Comedian and co-writer Frank Skinner has recently shed light on the surprisingly modest financial returns from the iconic football anthem, “Three Lions.” Despite its enduring popularity and status as a national sporting staple, Skinner’s revelations challenge the widespread assumption that he has amassed a fortune from the beloved track.

First released in 1996 to coincide with England’s involvement in the UEFA European Championship, the “Three Lions anthem,” co-written with fellow comedian David Baddiel and performed with The Lightning Seeds, quickly cemented its place in British culture. Its catchy “it’s coming home” refrain has resonated deeply with football fans, leading to the song topping the Official Singles Chart in the UK on four separate occasions.

Despite its unprecedented success and repeated surges in popularity during major tournaments, a common myth persists regarding the colossal sums earned by its creators. Many fans and industry observers have long speculated about the substantial royalties generated by such a widely recognized and frequently played piece of music.

Skinner directly addressed these financial speculations on a recent episode of his “Frank Off the Radio” podcast. Prompted by a listener’s query about a potential “uptick in royalties” following the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 triumph, the comedian decided to clarify the often-misunderstood financial landscape of the iconic song.

During the candid discussion, Frank Skinner unequivocally stated, “As I always say, it’s a myth that we made loads of money out of Three Lions.” He then disclosed that his personal earnings from the track amounted to approximately £38,000 over a four-year period, leaving some ambiguity as to whether this represented his entire share or a specific portion.

The revelation prompted considerable surprise from his co-host Emily Dean and guest comedian Sara Barron, both of whom admitted to expecting a significantly higher figure. Barron humorously pressed Skinner, asking, “Yeah, why is it not £4 million?”, to which he responded with a wry jest, “Have you met my manager?”

This isn’t the first time the acclaimed comedian has discussed the financial reality of the “Three Lions” phenomenon. Speaking on Radio X the previous year, Skinner had informed Chris Moyles that he estimated his total earnings from the song to be around £50,000, confirming at the time that he received a quarter share of the profits.

Despite the modest financial returns compared to popular perception, Frank Skinner maintains that hearing football fans chant the “Three Lions anthem” remains a thrilling experience. While acknowledging a slight decrease in its presence on terraces, the enduring emotional connection to the song evidently outweighs the monetary aspect for the renowned comedian.