Alex Cullen to leave Nine after accepting $50,000 from billionaire

Zoe SamiosBusiness reporter

Updated Jan 24, 2025 – 12.15pm, first published at 12.00pm

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Nine Network sports presenter Alex Cullen will leave the broadcaster after accepting a $50,000 payment from a Melbourne billionaire.

Cullen presents the sports news on Nine’s breakfast program Today but was stood down last Saturday after he referred to Adrian Portelli as McLaren Guy in exchange for the money. Cullen has returned the money to Mr Portelli, who says he has given the funds to a charity.

Zoe Samios covers wagering and the business of sport from the AFR's Sydney newsroom. She was previously the media and telecommunications reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and covered media at The Australian.