England great Jonny Wilkinson will be on fans’ TV screens throughout the Six Nations (Image: Getty)
Jonny Wilkinson has enjoyed an illustrious career that has seen him considered amongst the best in the business. And the great will be on rugby fans’ television screens over the next month-and-a-half as he provides his insight as a pundit on ITV for the .
Wilkinson is a name that needs no introduction to rugby fans. The former England star is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time. And his glittering career is filled with iconic moments, none more so than his drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.
His name was forever etched in history after that legendary drop goal in the last minute of extra-time helped England defeat Australia. He won 91 caps for the Red Roses and was also part of the England team that reached the 2007 World Cup final.
The fly-half has also represented the British & Irish Lions and played for the Falcons and French club Toulon. Over the years, Wilkinson’s name became synonymous with English rugby. His contributions to the sport extended way past than the international stage.
A highly regarded pundit now, Wilkinson continues to inspire fans even after his retirement in 2014. Ahead of England’s opener against at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, Express Sport has taken a look at his salary, net worth and personal life…
Jonny Wilkinson net worth and salary
Having had a glittering playing career that spanned almost 17 years, Wilkinson has definitely done well for himself financially. Not to mention the numerous trophies and accolades he won. All in all, his net worth is estimated to be about £22million.
Of course, his financial success comes as no surprise, considering his impact on the sport. But it’s not just his playing career that has contributed to his wealth. Well planned investments and entrepreneurial ventures have only served to increase his wealth.
Wilkinson, who was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016, maintains a low-key lifestyle. The Surrey-born star’s shrewd business moves have been significant in building his wealth. Of course, not much information is available about his contract with ITV Sport as a pundit.
Jonny Wilkinson will be working as a pundit for ITV during the Six Nations (Image: Getty)
Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins’ love story
The England rugby legend is married to Shelley Jenkins. He married her in October 2013, after dating for almost eight years. Shelley is the heiress to a scaffolding company and reportedly met Wilkinson on a beach in the Spanish island destination of Mallorca, some time after Wilkinson’s relationship with TV presenter Diana Stewart ended.
The lovebirds wedded in a quiet and intimate ceremony at the Bandol Town Hall near the French town of Toulon. The wedding reportedly was so secretive that there were only two guests present. One was Wilkinson’s mother herself.
The ceremony was officiated by Bandol’s mayor Christian Palix who stated: “He is an iconic figure in the sporting world and someone with great human qualities.”
Jonny Wilkinson’s entrepreneurial journey
Wilkinson launched an online men’s fashion label in 2011 called Fineside, with his brother Mark who was also a rugby player. The brand specialises in movement-focused clothing.
In 2018, Wilkinson went on to establish his own Kombucha company, No.1 Living. Surprisingly, this began as a simple experiment of brewing kombucha (a fermented tea-based drink) with his wife at home. Later, it led to the creation of a brand that focuses on the benefits of a “living diet.”
Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins have been married since October 2013 (Image: Getty)
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Wilkinson is also a sought-after motivational speaker and has launched a podcast series titled ‘I Am’. The podcast features conversations with inspiring individuals from various walks of life. Wilkinson also touches upon his personal experiences and incidents from his career in the podcast.
Jonny Wilkinson’s trampolie park mishap
Wilkinson has battled through countless challenges and injuries during his playing days, overcoming a lacerated kidney to the sheer physical toll of constant tackles. However, one injury in particular stands out as both surprising and painful. It wasn’t the result of a rugby match but an accident during a family holiday in Spain.
In 2021, while Wilkinson and his family were visiting a trampoline park, Wilkinson pushed his limits and ended up suffering a ruptured achilles. While speaking on the ‘Kick Offs and Kick Ons’ podcast, the England legend recalled the mishap.
“I was setting myself little challenges. I’m like, ‘Jeez, there’s a level there, can I jump on top of that?’ My daughter’s probably urging me on, and I’m like, ‘Just wait a second, I need to achieve this’,” he said.
When he jumped, his body felt the strain. “My ankles were stiffening up, and it got to the point where I could feel it on both sides. But I just kept going,” he continued. “Then I moved to the Ninja Warrior set-up, which wasn’t exactly designed for a smooth run-up. I had these grippy socks on, and I was trying to make it up the ramp. That’s when things went wrong.”
He knew he had completely ruptured his achilles. As is always the case with a great sportsman, the lure of a challenge is always hard to ignore.