TV STARS’ SALARIES EXPOSED

THESE POPULAR PRESENTERS EARN THE BIG BUCKS – BUT DO THEY ALSO DELIVER THE RATINGS?

$2 MILLION+

There is only a handful of Australian TV hosts that can call themselves a member of the $2 million dollar a year club.

Heading up the list are evening newsreaders Peter Overton and Mark Ferguson, who respectively deliver the all-important six o’clock bulletins for Nine and Seven. The two news shows consistently place first and second in the daily ratings, making the esteemed newsreaders worthy of top dollar. A Current Affair anchor Tracy Grimshaw similarly commands a massive price tag after being at the helm of the consistently highest rating current affairs program since 2006. Sadly, she’s also the exception to the rule, as one of the only female TV hosts earning upwards of $2 million. Today host Karl Stefanovic is also among this high-profile list – although his reputation has taken a battering in recent years following his unceremonious dumping and dramatic re-hiring to the ailing morning show. With ratings still in decline, time will tell if his next contract comes with an equally princely sum.

$1-2 MILLION

The next tier of Australian TV hosts is believed to net an impressive $1-$2 million a year.

While there is a dearth of female hosts in the top $2 million+ category, they certainly seem well represented in this category.

Leading the way is The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson, who left her former job as co-host of the Today show after demanding that her pay should equal that of her then colleague, Karl Stefanovic, who was said to be on $2 million a year.

When Nine reportedly failed to match Karl’s salary, Lisa took a stand by defecting to Network Ten, and taking up a salary that was said to be much closer to the figure she’d requested from Nine.

Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage is also believed to earn somewhere in this vicinity – meaning she too is earning less than her morning show co-host, Kochie.

Meanwhile, The Project hosts Carrie Bickmore and Waleed Aly are also understood to be earning salaries within this pay bracket.

$1 MILLION

A million a year is certainly nothing to sneeze at – and a number of popular TV entertainers are estimated to earn a salary around this figure.

The most recent addition is Sonia Kruger, who was recently courted back to Seven from Nine. As part of her new $1 million salary, she will helm the rebooted version of Big Brother, which she previously hosted on her former network.

Game show host Grant Denyer is also believed to earn a pay packet in this vicinity for his various duties on programs such as Family Feud and Celebrity Name Game. Even though both shows have experienced disappointing ratings, Grant’s undeniable audience appeal makes him worth keeping on contract.

I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! hosts Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown are also believed to be earning within this category – but for the Bondi vet, this pay packet may also encompass his work on The Living Room.

Other million-dollar earners are reportedly

Studio 10’s Sarah Harris,

Today’s rookie host Ally Langdon and The Living Room’s Amanda Keller.

$500,000$750,000

At least half a million dollars a year is going straight into the bank accounts of some TV industry veterans – and leading this group is none other than Kerri-anne Kennerely.

In 2018, KAK signed on to the Studio 10 line-up, with hopes she could turn around the fortunes of the morning show. While there hasn’t been much of an improvement in ratings since her arrival, KAK has brought an element of controversy with her no-holds-barred opinions. As a result, she’s believed to have recently signed a lucrative one-year extension deal.

Veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins is also believed to be earning in this vicinity for his work on Today, Today Extra and Weekend Today. Richard’s little black book of entertainment industry contacts has given him an inside edge when it comes to scoring hard-to-get celebrity interviews – which makes him well worth his price tag.

Ten newsreader Sandra Sully, as well as a stable of

60 Minutes reporters, are also believed to be in this pay scale.