Shaun Wallace, known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV quiz show The Chase, has shared his insight into his eye-watering TV earnings – and it’s way more than he’d earned as a barrister.
Shaun Wallace, known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV quiz show The Chase, has shared his insight into his eye-watering TV earnings – and it’s way more than he’d earned as a barrister.
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Shaun Wallace, renowned as The Dark Destroyer on ITV’s The Chase, has recently discussed his current earnings which have escalated immensely since his past career as a barrister into what he describes as a “six zero” figure.
In a revelation about his financial journey, Shaun credits his victory on Mastermind two decades ago as the catalyst for the significant upsurge in his income.
With a distinguished presence on television contributing to 70 per cent of his total earnings, Shaun still contributes to the legal sphere, drawing the remaining 30 per cent of his income from his work in criminal law.
During an interview with The Times, the TV personality and quizmaster was quizzed about his financial situation in comparison to his barrister days, to which he responded: “A lot. That’s all I’ll say. How many zeros?”
He further disclosed that he now earns around ten times more than he used to, stating: “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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Wallace detailed his dual-career income, adding that his appearance on Mastermind back in 2004 marked a drastic transformation not only in his finances but in his life generally, reports the Mirror.
He said: “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 star from Brent, in northwest London, has seen a significant boost to his bank account and isn’t shy about indulging in luxury items, particularly footwear. He confessed that shoes are his weakness.
During the same chat, he shared his love for splurging on shoes, revealing: “I spend about two or three thousand pounds on a pair of shoes and I’ve got a whole wardrobe full of them.”
Shaun also estimated that he’s spent around £50,000 on handmade shoes over time but chose not to disclose the brand because he doesn’t want complementary pairs, preferring to “pay his own way in life”.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Shaun noted that it was vastly different financially from his current lifestyle, remembering his parents’ financial struggles. His mother worked diligently as a state registered nurse, and his father was a respected worker at the Heinz factory.
Despite their lower income, Shaun says he had a good childhood, with his parents ensuring he “never went without”.
After passing the notoriously difficult bar exam in 1984, Shaun embarked on a successful career as a defence lawyer. His life took an unexpected turn when he appeared on Mastermind in 2004.
He chose the FA Cup Finals as his specialist subject and clinched the series title with his football expertise. Following this, Shaun joined The Chase as one of the original Chasers, alongside Mark Labbett, also known as The Beast.
The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm, on ITV1.