Yahoo Lifestyle 
The eye-watering amount Channel Nine's top stars are paid
Some Aussie celebrities are earning huge pay cheques.
Channel Nine has reportedly splashed out to retain some high-profile talent, with many of their most popular stars earning eye-watering salaries in the millions.
Ray Hadley, who hosts 2GB’s weekday morning show, has reportedly just signed a contract extension. According to The Australian, the star has managed to negotiate a $9 million contract that will see him stay with the network until the close of 2026. This means the former sports commentator will take home about $3.5 million annually, claiming the title of Nine’s highest-paid talent.
Nine has also made sure to offer lucrative deals to other TV presenters, journalists and radio hosts, to prevent any talent leaving for a competitor’s network.
Media Diary reported that Lego Masters’ host Hamish Blake is the second highest-paid talent, taking home a reported whopping $2 million per year.
A Current Affair host Allison Langdon, Today star Karl Stefanovic, The Block’s Scott Cam and 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham are next on the list, with reported salaries of $1.5 million each.
RELATED:
The publication claims that between the $1 million and $1.2 million mark sit The Hundred’s Andy Lee, journalist Liz Hayes and 3AW radio personalities Ross Stevenson and Neil Mitchell.
Newsreader Peter Overton, who previously rejected a Today hosting job, earns a reported impressive $900,000 to $1 million pay packet, while current Today co-host Sarah Abo reportedly rakes in approximately $800,000.
Bubbly presenter Sophie Monk, who hosts Love Island and Beauty and the Geek, is also believed to earn around $800,000.
It’s not unusual for top-tier Aussie talent to move to other networks for a large payday, with Big Brother and The Voice host Sonia Kruger ditching Nine after an eight-year stint. The star moved to Seven Network, where she reportedly signed a recent contract worth $1.3 million.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! host Chris Brown also made the swap recently, leaving Ten for a rumoured $1 million yearly deal at Seven.
Chris Brown tears up on I’m A Celebrity
This comes after Chris Brown farewelled the popular competition show during the semi-final.
After nine years of hosting the show, the popular personality announced in February that he had signed a deal with Channel Seven, who he began his TV career with in 2003, and will join the network in July.
Chris delivered a tearful farewell to viewers and said it has been “the greatest professional privilege” of his life to host the show with co-host Julia Morris.
“And it's because of the stuff you don't see at home,” he detailed. “It’s because of this incredible crew that's 400 strong, it’s our blended family that we are all so close with, and it's this incredible creative force that comes together like you cannot imagine.”
SHOP:
The Bondi Vet star went on to thank the show’s entire team of writers, producers and creatives for trusting him as host, as well as the viewers for laughing along with the “madness”, and ensured the series will continue after his departure.
“I just want to really make mention of this incredible woman who's beside me here,” he added as he began to tear up.
“Nine years ago when people said it was crazy to pair a vet with a comedian, we both laughed a lot at the time because we knew that we clicked and we knew that we had something special and I don't think I ever could have imagined how special it would be and where that spark would take us and the connection we would have.
“I just wanted to say it's been an honour, it’s been a privilege, and I really hope and I'm sure this is not the last time we experience this spark. It'll take us to so many places, I’m quite sure.”
Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.
Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.
