"I don't need the money and I don't live that type of life": PDC president Barry Hearn hasn't taken a salary for 17 years

Barry Hearn is now technically retired as he left his role as PDC Chairman but he still is PDC President and maintains a role in the rise of darts with his son Eddie Hearn now running proceedings for Matchroom.

Hearn spoke on his podcast The Barry Hearn Show that he decided to stop taking a salary 17 years ago and that he has everything he wants in life. He also opened up on the relationship he shares with his son Eddie who is known worldwide for his role in boxing heading up Matchroom but also now runs the PDC.

“I retired seventeen years ago. I stopped taking the salary seventeen years ago because I don't need the money and I don't live that type of life,” Hearn admitted.

“But at the same time, I can't retire from something that's been my life. And outside of my family, nothing's more important to me than kids getting their chance, especially, and I'm biased, kids perhaps with the background I had. house. My dad was a bus driver. My mum was a charlady.

“We didn't have any money, but we were still happy. But then, when you get into the business element, you get this competitive streak where you want to be number one and be the best. And I can't walk away from that.”

“We have a fabulous father-son relationship,” Hearn added. “We take the mick out of everyone. It's not everyone's cup of tea. I remember Chris Eubank saying to me: 'Bazza, I don't like the way Edward speaks to you. And I go, ‘look. We're friends. And he speaks to me like a friend would speak to me. And it's not disrespectful’.

“It's just the type of relationship we have and I wouldn't change it for the world. I love him to death, but I also disagree with him quite a lot, and we don't hold back. We're a very competitive family.

“I will drive Eddie mad because I'll pester him and say: ‘Why are we doing this? Why don't we do that?’ And a lot of the times, he'll turn around and say: 'Dad, different age now. You're yesterday. I'm tomorrow. Listen to me.'

“I do listen to him and I still sometimes disagree with him – and I'm invariably wrong. But I know the business, I've led the life, and I can still make a contribution. And I hope I'm big enough that when I get to a stage where I can't make a contribution, I hope I recognise it myself. By the way, I don't see that bit coming in the near future.”