As Gary Neville appears on Dragons' Den, his whopping 'net worth' and reason he's on the show
Gary is back in the Den following a successful debut...Gary Neville has gone from a footballer to a football pundit, and now he’s back on our screens for the 2026 series of Dragons’ Den.
Gary, 50, made his debut on the BBC show in 2024. It’s fair to say that his appearance caused some confusion, with some viewers asking why he was on the show.
But, beyond the world of football, Gary has a pretty impressive business portfolio, making him a perfect addition to Dragons’ Den.
Let’s take a look at the star’s business ventures, personal life and what the other Dragons think of him…
Why is Gary Neville on Dragons’ Den?
Over the years, Gary has built up an impressive business portfolio that has landed him a spot on Dragons’ Den.
And his business expertise started pretty young.
Gary started out as a property developer whilst playing for Manchester United in his early twenties. Since then, he has built a business empire with a portfolio that includes property, hospitality, education, media and sport.
Gary announced his retirement from football after almost 20 years playing for Manchester United in 2011. He’s since delved into many ventures in the business world.
Gary’s Stock Exchange Hotel is one of the top hotels in Manchester.
Meanwhile, his media company Buzz 16 has been instrumental in boosting his sport YouTube channel, The Overlap. Buzz 16 was founded in 2017 by Gary, Scott Melvin and Diana Law.
The trio had one clear mission: to raise the game in sports entertainment.
Gary’s business portfolio
In January 2026, Gary sold a majority stake in The Overlap to radio firm Global. He said of the decision: “The Overlap started as an idea that we thought people might like and we went for it. What has happened since then has been a great journey and it’s a team that I love working with and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
“We never thought of it as a business, we just wanted to create something that people loved and would come back to watch every week.”
Elsewhere, Gary’s £450m St. Michael’s project is one of the most significant landmark developments in Manchester’s city centre. According to the BBC, it combines “world-class architecture with urban design”.
And to top it off, Gary has also brought together leading investors to lead Salford City FC alongside fellow football icon David Beckham.
Impressive, right?
What has Gary said about joining Dragons’ Den?
In 2024, when Gary made his Dragons’ Den debut, he was quick to reveal what he’d bring to the show.
He joined the show alongside Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
He said in a statement: “I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den.
“I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.
“Business is all about managing people and managing yourself and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience to help the entrepreneurs we’ll meet in the Den reach their potential.”
Following his debut on the show, reaction was pouring in on social media. Many viewers seemed to get what they wished for too: Gary making a return.
How much is Gary Neville worth?
As you can imagine, Gary has built up a pretty impressive net worth.
According to reports, Gary’s businesses are worth around £200million.
After he stopped playing football, Gary became one of the top paid pundits, reportedly raking in £1.1million a year from Sky Sports.
Is Gary Neville married and does he have kids?
Yes, Gary Neville is married to Emma Hadfield.
They met in 2004 and became engaged in 2007 at their holiday home in Gozo, an island off Malta. The couple clearly couldn’t wait to say “I do” as they married the same year.
And it wasn’t long before they decided to start a family. They have two daughters, Molly, 17, and Sophie, 15.
Gary often gushes over his family on his Instagram account, paying tribute to his wife and daughters on special occasions like their birthdays.
Where does Gary Neville live?
Gary and his family reportedly live in Manchester. Gary apparently owns a millionaires’ row.
According to reports, Gary purchased four Georgian townhouses on the street in 2021. He reportedly lets out three of the properties for £20,000 a month.
What do the other Dragons think of Gary?
It seems Gary has gone down a treat with some of the Dragons’ Den stars, including Deborah Meaden.
Deborah previously gushed: “You’d think he had been a Dragon his entire life. He instinctively asked the right questions. He’s got a really good business brain on him. He was fantastic, I’m not kidding you, and he’s prepared to invest.”
However, Touker Suleyman had some choice words. During a conversation with Gary on the Hawes and Curtis Touker Time podcast, he said: “This gentleman here is the biggest softie when it comes to investment. Thank god he has only been a guest, if he was there full time he’d need a printing machine, he’d invest in everything.”
