What really happened in failed MasterChef pay deal

George Calombaris was slammed for greediness after a pay dispute saw the three MasterChef judges quit the cooking show this week, but new details reveal the trio’s negotiations were more about equality than selfishness.

Celebrate life every day. The Swisse maxim could be a bitter pill for George Calombaris to swallow after the vitamins giant failed to renew its contract with the former MasterChef ambassador.

But Page 13 understands it all went down several months before the Ten Network announcement this week that it was not renewing the contracts of star judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston.

Page 13 revealed more than a month ago that Ten had been toing and froing in contract negotiations with its three stars who were sticking together over pay demands like the Three Musketeers.

The trio formed their own production company — GGM Pty Ltd — to sell themselves to Ten as a package deal to renew their terms and conditions.

Page 13 spoke to several insiders who said the trio had been on separate contracts and different pay packages.

This was a sweet deal for Ten, which worked with them individually on their terms and conditions over the 11 years since MasterChef first launched.

Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston have left MasterChef Australia.

It’s understood they had different restrictions within their individual contracts — all the terms were different and so were the big bucks involved.

As the MasterChef boys became closer and their global pull stronger, it made sense to band to work out an “all-in” contract.

A reported 40 per cent pay rise to some of their so-called million-dollar plus contracts would have streamlined all their wages and given them parity.

It doesn’t sound so greedy now.

But it didn’t work for Lisa Wilkinson, who ironically was nabbed by Ten after reportedly asking for pay parity with her Nine co-host Karl Stefanovic.

The three MasterChef judges also felt the heat in the corporate kitchen as they tried to align their contracts and work as a group.

Page 13 understands that vitamins juggernaut Swisse, once owned by Calombaris’s now business partner Radek Sali, did not renew its contract with Calombaris way back in April.

Plenty would like to say the pressure cooker was fit to burst after Calombaris was fined $200,000 by the Fair Work Ombudsman last week for underpaying staff.

The now former judges had started their own production company. Picture: Tina Smigielski

But as is usual behind the scenes, it wasn’t so much about bad headlines, but bottom lines.

Swisse threw all its dollars, think millions, at another ambassador in Chris Hemsworth as it made a push to a more global market.

Swisse had to save its dollars elsewhere and, as Page 13 has reported, had started pulling away from its local ambassadors.

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Swisse confirmed yesterday that it had ended its contract, which started back in 2012, with Calombaris, earlier this year.

“George was part of the Swisse family for many years but earlier this year we decided to focus on new initiatives,” a spokeswoman said.

Calombaris’s management also confirmed to Page 13 his seven-year ambassadorship had ended.

“The ambassador role ended earlier this year. George thoroughly enjoyed his role for Swisse and remains an active supporter of the brand.”