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 author. He is predominantly recognized for hosting the globally renowned sports car program “Top Gear,” which remains one of the most-watched television series across the globe.

Early Life

Born on April 11, 1960, in Doncaster, England, to Shirley and Edward Clarkson, Jeremy’s education journey began with his parents securing him a spot at a private school long before understanding how to manage the tuition fees. Prior to his schooling, they crafted two Paddington Bear toys for their children, which gained such popularity that they started selling them. Unfortunately, this quickly led to a cease and desist notice from Michael Bond’s legal team, the creator of Paddington Bear. In a fortunate turn of events, Edward Clarkson met Bond in an elevator en route to a meeting with his lawyer, resulting in a friendly rapport that granted the Clarksons worldwide licensing rights for Paddington Bear. This revenue stream provided for Jeremy’s education.

Clarkson has mentioned experiencing significant bullying and unhappiness during his time at Repton School. Notably, he attended school alongside Andy Wilman, a former executive producer of “Top Gear,” and Formula One engineer Adrian Newey. Ultimately, Clarkson faced expulsion from Repton for multiple infractions.

Career

While widely recognized as the host of “Top Gear,” Clarkson’s initial employment was as a salesperson in his parents’ Paddington Bear venture. He later transitioned into journalism, contributing to various newspapers such as the Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, and Shropshire Star. His first automotive writing opportunity arrived at the Shropshire Star, where he began covering Peugeots and Fiats, subsequently advancing to Range Rovers and Ford Granadas. After a seven-year dedication, he finally had the chance to drive an Aston Martin Lagonda, which was soon followed by his first Lamborghini after another three years.

In 1984, Clarkson established the Motoring Press Agency (MPA), collaborating with fellow automotive journalist Jonathan Gill to conduct road tests for both newspapers and car magazines. He has been associated with Top Gear magazine since its inception in 1993.

Aside from “Top Gear,” Clarkson authors columns for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and the Toronto Star, having penned several books on automobiles and various other topics.

His significant television debut occurred as the presenter of “Top Gear” in its initial format, spanning from October 1988 to February 2000, and then from October 2002 to March 2015. Clarkson is credited for transforming “Top Gear” into the most viewed show on BBC Two.

Moreover, Clarkson hosted the inaugural UK version of “Robot Wars.” Between November 1998 and December 2000, he ran a talk show titled “Clarkson,” producing a total of 27 half-hour episodes featuring interviews with musicians, politicians, and television stars.

In 2007, Clarkson and co-host James May made headlines by being the first individuals to drive to the North Pole, as featured on “Top Gear: Polar Special.”

In March 2015, Clarkson faced suspension from the BBC due to an altercation with one of the producers of “Top Gear.” The disagreement arose when Clarkson was displeased with being offered soup and a cold meat platter while filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire; the chef had already left, leaving only that available option. Following the incident, the BBC decided not to air the next episode or the final two episodes of that season.

which producer Oisin Tymon was punched by Clarkson so forcefully that he required hospital treatment. Clarkson’s contract with the BBC ended in March, and a previously suggested three-year renewal was rescinded.

On April 19, 2015, Clarkson disclosed in his Sunday Times column that two days prior to his assault on Tymon, his doctor had informed him that he might have tongue cancer. It was later revealed 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 experienced during the March incident.  The following February, Clarkson issued a formal apology to Tymon and settled the claims of racial discrimination and personal injury for $130,000.

Amazon made an announcement on July 30, 2015, stating that Clarkson and his former “Top Gear” co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May, would be hosting a new show titled “The Grand Tour.” The premiere of the first season took place on November 18, 2016, and the series concluded its fourth season at the end of 2019.

Personal Life

Clarkson married Alex Hall in 1989, but 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 filed for divorce in April 2014.

In September 2010, Clarkson received a privacy injunction against his first wife to prevent her from disclosing that their sexual relationship continued after his marriage to Cain.

Clarkson is an avid admirer of the progressive rock band Genesis, having attended their reunion concert in 2007 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.

Throughout his life, Clarkson has owned various luxury vehicles including 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, a McLaren 675LT, and more.

Historically, Clarkson has expressed a lack of sympathy for the green movement, occasionally ridiculing organizations like Greenpeace, which he has referred to as “eco-mentalists” resulting from “old trade unionists and CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) lesbians.” He has described wind farms as remnants of a time when humanity “temporarily took leave of its senses, believing wind, waves, and lashings of tofu could somehow produce enough electricity for the entire planet.”

Salary Highlights

Despite the show’s success, Clarkson’s salary for Top Gear was notably modest at $4 million annually. However, there’s no need to feel sorry for him; Clarkson owned 30% of the show’s rights, ensuring he received a share of profits from licensing deals, DVD sales, syndication, and merchandise. In addition to his salary, Clarkson often earned between $7.5 – $13 million annually in dividends and bonuses from the show. In 2013, the BBC, which already held 50% of the show, bought out all remaining stakes to assume full control of the Top Gear brand. This acquisition netted Clarkson approximately $21 million.

Real Estate

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