Shaun Wallace, famed as The Dark Destroyer on ITV’s hit show , has candidly disclosed his 2024 earnings, admitting he now pockets “a lot” more than he did as a barrister.
In an eye-opening revelation, the quiz maestro shared that his paychecks have soared to “six zero” figures, crediting his triumph on Mastermind two decades ago for the dramatic salary surge.
Despite being a household name with a whopping 70 per cent of his income stemming from television, Shaun hasn’t hung up his legal hat just yet. He continues to engage in legal work, which constitutes the remaining 30 per cent of his earnings.
During an honest exchange with The Times about his financial progression since his days in law, The Dark Destroyer quipped: “A lot. That’s all I’ll say. How many zeros?”
He further unveiled: “Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I’ve started working in TV. I got paid well as a barrister but I’m now earning about ten times the amount I was before.”
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Shaun Wallace earns ten times more than when he was a barrister (Image: ITV)
The 64-year-old didn’t shy away from discussing his dual-income situation, noting: “I still practise, though, so I have a dual income. Probably 70 per cent of my income comes from my TV work and 30 per cent from the legal side. Everything changed when I won Mastermind in 2004. Not just my finances, my whole life.”
The TV personality, who hails from Brent in northwest London, is known for his love of the finer things in life, particularly shoes. He admitted: “I spend about two or three thousand pounds on a pair of shoes and I’ve got a whole wardrobe full of them.”
Shaun hails Mastermind for his income surge (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He also estimated that he has spent around £50,000 on handmade shoes, but refused to disclose the brand as he “didn’t want a free pair” and prefers to “pay his own way in life”.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Shaun said it was vastly different from his current lifestyle, especially when considering his parents’ financial struggles. His mother was a dedicated state registered nurse and his father worked at the respected Heinz factory, reports .
Despite their modest income, Shaun insisted that his childhood was comfortable and that his parents ensured he “never went without”.
Shaun likes to splurge his fortunes on shoes (Image: ITV)
After passing the notoriously difficult bar exam in 1984, Shaun embarked on a successful career as a defence lawyer. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he participated in Mastermind in 2004.
Choosing the FA Cup Finals as his specialist subject, he clinched the series title with his football expertise. Following this triumph, Shaun joined The Chase as one of the original Chasers, alongside Mark Labbett, also known as The Beast.
The Chase airs weekdays on ITV1, from 5pm.