Michelle Cockayne: The Untold Story of Gary Lineker’s Ex-Wife

What happens when the spotlight fades and real life—kids, school runs, the messy, everyday stuff—takes over? That’s kind of the story with Michelle Cockayne, once mostly known as the wife of football legend Gary Lineker. Over time, she shifted from being the partner of a superstar to being, first and foremost, a mum. Her life’s been a mix of love, hard choices, and, honestly, a lot of resilience. Let’s walk through it.

Birth, Parents, And Education

Michelle Cockayne came into the world in 1966 in the UK. Her dad, Roger, was a successful businessman, and her mum, Julia, was an artist—pretty different worlds under one roof. Michelle grew up with a younger sister, Ali. School details? Not much out there. Chances are, she went to the local one in her hometown, blending into the crowd before her life went big.

Career

Her first crack at work? Modeling. This was the 1980s, the era of big hair, glossy shoots, and print ads everywhere. Michelle Cockayne popped up in plenty of fashion magazines, not to mention commercials. Then she dabbled in acting and TV. She even showed up in the 1993 comedy Splitting Heirs. So, yeah, she wasn’t just sitting in the shadows—she carved out her own spot in fashion and entertainment for a while.

Love Story With Gary Lineker

Michelle Cockayne and Gary Lineker first crossed paths as teenagers. Funny how those early meetings sometimes stick. The two grew close, and by 1986—Gary was 26 then—they started a family. Four boys later (George, Harry, Tobias, Angus), the couple had built what looked from the outside like a solid twenty-year marriage. But things unravelled. In 2006, Michelle filed for divorce, pointing to Gary’s “unreasonable behaviour.” A rough ending after two decades together.

Gary Lineker: Ex-Husband

Gary’s story, of course, is the football fairytale. Born in Leicester, November 30, 1960. From Leicester City to Everton, Barcelona, and Tottenham, he made his mark as a sharp striker. For England, he scored 48 goals in 80 matches—that’s no small feat.

His career highlight? Easy. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he bagged the Golden Boot. After hanging up his boots in 1994, he slid right into broadcasting. These days, he’s basically the face of Match of the Day on the BBC.

Children

Michelle and Gary’s four boys all went their own way:

• George Lineker (1991) – The oldest. He co-founded Your Business Number, a company helping entrepreneurs get dedicated business lines. Based in London.
• Harry Lineker (1994) – A film producer, working at Goalhanger Films, which—funny enough—is his dad’s company. He lives in London too, with his partner.
• Tobias Lineker (1996) – Music is his thing. He’s a DJ, spinning sets worldwide. At one point, he was the resident DJ at Raffles, a swanky London club.
• Angus Lineker (1998) – The youngest. He works as a business development exec at Rokstone Sport & Prize. And like his brothers, he’s London-based.

Different careers, same city. They’ve all stuck fairly close to home.

Life After Divorce

After the split in 2006, Michelle Cockayne stepped back from the limelight. She focused on raising her four boys and, honestly, has kept her personal life locked down since. She’s not chasing headlines, and maybe that’s for the best.

Gary, on the other hand, remarried in 2009—model Danielle Bux. That marriage ended in 2016, reportedly because they couldn’t agree on whether to have more kids. Since then, he’s stayed single and even joked about celibacy. Still, he’s on TV every week, most loved by football fans for the “Match of the Day” show on the BBC, and manages to keep pretty amicable ties with his ex-wives.

Recent Public Appearance

Michelle doesn’t pop up in public often. But in 2024, she attended a charity gala in London with her sons. A rare moment. It reminded people that while she might avoid the cameras, she still supports good causes—especially those tied to children’s welfare and education. Nice to see her step out, even briefly.

Social Media Presence

Now, Michelle Cockayne? She’s basically a ghost online. No verified Instagram, no Twitter (or X, as it’s now called). Nothing official. She clearly prefers to live privately.

Gary Lineker, though, complete opposite. He’s huge on social media. 1.2 million followers on Instagram, 8.8 million on X, and another 129k on Facebook. He posts about football, politics, and random social issues. Sometimes he stirs up drama, but he’s not exactly shy about speaking his mind. Love him or hate him, he engages.

Michelle Cockayne Net Worth

By the end of 2024, Michelle Cockayne net worth was pegged at around $1.5 million. Most of that comes from her earlier modelling gigs, TV presenting, and some entrepreneurial work. She’s not billionaire rich, but she’s done just fine for herself.

Final Words

Michelle Cockayne’s life is a quiet one now, but it hasn’t been small. From modelling shoots and movie roles to raising four boys with one of football’s biggest names, her journey has been full of change. She values her privacy, sure, but there’s strength in that. Her story isn’t about fame anymore—it’s about family, growth, and choosing what matters. And that, honestly, is kind of inspiring.