Derek Mathewson’s net worth ranges from £4 million to £6 million as of 2025, depending on the source. Others believe it is significantly less, at around $2 million. Others say it’s as much as $10 million. Truth is, the bloke’s loaded from spending 50 years buying and selling classic cars.
For those who don’t know him from telly, Derek is the star of Bangers and Cash on the Yesterday channel. It is essentially he and his sons buying old cars, auctioning them off and making decent telly out of it. But he was minted long before the cameras arrived.
Started Young With Cars
Derek Mathewson’s age puts him at 73 or 74 now, born October 13, 1951. He restored his first car at the age of 16, which seems crazy to think about now, doesn’t it? Many 16-year-olds can hardly change a tyre. Derek was rebuilding entire cars.
Set up Mathewsons in 1970 at the age of just 19. Began selling contemporary cars and commercial vehicles in Bedfordshire. Earned a good name very quickly. But even back then, his showrooms were full of vintage and classic cars. That’s where his heart was.
The business has been going for over 50 years now. Same family running it. Derek’s still involved even though his sons do most of the work these days.
Derek Mathewson’s Family Built The Business
Derek Mathewson’s wife is Sue. She’s been with him throughout the whole journey. They’ve been married for decades, though Derek keeps his personal life quite private, so exact dates are hard to find.
Derek Mathewson’s children are two sons, Paul and Dave. Both work in the family business. You see them on Bangers and Cash all the time, talking to customers, arranging auctions, and driving cars around. It’s a proper family affair.
Some people also believe that Derek Mathewson’s daughter, Sarah Crabtree from the show, is actually his daughter. She’s not. Sarah was formerly the office manager at Mathewsons but decided to leave to launch her own business, Evoke Classics. She has repeatedly specified on her site that she is not married to Derek and is not at all related to the family. People just assumed because she was on the show so much.
Derek Mathewson’s grandchildren include a granddaughter called Amy, who turned 18 recently. Derek and Sue celebrated her birthday together. Beyond that, he keeps his grandkids out of the public eye, which is fair enough.
Derek Mathewson’s Car Collection Is Massive
Derek Mathewson’s car collection has over 100 classic cars in it. Over 100! Most people struggle to afford one classic car. Derek’s got a whole bloody collection of them.
His favourite is apparently a 1965 Ford Mustang, though with 100 cars to choose from, that could change depending on his mood. Classic & Sports Car magazine did a whole feature on touring his personal garage. The cars in there are worth an absolute fortune.
Some of those early cars he bought back in the 1970s are still in his collection. Imagine buying a car 50 years ago, and it’s now worth ten times what you paid. That’s proper investment, that is.
Where Derek Mathewson’s Net Worth Actually Comes From
He derives his riches from three primary sources. First, Mathewsons Auctions. Every year, they auction thousands of cars and automotive memorabilia. Each auction brings in commission. That adds up quickly over 50 years.
Second, telly money from Bangers and Cash. The show is in its second season, which debuted in 2019 and is quite popular. Yesterday Channel does not pay as well as the BBC, but the compensation is still decent. Plus, the show brings publicity to the auction house, which means more customers, which means more commission.
Third, his personal car collection. Classic cars generally go up in value if you look after them properly. Derek’s got 100 of them appreciating. That’s not liquid cash he can spend, but it’s wealth on paper.
Some sources reckon Derek Mathewson’s net worth is as high as $10 million. Others say $2 million to $5 million. The British Report says £4 million to £6 million. Truth is, calculating someone’s net worth is tricky when so much is tied up in classic cars. What’s a 1960s car worth? Depends on who’s buying and when.
Bangers and Cash Changed Everything
The show started in 2019 on the Yesterday channel. It’s brilliant telly because it’s not scripted nonsense. It’s just Derek and his family doing what they’ve always done, with cameras following them around.
Each episode follows cars coming into the auction house. Derek talks about the history. They auction them off. Sometimes they make loads of money. Sometimes barely anything. It’s properly interesting if you’re into cars or just like watching people buy and sell stuff.
The show made Derek a bit of a celebrity. Before, he was well known in classic car circles. Now random people recognise him in Tesco. That’s the power of telly.
Growing The Business In 2025
Derek’s trying to expand the business even more in 2025. Wants to sell more cars online. Reach international buyers who can’t make it to Yorkshire for the auctions. Makes sense, really. Why limit yourself to people who can physically show up when the internet exists?
The auction house is still based in Thornton-le-Dale near Pickering in North Yorkshire. They’ve been there for years. It’s become a proper destination for classic car enthusiasts from all over the country.
His sons, Dave and Paul, are taking on more responsibility as Derek gets older. He’s still involved but stepping back a bit. Smart move, really. Build the business, bring in the next generation, and make sure it continues after you’re gone.
What Makes Him Different
Loads of people deal in classic cars. Loads of auction houses exist. What makes Derek different is that he genuinely loves what he does. You can tell by watching the show. He lights up talking about a 1950s Austin or a rusty old Land Rover.
He’s also built a proper family business. Not some corporate thing where everyone hates each other. Derek Mathewson’s family actually work together and seems to get on. That’s quite rare in family businesses, honestly.
Plus, he’s Yorkshire. Doesn’t mince words. Says what he thinks. Doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. People like that authenticity, especially on telly, where everything’s usually fake as hell.
The Bottom Line On His Wealth
So Derek Mathewson’s net worth is somewhere between £4 million and £10 million, depending on who you ask and how you value his car collection. Either way, the bloke’s done alright for himself.
Started at 16 restoring cars. He founded his business at 19. Ran it for 50 years. Built it into a proper, successful auction house. Got a telly show out of it. Collected 100 classic cars. Raised two sons who now run the business with him. Not a bad life’s work, that.
And he’s still going. Still turning up at auctions. Still on telly. Still buying and selling cars. At 73, most people are fully retired. Derek’s still at it because he actually enjoys what he does. That’s probably worth more than any amount of money, really.