Wayne Lineker says he downed ‘52,000 drinks in 13 years’ before crippling drug and alcohol dependency led to intervention and rehab – as he celebrates seven months of sobriety

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He was known as the ‘King of Ibiza,’ a successful self-starter who owned the island’s most famous and profitable beach club. He was often seen with much younger women, many wearing bikinis.

Wayne Lineker seemed to have a perfect life, but he admits that opening his famous O Beach club in 2012 started a wild, party-filled period that led to a serious problem with alcohol. He worried he was drinking so much it could kill him.

He confessed to The Times that he’d been drinking daily for the past 13 years, ever since his beach club, Ocean, first opened. He estimated his consumption at around seven drinks a day during the winter months, increasing to sixteen in the summer. He clarified that these were Spanish-sized portions, meaning each drink was significantly larger – roughly three to four times the standard size.

I just wanted them to see I was enjoying myself, and I believe I showed that. Looking back, I estimate I had around 52,000 drinks over those thirteen years.

After being sober for seven months, 63-year-old Lineker – brother of former footballer and TV presenter Gary Lineker – shared that he used to have his first drink of the day at a local pub, often before most people even had breakfast.

He started with a vodka and Red Bull, then drank several glasses of red wine. By 4:00pm, he was at O Beach on the lively west side of Ibiza, but the party was just getting started.

He remembered a constant inner voice – a ‘little demon’ – urging him to use drugs. He confessed that mixing alcohol and cocaine always kept him awake, no matter how tired he was.

Okay, so everything started to click after that video of Gary at O Beach came out. He looked… well, let’s just say he wasn’t at his best! It blew up online, and honestly, I was mortified for him. Apparently, the people he works with were furious and wanted an emergency meeting. They were worried he was going to ruin everything they’d built, and I just… I couldn’t believe it. It was awful to see, honestly. He’s a legend, and this could have destroyed everything!

Things took a turn for the worse when Lineker began a pattern of late-night drinking and drug use, which led to a difficult emotional exchange with his 21-year-old son, Freddie, who is a successful DJ.

He remembered having a very early flight to Zante for a performance. He could tell I was awake and restless around 5:00am, so he came into my room and gave me a hug.

He was sobbing and pleaded with me, “Dad, please don’t leave.” It hit me then that my actions were hurting not just myself, but my whole family.

This was just the most recent event that prompted him to seek help, first at Champneys hotel in Tring, where he spent five days giving up alcohol, and then at the Priory Life Works House rehab facility in Surrey.

His recovery wasn’t easy, especially because the club owner’s daughter, Tia, was getting married in Mallorca just four weeks into his six-week treatment program.

His therapists felt it would be a good opportunity for him, so Lineker traveled to Spain for his daughter’s wedding. He walked her down the aisle, attended the reception, and happily reconnected with his brother after many years of not speaking.

He said reconnecting with Gary after over fifteen years of distance was the most meaningful moment of his recovery. They fell back into the close, brotherly relationship they’d always shared.

Gary Lineker has been sober for seven months, a period that began after a seven-week hospital stay where he was treated for two serious cases of pneumonia.

Okay, so I’m totally obsessed with everything O Beach, and I just heard the founder wasn’t feeling well! Apparently, it started on his flight back to the UK from Dubai – he’d been visiting his sweet daughter, Tia, and was on his way home when he started feeling sick. I’m seriously worried about him and hoping he gets better soon!

He explained to The Mirror that after spending three days at home, he experienced a very serious health episode. His condition was so critical that the doctor warned his son he was in grave danger and his blood pressure had dropped to a dangerously low level.

‘But they said, “We’re just going to tell your dad he’s ok. We’ll get an ambulance.”‘ 

Honestly, hearing him talk about it really struck me. He shared that there were two moments he genuinely thought he was going to die, and it completely changed his perspective. He started really questioning things, wondering if he’d even pull through. It was a deeply personal revelation about his fears and a newfound worry about his own life.

‘I lost so much weight, I lost 11 kilograms of weight because I was lying in bed for seven weeks.’ 

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2026-02-19 12:34