Australia’s top reality stars can pull in massive paycheques with just a single post to their social media accounts… And now, we’ve figured out who the top-earning TV celebs really are.
It’s not exactly a secret that appearing on a reality show can be a one-way ticket to pulling in that sweet, sweet influencer moola (and a chill AF lifestyle to boot).
While the occasional reality contestant will return to the daily grind after their 15 minutes in the spotlight is up, the majority get straight out of the island/house/villa/Sky Suites/mansion and start pumping out the daily Insta Q&As and #SponsoredContent.
With OnlyFans accounts, YouTube channels, red-carpet appearances, follow-up reality TV stints, and confusing advertising campaigns to boost their coffers even more, we’ve collated the top-earning stars from Aussie reality shows.
Married at First Sight
Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding
Married at First Sight fan fave Domenica Calarco‘s 565k followers can earn her up to a staggering $2,780 per post, according to Influencer Marketing Hub. Her bestie Ella Ding isn’t doing too bad either, reportedly charging up to $2,995 per sponsored post.
However, other publications have speculated that the former brides could be making up to $5,000 per upload. Sheesh!
Domenica has remained tight-lipped about her OnlyFans earnings, but she’s charging a reasonable $6.50 per monthly subscription at the time of writing. Her regular sub fee is $12.99 per month.
But the pair’s numerous overseas holidays are likely being funded by their podcast deal, having monetised their TV friendship for a cool $250,000 deal.
Along with their joint ventures, Domenica’s collab with Showpo and Ella’s comparative Pretty Little Thing line has proven that selling out to fast fashion can bring in the big bucks.
According to the It’s a Lot podcast, fast fashion deals can earn stars up to $50,000.
Domenica also landed herself a Channel Nine web series called Dom’s Debrief, but surprisingly, the gig wasn’t paid.
Olivia Frazer
Married at First Sight’s Olivia Frazer has just 182,000 followers on Instagram, allowing her to pull around a reasonable $850 per post.
But while the controversial reality star’s Insta earnings are pretty average for a MAFS alum, it’s her (claimed) OnlyFans earnings that earned her a spot on our list.
The TV bride previously found herself in trouble for comparing her earnings to other MAFS-turned-OnlyFans stars in the past and in November, Olivia reconfirmed to The Deep host Zoe Marshall that she’s cashed up AF.
The ex-teaching student said she earned close to half-a-million dollars in four months on OnlyFans in four months. That’s a staggering $125,000 per month. And they say money doesn’t grow on trees…
Jessika Power
Turns out the cash can keep flowing years after some fortunate stars have left MAFS, with Jessika Power reportedly banking a cool $1,900 per Instagram post.
According to Yahoo Lifestyle, the 30-year-old is set to become a millionaire in 2023. Bravo!
Now living in the UK, Jessica raked in $150,000 for personal appearances and endorsements in 2022. She reportedly made over $700,000 on OnlyFans last year.
Jessica told the Playtime Podcast that she earned $30,000 on her “worst month”. Yeah, that doesn’t make us feel great about our salary…
Her best month was apparently $110,000. No wonder she was able to buy a house with those earnings!
Jessika also topped up her coffers with various reality TV appearances including Big Brother VIP, Celebs Go Dating, and was almost cast on The Challenge Australia as well.
The reality star has also landed several major brand deals including most recently becoming the ambassador for Celebrity Slim.
Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant
Proving the power of being generally wholesome AF, MAFS sweethearts Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant have a staggering 1.2 million fans between them on Instagram alone.
Jules can earn up to $3,701 per paid post on the platform alone. But the bulk of her money is now generated from her shapewear brand Figur By Jules and fashion label Moira Muse.
Meanwhile, Cam isn’t doing too bad himself, earning up to $2,407.50 per Instagram post, according to Influencer Marketing Hub’s estimates.
Their success is evidenced by the $3.65 million holiday home on the Gold Coast they purchased in March 2022, which is a much-needed getaway from their $1.8 million Sydney home. They’re the literal definition of bringing home the bacon…
Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli
Even before her regular pregnancy updates, Martha Kalifatidis was earning up to $3,197 per sponsored post in early 2022. These days, she’s pulling in even more, according to Influencer Marking Hub.
Martha shared an impressive eleven sponsored posts since her return to Instagram in November and December. In other words, she is estimated to have made $36,203.75 in two months on Instagram alone. Ooft!
Her fiancé Michael Brunelli also posted four additional sponsored posts and one shared post with Martha in that time too. The former teacher reportedly earns $1,520 per post, so that’s another $7,600 in the bank for the couple.
Not to mention, both Michael and Martha host their own successful podcasts, The Handbags and Swipe Up, which would generate additional revenue for them.
We guess that’s how Michael afforded to splurge on a $100,000 diamond for Martha when he popped the question!
Love Island Australia
Vanessa Sierra
According to The Brag, Love Island star Vanessa Sierra has a staggering 21,400 subscribers on OnlyFans and she’s in the top 0.01 per cent of all creators.
At the time of publication, Vanessa offered subscriptions for $3 for 31 days, with her regular price being $20 per month.
Based on our (admittedly rough) calculations, a regular month would see Vanessa slated to earn a whopping $428,000 from her subscriptions alone. HOLY SH*T!
