Every milestone: How Robert Irwin went from zoo kid to international sensation
He’s fed crocodiles since he could walk, championed conservation since childhood, and now rules Australian television. This is how Robert Irwin went from a mini wildlife warrior to Australia’s most desired man.
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These days Robert Irwin is a bona fide global superstar, boasting a Gold Logie nomination, a spot on Dancing with the Stars US and a viral underwear modelling campaign – but how did the young gun from the Sunshine Coast get here?
From a baby wildlife educator to an international sensation, we’ve mapped out Robert Irwin’s path to superstardom.
2003: BORN FOR THE SPOTLIGHT
Robert Irwin was born on December 1, 2003, in the leafy town of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast.
As the only son of legendary crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, and younger brother of Bindi Irwin, Robert was thrust into the spotlight from the moment he was born.
By the time Robert arrived Steve had been on our TV screens for nearly a decade, best known for ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ series he hosted with his conservationist wife, Terri.
Robert spent his childhood surrounded by wildlife and was homeschooled at the famed Australia Zoo on The Sunshine Coast, owned by his parents.
One month after he was born, his father cradled newborn Robert in one hand whilst tossing meat to a 3.8 metre crocodile with the other.
The incident sparked massive controversy, prompting the Queensland Government to change its crocodile-handling laws, banning children and untrained adults from crocodile enclosures.
2006: A TRAGIC LEGACY
On September 4, 2006, Robert’s globally famous father Steve Irwin died suddenly while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland.
During filming of the Ocean’s Deadliest documentary, a stingray’s barb pierced Steve’s chest, causing massive trauma and ultimately leading to his death.
The shock death made global news and his funeral reached a worldwide television audience of more than 300 million.
Robert was three months shy of his third birthday when he lost his father.
“When you lose someone like that and it’s such a public thing, you’re three years old, you’re growing up without a father, it’s incredibly difficult. It is indescribably difficult,” Robert said in a 2023 GQ interview.
“But on the other side of that, now, when people come up to me and share a story of when they met Dad, tell me how much his documentary meant to them, I almost feel like I get a little piece of him back.”
Robert has spoken openly about honouring his father’s wildlife conservation legacy.
“He’s not around anymore to push his message,” Robert said in the GQ interview, “now it’s my job.”
2012: THE YOUNG CROC WRANGLER
Robert first graced our screens at four years old, as an adorable feature in Bindi’s wildlife show ‘Bindi the Jungle Girl,’ in the episode ‘Australia Zoo Visit’.
Amidst the occasional TV appearance Robert spent his early years schooling up among crocodiles, snakes and wombats as his keen interest in wildlife conservation grew.
“I’ve grown up in the most fantastic world, surrounded by tigers, crocodiles, rhinos and elephants,” Robert said in an interview for Hard Yakka.
“My alarm clock in the morning are lemurs, right next to my house. It is the most incredible life to live.
“Wildlife is the biggest part of my life. It’s my passion, not just what I do, it’s who I am.”
At eight years and nine months, Robert became the youngest person ever to feed a crocodile at Australia Zoo, a milestone that solidified him as the Crocodile Hunter’s natural heir.
By nine years old Robert was appearing regularly in film and TV, following a cameo in the wildly successful kids movie ‘Free Willy: Escape from Private’s Cove’.
In 2013 the young personality earned a Most Popular New Male Talent Logie nomination for his appearance in the ‘Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors’ TV series, starring alongside his mother and sister.
From 2014 to 2015 Robert co-hosted the ‘Wild But True’ educational TV series, making his mark as a charismatic wildlife educator and gaining an International Emmy Kids nomination.
2016: YOUNG STAR BEHIND THE LENS
By 2016 Robert developed a keen interest in wildlife photography.
At just twelve Robert was the Junior Runner‑Up in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition for a captivating crocodile photo.
“I find it’s a great art form to push a conservation message, and I found it to be my own individual way of continuing my family’s legacy,” Robert said in a 2023 interview with Hard Yakka.
“If I can get behind the lens, get closer than most would to dangerous animals, put myself on the line and capture truly spectacular and unique images, I can share that with the world and hopefully help people connect with the natural world.”
In February 2021 he won the Natural History Museum’s People’s Choice Award for an aerial image capturing a bushfire ripping across Cape York in far north Queensland, cementing him as one of the most respected young wildlife photographers in the world.
