cup coverage, and has spoken about appreciating the freedom to express his views outside the broadcaster.

In a separate public move, Lineker was among 120 millionaires who signed an open letter in July supporting higher taxes on the wealthy, including a proposed 2 percent wealth tax on assets above £10 million and efforts to equalize capital gains tax with income tax. While increased capital gains tax would not impact dividend earnings, it could affect any future sale of Lineker’s stake in Goalhanger.

Goalhanger continues to expand its content portfolio, having launched three new series last year, including The Rest is Science, featuring mathematician Hannah Fry, The Rest is Classified, and a women’s spin-off, The Rest is Football. The company also organizes live events, such as The Rest is Politics, which have drawn audiences exceeding 40,000. It was named Britain’s fastest-growing company in a recent ranking, underscoring its rapid development in the podcast media sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.