Gary Lineker has made it onto the latest BBC high earners list despite only working for two months officially. The BBC has released its annual report for 2025/26, revealing the salaries of its top-paid stars.

The annual salaries list does not show the complete earnings of BBC stars, as it only includes talent paid directly by the corporation, excluding income from BBC Studios or independent production companies.

Scott Mills, who replaced Gary Lineker as the former Match of the Day host, saw his salary double to £750,000 before being dismissed. Lineker, who had been BBC’s highest-paid on-air personality for eight years, dropped out of the top 10 after leaving the BBC more than a year ago.

Despite leaving the BBC, Lineker managed to earn £325,000-£329,999 in his final months, significantly less than his previous £1.35 million annual salary. Other top earners at the BBC last year included Greg James, Stephen Nolan, Laura Kuenssberg, Vernon Kay, and Alan Shearer.

Lineker left the BBC amid a social media controversy regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, without receiving a pay-off. He has since signed new contracts with ITV and Netflix and continues to be active in the football world through his podcast, “The Rest Is Football.”

Scott Mills, on the other hand, was terminated by the BBC over a personal conduct issue involving a historic relationship with an individual under 16. His salary had increased to £745,000-£749,999 before his dismissal. Mills did not receive a severance package as confirmed by the BBC.

A police investigation into Mills in 2016 was closed in 2019 due to insufficient evidence for charges. The new figures released by the BBC also detail the salaries of other top earners, including Greg James, Stephen Nolan, Laura Kuenssberg, Vernon Kay, Alan Shearer, and more.