2020: KHAKIS TO COVER STAR
By 2020 Robert was well on his way to global sensation status, blending his wildlife know-how, conservation message and larrikin charm to capture hearts worldwide.
He became a mainstay on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, bringing a host of quirky animals - from dwarf crocodiles to scorpions - onto the show. He appeared on the show eleven times between 2017 and 2019.
At eighteen years old Robert announced a bold new chapter when he appeared on the cover of Stellar, featuring slicked‑back hair, sharp high‑waisted trousers and a toned physique.
The cover went viral, making him a fashion icon almost overnight.
While his media personality status was skyrocketing Robert stayed true to his conservation work, maintaining his role as zookeeper and wildlife educator at the Australia Zoo.
“Being an animal conservationist and an environmentalist is definitely part of my DNA. It’s in my blood,” Robert said in a 2023 interview with Hard Yakka.
“As the next generation, it’s my responsibility to use my voice and platform to make the world a better place.”
In February 2022, during filming for an episode of ‘Crikey! It’s The Irwins’, Robert made an emergency escape when a 3.7 metre crocodile beelined towards him during a routine feeding at Australia Zoo.
Luckily Robert leaped out of the crocodile enclosure just in time to avoid being crocodile lunch.
2023: NEW FACE OF AUSSIE TV
In October 2023 Robert was announced as the new host of ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’, replacing veteran host Chris Brown and establishing himself as one of television’s best-known rising stars.
At just 20 years old Robert became the youngest male ever nominated for a Gold Logie at the 2024 Logie Awards for Most Popular Presenter, alongside ‘I’m A Celebrity’ co-host Julia Morris.
Despite being the 2024 Logies darling, Robert admitted he was torn about attending the ceremony, as it interfered with the Irwin’s annual Crocodile Conservation Research trip to far north Queensland.
“(The Logies are) the first and only thing that’s ever pulled me away from my croc research trip. Once I’m up there, I don’t go anywhere,” Robert said in a 2024 interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
“It’s my favourite part of the year. It’s the best thing in the world.
“Not only is it the world-leading crocodile research project and one of the most incredible cutting-edge scientific endeavours to see in the world of science, but it’s also such a special time.
“I will go from the khakis to the tux, straight back to the khakis. But that’s life now, it is just the weirdest juxtaposition.”
In 2024 Robert Irwin was appointed a Global Ambassador for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, an initiative that awards innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
2025: THE BONDS BREAKOUT
In 2025 Robert starred in his first campaign for Bonds, breaking the internet.
The 21 year old posed shirtless, toned and holding a massive python wrapped across his shoulders.
The campaign was an iconic moment that solidified him as a mainstream style sensation and unexpected sex symbol.
“I’ve dedicated my life to conservation, to carrying on an important legacy, protecting our animals, and they said, ‘We want to showcase that, but you’re going to be in your undies’,” Robert said of the Bonds campaign in a 2025 interview with Today Media.
“So I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do it. Life’s about just embracing it.‘ It was fun, mate, it was good.”
DWTS AND GLOBAL HEADLINES
In April 2025 Robert was the first contestant announced for Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars US.
Robert capitalised on his Bonds-mania and arrived shirtless to the DWTS press event with, of course, a huge python draped across his chest.
The stunt instantly went viral across Australia and the US, and cemented Robert as one of the best‑known young media stars of his generation.
His decades-long reach into the public sphere has also made him one of Australia most successful social media stars, with more than seven million Instagram followers.
Frequently dubbed Australia’s ‘next big thing’ and one of its ‘most eligible bachelors’ Robert has evolved from crocodile kid to global heart‑throb - a rare mix of humility, sharp style, and boy‑next‑door charm, making him one of the best‑known and best‑loved media talents in the world.
“At the end of the day, I see myself as an educator and that’s where the whole TV thing fits in for me,” Robert said in a 2024 interview with The Sunday Telegraph
“I seek out projects now that break me out of where I am. Instead of just hitting the wildlife conservation crowd through wildlife documentaries.
“I try to lead with hope. Climate change and pollution and habitat degradation and unsustainable population growth and stuff, that’s really sometimes unpopular to talk about.
“I’m picking up that torch and moving it forward because Dad’s not here to push that message and that’s my job.”
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Originally published as Every milestone: How Robert Irwin went from zoo kid to international sensation
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