The influencer is also estimated to make $2,682.50 per paid post on Instagram, thanks to her 538,900 followers. Talk about laughing all the way to the bank…
Sophie Monk
Can we really include Love Island Australia host and certified Aussie icon Sophie Monk on this list? Probably not, but she started on a reality competition (shout out to Popstars) and we just generally love her, so we’re adding her anyway!
According to Who Magazine, her annual Nine salary is believed to be an impressive $1 million.
She’s also the face of countless major brands and products… including Microsoft’s X-Box, Jimmy Brings (aka the alcohol version of UberEats), Neutrogena and even a brand of prawns. Incredible!
Big Brother Australia
Daniel Gorringe
Former AFL player and Big Brother Australia finalist Daniel Gorringe boasts 7 million followers on TikTok, leaving a lot of us to question – why?!
Essentially, he’s gained his online following by making fun of small content creators, which is uhm… a personal choice.
Regardless, TikTok has a notoriously low creator fund.
He’s certainly not pulling in the same kind of cash as somebody with that follower count on Instagram (where he has just 200,000 followers).
Besides, he’s too busy making fun of “cringe” content to spruik sponsored products.
However, he has launched a lager beer brand called Sippy, so let’s hope his TikTok audience is 18+. Based on the actual content, we have our doubts…
Skye Wheatley
Big Brother Australia’s Skye Wheatley may be one of Australia’s most lucrative influencers, banking an estimated $3,163.75 per post on Instagram.
Her YouTube account earns her a measly $17 – $268 per month, according to Social Blade. However, she would earn a bunch of extra cash from sponsorships included in each and every 20+ minute video.
The mum-of-two also co-owns a business selling filter presets for Instagram, where she charges $60 to $90 to use a selection of filters on editing software.
The reality starlet is also connected to an athleisure brand called Good People, so those income streams are certainly diversified no matter how many scandals she finds herself in.
Chrissie Swan
Radio personality Chrissie Swan has come a long way since her Big Brother Australia debut in 2003.
According to The Daily Telegraph, she recently scored a whopping $2 million for her new radio deal with Nova. Wowza!
Her previous show (also on Nova) –Chrissie, Sam & Browny – achieved impressive ratings throughout its seven-year run, which would have brought in big bucks as well.
Her Masked Singer judging gig was a part of her contract with Ten. But as reported in episode 192 of the So Dramatic! podcast, her co-stars earned between $100,000 to $500,000.
Meanwhile, she had a mega-deal with national pharmacy Priceline over the 2022 Christmas season. Like, it was massive! They were spruiking their sales as Chrissie season specials.
She’s also estimated to earn $1,356.25 per sponsored post on Instagram. Not bad at all!
The Bachelor Franchise
Sam and Snezana Wood
If a Bachie couple actually stays together, there’s a pretty good chance they’re going to make it big as an enviable influencer duo. It’s simple math really…
Bonus points if they also provide major fitness inspo and Sam and Snezana Wood definitely fit that bill.
The Bachelor Australia‘s golden couple own numerous glorious properties, so they’re already earning some hardcore landlord dollars.
Sam’s Instagram earning potential is estimated to be up to $1,340 and a post from Snezana can set advertisers back $1,640.
That must make for some nice pocket change in addition to the $71 million he received for selling his business in 2022, as well as his fitnesses brand and multiple books. Wouldn’t it be nice?
Matty J Johnson and Laura Byrne (and Brittany Hockley)
Another Bachelor success story is Matty J Johnson and Laura Byrne who are also at the tippy-top of TV celeb earners.
The couple have scored massive national brand deals that they spruik across social media, with a rate per post of $1,600 each.
Matty J has also gained huge success as an event host, most recently becoming the face of Carols On The Beach on the Gold Coast in December 2022.
The newlyweds are also in Amazon’s VERY deep pockets. They joined forces recently to interview major celebs on the Prime Video blue carpet and Matty appeared in numerous Audible campaigns. We’re totally not bitter at all…
Laura also diversifies with her jewellery brand Toni May, as well as her top-rated Life Uncut podcast.
Meanwhile, Laura’s Life Uncut co-star and their perpetual third-wheel Brittany Hockley recently laid the foundations for a problematic future in commercial radio.
She may have p*ssed off a good proportion of her current fanbase by appearing on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. She reportedly signed a “multi-million dollar deal” with ARN in October. We guess money talks!
Brittany also recently returned to reality TV with an appearance on The Challenge Australia.
Abbie Chatfield
The Bachelor’s Abbie Chatfield is undeniably one of Australia’s biggest success stories, with multiple reality TV stints making her a big-time earner. And by big, we mean YUGE!
Let’s recap her bonkers-busy 2022: She continued her It’s a Lot podcast and toured a live version with sold-out venues across the country, as well as landing a national radio show on 2DayFM called Hot Nights with Abbie.
She also launched a number of her own brands (like who else has a fashion label and a beer brand on their CV), as well as being the face of a sex toy range and nabbed a national campaign with BWS. We’re tired just thinking about it…
This year, we’re eagerly awaiting her latest (and kinda controversial) hosting gig, F-Boy Island. Her Abbie Talks TV chat show is also expected to release on Ten in 2023.
Influencer Marketing Hub estimated she earns up to $2,251.25 per sponsored post, but much of her paid content appears to be longer contracts.
According to Yahoo, a prominent Australian talent agent estimated Abbie would have made “at least $1.5 million dollars” in 2022 alone. Talk about being cashed up!
And she somehow did all of this while balancing multiple feuds with other reality stars. An impressive feat!
Ca-ching!
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 187 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
