Published: 12:44 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 13:34 BST, 28 August 2026
Many avid television-watchers feel they know almost everything about their favourite stars: their sense of humour, their love lives – and even their favourite clothing brands.
But there’s one thing that our celebrities tend to keep firmly to themselves: how much they earn.
But today, a Daily Mail investigation can shed some light on the matter. For we have learned the salaries of some of TV’s biggest names, and the figures are not only likely to shock their fans, but perhaps their co-stars, who earn considerably less.
Take Wayne Rooney, for example. His role as a pundit on Match of the Day has transformed him from veteran footballer and failed manager to one of the small screen’s most compelling sports commentators.
And it’s certainly lucrative. We can reveal that Rooney rakes in a hefty £8,000 for each episode of Match of the Day he appears on.
Though the runtime of the show can vary depending on fixtures, based on a standard 75-minute highlight episode, that salary roughly works out at just over £107 for every minute he spends on air in the show’s Salford studio.
While Rooney’s Beeb salary isn’t quite as generous as his heady days playing as striker for Manchester United, where he earned more than £200,000 per week, it has left some colleagues gobsmacked.
Wayne Rooney rakes in a hefty £8,000 for each episode of Match of the Day he appears on
Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates make up the trio of Match of the Day's main presenters. Logan and Chapman earn roughly a third of what Wayne Rooney makes from a single show
The former England captain, 40, made his transition from management to punditry last year when he signed a lucrative deal with the BBC, a welcome financial boost for the father of four, who left third-tier team Plymouth Argyle by mutual consent on New Year’s Eve in 2024.
He appeared regularly during the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup this summer, amusing viewers with his dry wit.
My insider said: ‘Wayne is on a lot of money, it’s quite eye-watering really, but people want to hear what he has to say about football. Everyone loves Wayne, but once this comes out there might be some who feel very hard done by.
‘When it comes to football, the BBC believe that the viewers want to hear his expertise. Some people think that he is grossly overpaid but the audience love him.’
One of those who may be feeling hard done is Rooney’s co-host, Gabby Logan – who anchors MOTD.
