John McEnroe’s earnings from the BBC have slipped beneath the £178,000 disclosure threshold for the second year running, the corporation’s latest annual report confirms.
The 67-year-old American tennis legend, who won three Wimbledon singles titles during his playing days, was paid between £195,000 and £199,000 for the 2023-24 financial year.
But his name has now been absent from the BBC’s published salary list for two consecutive years, meaning his fee for providing Wimbledon commentary has fallen below the mandatory reporting level.
The broadcaster is obliged to reveal payments to on-air and off-air talent exceeding £178,000 annually.
Gary Lineker and John McEnroe have received good and bad news from the BBC
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McEnroe has been a fixture of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for more than two decades, having joined the broadcaster in 2004 after retiring from professional tennis in 1992.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion earned between £205,000 and £209,000 during the 2022-23 financial year for his fortnight of work at SW19.
His BBC role isn’t his only broadcasting gig, though. McEnroe also provides coverage of the US Open for ESPN and regularly appears on both the Tennis Channel and NBC in the United States.
Alan Shearer holds the title of the BBC’s best-paid sports pundit, though he’s also taken a hit to his earnings.
The former Newcastle United striker received between £390,000 and £394,000 for 2025-26, a notable drop from the £440,000 to £444,000 he pocketed the previous year.
Gary Lineker, meanwhile, still features among the corporation’s top earners despite parting ways with the BBC in May 2025.
The Match of the Day presenter, who once sat at the very top of the salary rankings, took home between £325,000 and £329,000 for the year ending March 2026.
Both figures dwarf McEnroe’s current BBC income.
Despite the pay reduction, McEnroe certainly made his presence felt at this year’s Championships.
The American was positioned courtside for the men’s final, where Jannik Sinner overcame Alexander Zverev in four sets.
Seated alongside Clare Balding and Pat Cash, McEnroe’s outfit grabbed attention before a ball was even struck. He wore an all-black ensemble featuring a buttoned-down shirt, trousers and a necklace draped across his exposed chest.
When Balding mentioned the weather conditions, McEnroe couldn’t resist a self-deprecating quip.
“I’m so glad I wore black. It’s hot out here,” he remarked sarcastically, before turning his attention to how the heat might affect Sinner’s performance.