John McEnroe's impact on tennis remains monumental as he approaches 50 years in the sport. The American turned professional in 1978 and claimed his first Grand Slam at the US Open a year later. His legendary career includes seven major victories and numerous controversial on-court outbursts.
Now 67, McEnroe has toned down his fiery temperament, becoming a highly successful television analyst. His 22-year association with the BBC continues at Wimbledon 2026, where he will offer analysis for the singles final on Sunday.
BBC Salary: Up to £199,999 Per Year
McEnroe has been part of the BBC's tennis coverage since 2004. According to the BBC's annual accounts for 2023-24, he earned between £195,000 and £199,999 for broadcasting duties. Since he works only during Wimbledon, this equates to about £14,000 per day.
However, his salary may have decreased. McEnroe's name was absent from the BBC's latest salary report covering 2024-25, suggesting his earnings fell below the £178,000 disclosure threshold.
Marriage and Sex Life
McEnroe is approaching his 30th wedding anniversary with singer-songwriter Patty Smyth. The couple married in 1997 and share two children. In a 2020 interview with People, Smyth said that “keeping the sex going” is key to their enduring relationship.
Smyth also emphasized the importance of maintaining a low profile. She stated: “For me, it was a superstition thing. I didn't want to be like, 'Hey, look at us, we're this happy couple.' I just thought if I kept it on the down-low, I had this gut feeling that we would stay together - if I threw it out to the world, that we wouldn't - because I've seen that happen so many times.”
Cancelled TV Show: 'McEnroe' on CNBC
Despite success as a player and broadcaster, McEnroe's talk show 'McEnroe' on CNBC was short-lived. It aired from July to December 2004, averaging 174,000 viewers in its first week, down from 200,000 for its predecessor, The News with Brian Williams.
The show received negative reviews and reportedly earned a Nielsen rating of 0.0 twice. In its final month, CNBC executives informed staff of its cancellation. The last episode aired on December 15, 2004, and its time slot was taken by The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Attempts to boost ratings, including hiring executive producer Woody Fraser, failed.
