With an estimated net worth of £62 million ($75 million) as of 2026, Ant McPartlin is not just one half of Britain’s most beloved presenting duo — he is one of the highest-paid entertainers in UK television history. From a council estate in Newcastle to a multimillion-pound ITV contract, McPartlin’s journey is a story of extraordinary talent, devastating personal crisis, and one of British TV’s most remarkable comebacks.
Alongside his lifelong partner Declan Donnelly, Ant has dominated Saturday night television for over two decades, hosting I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent, and the recently concluded Saturday Night Takeaway. Their combined business empire — built on ITV contracts, production ownership, and brand deals — has made each of them comfortably among the richest presenters in British broadcasting.
Ant McPartlin Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anthony David McPartlin OBE |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1975 |
| Age | 50 years old (2026) |
| Birthplace | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | TV Presenter, Producer, Comedian |
| Net Worth | £62 Million ($75 Million) — 2026 |
| Spouse | Anne-Marie Corbett (m. 2021) |
| Children | Wilder McPartlin (born 2024) |
| Known For | Ant & Dec, I’m a Celebrity, Britain’s Got Talent, Saturday Night Takeaway |
Early Life and Background
Anthony David McPartlin was born on November 18, 1975, in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the north east of England. He grew up in the West End of the city, raised largely by his mother Christine after his father Raymond left the family when Ant was young. Life was far from glamorous: the McPartlin household relied on Christine’s income as a seamstress, and Ant attended Rutherford Comprehensive School in Newcastle.
It was at the age of thirteen that everything changed. In 1988, a BBC casting team visited Newcastle scouting talent for a new children’s drama called Byker Grove. The streetwise Geordie kid with natural charisma caught their attention immediately. By 1989, McPartlin had landed the role of PJ — and on set, he met a softly-spoken boy named Declan Donnelly, who played Duncan.
Their on-screen chemistry was instant and undeniable. Off-screen, they became inseparable friends, spending every lunch break together and developing a comedic rapport that would eventually make them the most successful presenting duo in British television history. Both boys left school knowing full well that their futures lay in entertainment rather than academia.
Career: From PJ & Duncan to TV Royalty
The Pop Star Years (1993–1997)
Before becoming household names as television presenters, Ant & Dec — then performing as PJ & Duncan — had a genuine pop career that produced a string of top ten UK hits. Their 1994 debut single Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble was initially released to modest success but became a cultural phenomenon after the pair performed it on a 2013 episode of Saturday Night Takeaway, returning the song to number one in the UK charts nineteen years after its original release.
SMTV Live and the Presenting Era (1998–2002)
In 1998, Ant & Dec were given their first major presenting slot: SMTV Live on ITV, a Saturday morning children’s programme that quickly became compulsive viewing for a generation of British kids. Their sketch series Chums — a parody of Friends — became one of the most beloved recurring segments in British children’s TV. In 2001, they hosted Pop Idol, the talent competition that launched the career of Will Young and drew audiences of over 13 million viewers.
The Big Three: I’m a Celebrity, BGT, and Saturday Night Takeaway (2002–Present)
The year 2002 marked the true beginning of Ant & Dec’s domination of British primetime. I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! launched on ITV that year, and the duo’s presenting style was central to the show’s enormous success, consistently drawing audiences of 10–12 million viewers. Saturday Night Takeaway ran for 20 series until 2024, while Britain’s Got Talent, which they have hosted since 2007, remains one of ITV’s highest-rated programmes.
The 2018 Crisis and Return
In 2018, Ant McPartlin faced the most public and painful period of his life. Following a drink-driving accident in March of that year — in which he was fined £86,000 and banned from driving — he stepped back from all television commitments to address addiction to painkillers and alcohol. His return in 2019 was one of the most watched comebacks in British TV history, and his openness about addiction earned him widespread public respect.
Ant McPartlin Net Worth: How He Made His £62 Million Fortune
Ant McPartlin’s wealth of approximately £62 million ($75 million) as of 2026 is the product of three decades of television presenting, shrewd production ownership, and one of British broadcasting’s most lucrative long-term contracts.
