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 well-known English television presenter, journalist, and writer. His prominence largely stems from hosting the globally popular car show “Top Gear,” which consistently ranks among the most-watched television programs worldwide.

Early Life

Born on April 11, 1960, in Doncaster, England, Jeremy Clarkson is the son of Shirley and Edward. His parents committed to enrolling him in private school years prior, despite having no clear plan to manage the tuition costs. Just before he was set to start his education, they crafted two Paddington Bear toys for their children, which proved to be so successful they began selling them. However, they quickly received a cease and desist notification from the legal representatives of Paddington Bear’s creator, Michael Bond. While preparing for a meeting with Bond’s lawyer in London, Edward Clarkson fortuitously met Bond himself in the elevator. Their encounter led to Bond granting the Clarksons global licensing rights to Paddington Bear, generating income that funded Jeremy’s education.

Clarkson has recounted experiences of severe bullying and unhappiness during his time at Repton School, where he was contemporaneous with former “Top Gear” Executive Producer Andy Wilman and Formula One engineer Adrian Newey. Eventually, he faced expulsion from Repton School due to multiple infractions.

Career

Most recognized as the host of the acclaimed sports car show “Top Gear,” Clarkson’s initial role was actually as a salesperson for his parents’ Paddington Bear business. Subsequently, he became a journalist for various newspapers, such as the Rotherham Advertiser, Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, and Shropshire Star. It was at Shropshire Star that he first ventured into automotive journalism, starting with Peugeots and Fiats and advancing to Range Rovers and Ford Granadas. After seven years, he gained the privilege of driving an Aston Martin Lagonda, and after another three years, he experienced driving his first Lamborghini.

In 1984, Clarkson established the Motoring Press Agency (MPA). Together with fellow motoring journalist Jonathan Gill, they performed road tests for newspapers and car magazines. Since its inception in 1993, Clarkson has regularly contributed to Top Gear magazine.

Alongside hosting “Top Gear,” Clarkson writes for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and the Toronto Star, in addition to authoring books on cars and various other subjects.

His initial major television role was as the host of “Top Gear” in its original format, which spanned from October 1988 to February 2000 and later from October 2002 to March 2015. Clarkson is credited with transforming “Top Gear” into the most-viewed program on BBC Two.

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

In a notable adventure, Clarkson and co-host James May became the first individuals to drive to the North Pole in a car, as dramatized in the “Top Gear: Polar Special” in 2007.

In March 2015, Clarkson received a suspension from the BBC concerning “Top Gear” after an altercation with a producer. His frustration stemmed from being offered a cold meat platter and soup while filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire, as the chef had left, and that was all that was available. Following this incident, the BBC chose not to air the next episode of “Top Gear,” nor the final two episodes of the season.

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

On April 19, 2015, Clarkson wrote in his Sunday Times column that just two days prior to striking Tymon, his doctor had informed him of a potential cancer diagnosis involving his tongue. Ultimately, it was confirmed that Clarkson did not have cancer. In November 2015, Tymon initiated a lawsuit against both Clarkson and the BBC for racial discrimination due to the verbal abuse he experienced in the March incident.  In the following February, Clarkson issued a formal apology to Tymon and reached a settlement concerning the racial discrimination and personal injury claim for $130,000.

On July 30, 2015, Amazon announced that Clarkson, along with his former “Top Gear” co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, would be presenting a new show titled “The Grand Tour.” The premiere season was released on November 18, 2016, and the series concluded its fourth season by the end of 2019.

Personal Life

Clarkson wed Alex Hall in 1989, but she left him for one of his friends just six months later. The following May in 1993, he married his manager, Frances Cain, with whom he had three children. Cain filed for divorce in April 2014.

In September 2010, he obtained a privacy injunction against his first wife to stop her from making claims that their sexual relationship continued after his marriage to Cain.

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

Clarkson has owned numerous luxury vehicles, 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, McLaren 675LT, among others.

Historically, Clarkson has been critical of the green movement, at times ridiculing organizations such as Greenpeace, referring to them as “eco-mentalists,” which he attributes to “old trade unionists and CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) lesbians.” He has described wind farms as future reminders of a time when humanity briefly lost its senses, believing that wind, waves, and tofu could somehow generate enough electricity for the entire planet.

Salary Highlights

Despite its extensive reach, Clarkson’s salary for Top Gear was a comparatively modest $4 million annually. Nevertheless, one should not feel too sorry for him; beyond his base salary, Clarkson held 30% of the rights to Top Gear. This ownership allowed him to receive a share of profits from all licensing arrangements, DVD sales, syndication, and merchandise. Additionally, Clarkson typically earns an extra $7.5 – $13 million each year through dividends and bonuses related to the show. In 2013, the BBC, already holding 50% of the program, acquired all remaining interests to gain full control of the Top Gear brand, resulting in an approximate $21 million payout for Clarkson.

Real Estate

In 2012, Clarkson purchased a five-bedroom cottage set on 312 acres in the Cotswolds for $5.5 million. He later blew it up during “The Grand Tour” in 2018. After the debris was removed, Clarkson planned to construct a new six-bedroom, three-story mansion.