Tennis fans can't believe John McEnroe's incredible BBC wages for Wimbledon
Wimbledon is back in the spotlight after the Grand Slam kicked off on Monday, with tennis stars vying for the third major title of 2025. And that means BBC pundit John McEnroe has also returned to the commentary box, ready to share his insights.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner has been a fixture of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage since his debut in 2004. Despite a slight decrease from £205,000 the previous year, McEnroe's earnings were reported to be between £195,000 and £199,000 for the 2023/24 period, which breaks down to about £14,000 per day during the fortnight-long event.
As a three-time Wimbledon champion himself, McEnroe will draw his fair share of fans who are engaged by his commentary. But discussions have reignited over whether his hefty fee is warranted.
"He is one of the most popular and respected pundits in tennis," said a BBC source while defending McEnroe's 2023 pay rise to The Times. "And he provides a unique perspective to our coverage."
Wimbledon icon and former BBC presenter Sue Barker also supported her ex-colleague's remuneration in her 2024 autobiography, Wimbledon: A Personal History. And her testament serves as proof there are those close to the situation who buy into McEnroe's brand.
"Mac is the BBC's highest-paid employee pro rota, and with good reason," she wrote. "The public love him. He was great to work with, always up for fun."
Often a controversial figure in the world of tennis, McEnroe's pay packet has split opinion among BBC viewers over the years. And some supporters argue he justifies the expense with his contribution to the sport.
"McEnroe is worth every penny," wrote one viewer on X last year. "He is to tennis what Michael Johnson is to athletics - the very best money can buy."
However, not everyone agrees with the sizeable salary McEnroe commands, including some of his peers. Martina Navratilova, in particular, has voiced concerns over the pay gap between her and McEnroe.
Navratilova, who won Wimbledon nine times, a record in both the women's and men's games. And she was particularly aggrieved when discussing the disparity with BBC Panorama in 2018.
"John McEnroe makes at least £150,000," she said at the time. "I get about £15,000 for Wimbledon. And unless John McEnroe's doing a whole bunch of stuff outside Wimbledon, he's getting at least 10 times as much money."
McEnroe's colourful punditry may draw in certain audiences who are there largely to listen to him talk about tennis. But the debate remains as to whether his presence equates to a value worth tenfold that of a tennis legend like Navratilova.
Given his work for the Beeb is minimal outside of SW19 at best, one sceptic asked online: "Other than two weeks work during Wimbledon, what does John McEnroe do for the BBC to justify that salary?"
And they were hardly alone as another critic questioned: "How can the BBC justify paying John McEnroe £195,000 to commentate for a few hours per day over 14 days?"
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