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITV Contract (Ant & Dec) | £13–17M/year | Annual (personal) | £40M 3-year deal; Ant’s personal share estimated at £13–17M per year |
| Production Ownership (Mitre Television) | £2–4M/year | Annual (personal) | Co-owns production company that produces Saturday Night Takeaway and other formats |
| Music Royalties (PJ & Duncan) | £100–300K/year | Annual (personal) | Legacy earnings from Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble and other hits |
| Brand Endorsements & Appearances | £500K–1M/year | Annual (personal) | Selective brand partnerships; voiceover work |
| Historical Savings & Investments | £20–30M (estimated) | Cumulative | Accumulated wealth from 25+ years of top-tier earnings |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | £62 Million ($75 Million) — 2026 | ||
Net Worth Growth Over Time
In the early 2000s, Ant McPartlin’s net worth was estimated at around £5–8 million. By 2010, following years of I’m a Celebrity and Saturday Night Takeaway, estimates had risen to approximately £20 million. The signing of successive blockbuster ITV contracts — reportedly worth £30 million in 2017 and £40 million in subsequent renewals — dramatically accelerated wealth accumulation. By 2026, Ant’s personal wealth is estimated at approximately £62 million.
Personal Life
Ant McPartlin married actress and make-up artist Lisa Armstrong in 2006. The couple divorced in 2020 following his 2018 crisis and a painful public separation. During his recovery, Ant grew close to Anne-Marie Corbett, who had worked as his personal assistant. The couple married in June 2021 at St Michael’s Church in Heckfield, Hampshire, with Declan Donnelly serving as best man. In May 2024, the couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Wilder McPartlin.
Awards and Recognition
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have won the National Television Award for Best Presenter an extraordinary 23 consecutive times — a record unmatched in British television history. They have also won BAFTA Special Awards and the Royal Television Society Award. In 2016, both were awarded OBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to broadcasting.
Little-Known Facts About Ant McPartlin
- Ant and Dec have been presenting partners for over 30 years — they met in 1989 when both were just teenagers on the set of Byker Grove.
- Their 1994 single Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble reached number one in 2013 — nineteen years after its original release — after Ant performed it on Saturday Night Takeaway.
- Ant McPartlin holds the Guinness World Record (alongside Dec) for the most consecutive years winning the NTA for Best Presenter.
- He has spoken publicly about attending therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of his long-term recovery programme.
- Despite their combined wealth, Ant and Dec have maintained the same management team — James Grant Media — for virtually their entire careers.
What is Ant McPartlin’s net worth in 2026?
Ant McPartlin’s net worth is estimated at approximately £62 million ($75 million) as of 2026. This wealth has been accumulated over three decades of top-tier television presenting, production company ownership through Mitre Television, and successive high-value ITV contracts including a reported £40 million three-year deal shared with co-presenter Declan Donnelly.
How much does Ant McPartlin earn per year?
Ant McPartlin’s annual personal earnings from his ITV contract alone are estimated at £13–17 million per year. Additional income from production ownership through Mitre Television, brand endorsements, and music royalties from the PJ & Duncan catalogue brings his total estimated annual earnings to approximately £15–20 million per year.
Who is richer — Ant or Dec?
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are believed to have very similar net worths, with both estimated around £62 million as of 2026. They have been paid identically under their joint ITV contracts and co-own the same production company. Any difference likely comes from personal investment decisions rather than professional earnings.
What shows does Ant McPartlin host in 2026?
As of 2026, Ant McPartlin continues to co-host I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! on ITV and Britain’s Got Talent. Following the conclusion of Saturday Night Takeaway in 2024 after 20 series, Ant and Dec are developing new projects for ITV under their long-term contract.
Is Ant McPartlin married?
Yes. Ant McPartlin married Anne-Marie Corbett in June 2021 at St Michael’s Church in Heckfield, Hampshire. The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Wilder McPartlin, in May 2024. His previous marriage to actress Lisa Armstrong ended in divorce in 2020 following his 2018 addiction crisis.
What happened to Ant McPartlin in 2018?
In March 2018, Ant McPartlin was involved in a drink-driving accident in Richmond, London. He was fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months, then stepped back from all television commitments to address addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol. He entered rehabilitation, completed his recovery, and returned to television in 2019 to widespread public support.
How did Ant McPartlin become famous?
Ant McPartlin first found fame as a child actor on the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove from 1989, where he met Declan Donnelly. As PJ & Duncan they had a genuine pop career in the early 1990s before pivoting to television presenting. Their career took off with SMTV Live in 1998 and Pop Idol in 2001, before I’m a Celebrity (2002) cemented them as British TV royalty.
Does Ant McPartlin have children?
Yes. Ant McPartlin has one daughter, Wilder McPartlin, born in May 2024 with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett. He does not have children from his first marriage to Lisa Armstrong. McPartlin has spoken publicly about how fatherhood has been one of the most meaningful experiences of his life.