Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm, purchased in 2008, has seen its value skyrocket to an estimated £12.5 million, according to recent reports. The revelation comes as the fifth series of Clarkson's Farm airs on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping on Wednesday, 10th June.
The Original Purchase
Clarkson bought the 1,000-acre Cotswolds property, originally named Curdle Hill Farm, for £4.45 million in 2008. He renamed it Diddly Squat to reflect his low expectations for earnings. Speaking to The Times, he explained his investment rationale: "Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The Government doesn't get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up." He didn't farm full-time until 2019, after the retirement of his former manager, Howard Pauling.
Current Valuation
The farm's value has grown significantly, boosted by a lavish six-bedroom house built on the site. The total valuation of £12.5 million includes the land, farm shop, and café. However, Clarkson's gastropub, The Farmer's Dog, which he bought for £1 million in 2023, recorded losses of £8,486 in its first four months of operation, despite being fully booked daily.
Financial Challenges
Clarkson famously made only £144 profit in his first year of farming. While the farm's assets total around £1.43 million, profits remain slim. He noted, "I could sell the farm and earn far more from the interest than I do from growing bread and beer and vegetable oil. But I like having it and for very good reasons, there are no death duties on farmland. So my children like me having it too."
The main income for Clarkson and the cast comes from their salaries for the show, which remain undisclosed. The fifth series features a self-driving tractor that impresses even Kaleb Cooper.
