The Aussie celebs who won — and lost — in 2023
The Block’s ‘Lambo Guy’ purchased not one, not two, but three homes for a combined $12.4 million. See the Aussie stars who gained - and some of those that lost - this year.
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While many of us were feeling the cost of living pinch this year, some Australian celebrities were raking it in.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson signed a historic $200m radio deal, Barbie’s Margot Robbie starred in and produced the highest-grossing film of the year - $2 billion and counting - and fitness queen Kayla Itsines bought back Sweat after selling it for $230m.
Here’s a list of the Aussie stars who’ve gained (and lost) this year.
KYLE SANDILANDS AND JACKIE ‘O’ HENDERSON
Dynamic duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson signed a 10-year contract extension with radio station ARN worth a staggering $200 million.
The new deal includes their popular segment, The Kyle and Jackie O Show, being broadcast in Melbourne on KIIS 101.1, which is a first for the traditionally Sydney pair.
Due to this expansion into Victoria, The Jase & Lauren Breakfast Show - helmed by Jason Hawkins and Lauren Phillips - was unceremoniously given the boot.
The “multi-layered” historic contract provides Sandilands and Henderson a percentage of extra revenue and millions of shares as a bonus.
This means the show will be on air until the end of December 2034 … at least.
JUSTIN HEMMES
Like the King and Queen of radio, pub baron Justin Hemmes is taking on Melbourne.
The businessman is set to open his first venue in the Victorian capital after acquiring the iconic Tomasetti House on Flinders Lane.
Hemmes is understood to have paid $40 million to buy the property, which is home to the Mill House Bar and Restaurant, from Sydney’s Millett family.
It marks the first property to be purchased by the Merivale CEO outside of Sydney, where he operates more than 70 venues including the Ivy, Establishment, Totti’s and Mr Wong.
In addition to this addition, Hemmes also acquired one of Narooma’s oldest buildings in the Far South Coast of NSW called Lynch’s Hotel.
ADRIAN ‘LAMBO GUY’ PORTELLI
Bursting onto The Block scene in his yellow Lamborghini last year, Adrian “Lambo Guy” Portelli caused a stir when he went head-to-head with serial The Block purchaser, Danny Wallis.
After purchasing one of the homes for $4,250,000, he promptly “gave it away” in a competition.
This year, Portelli was the star of The Block once again after purchasing not one, not two, but three homes for a combined $12.4 million.
The self-made millionaire - who once craned a sports car to the 57th floor of his multimillion-dollar penthouse - made his money by running his own promotions and giveaway business.
However, the business is currently under investigation by authorities in two states in relation to gambling laws. No action has been taken.
GREG NORMAN
Golfing great Greg Norman has made his real estate stamp in Australia with the launch of a $300m luxury residential community in South West Sydney.
This is the 68-year-old’s first foray into residential development in the country.
“I have done that successfully in other parts of the world; America, Asia and the Middle East. I wanted to do it here in Australia,” Norman said. “You want to be different, you identify the growth corridor. The Sydney growth corridor was going southwest, we saw that back in 2018/2019 so why not try and get ahead of it.”
Developer Sekisui House announced Norman Estates has sold $144m in sales already - around half of the 190 homes, with prices starting from $1.268m.
NICKY AND SIMONE ZIMMERMANN
Zimmermann co-founders, sisters Nicky and Simone, have spent the past 32 years excelling at fashion and design - and now the label is worth a stunning $600m.
The brand made its debut on prestigious The List – Australia’s Richest 250 this year.
In 2020, Milan-based company Style Capital bought a 70 per cent stake in the brand for around $446m but at its core, Zimmermann is still a family business.
Nicky, the creative director, runs the design side while Simone, chief operating officer, runs the logistics. Nicky’s husband Chris is chief executive officer.
Recently, Zimmermann posted a consolidated revenue of $400m.
The fashion brand has 21 stores in Australia, 19 in the US, 12 in Europe (London, France and Italy) and one in China.
KAYLA ITSINES
After selling their fitness empire Sweat to US firm iFIT in 2021 for a reported $AU230m, entrepreneurs Kayla Itsines and her ex-husband Tobi Pearce have sensationally bought back the business this year.
Founded in 2015, Sweat went on to become a formidable fitness brand in Australia and globally.
Itsines and Pearce co-founded the company - originally called Bikini Body Guide or BBG - with Itsines serving as head trainer and the face of the brand and Pearce as CEO. Pearce is no longer the CEO and is returning in an advisory capacity only.
After the sale to iFit, there was an $AU80m writedown last year and a number of staff redundancies.
The price of the buyback has not yet been revealed.
MARGOT ROBBIE
If there is one movie that defined 2023, it was the pink-hued Barbie. Australian actor Margot Robbie bought the rights to the film and was instrumental in getting Greta Gerwig to direct and co-write alongside Noah Baumbach.
In just three weeks, the movie that brought “Barbiecore” to the mainstream raked in a staggering $AU1.5 billion at the box office.
Since its release at the end of July, it has brought in over $AU2.1 billion, making it the highest-grossing film for the year.
Robbie received a salary of $AU19.2 million for playing Barbie, her largest payment for a role to date. Her salary is equal to co-star Ryan Gosling’s pay packet to play Ken.
Her production company, Luckychap Entertainment, also produced the movie, which means the actor received a substantial amount of money overall for her involvement in the film.
COLLETTE DINNIGAN
Famed Australian designer Collette Dinnigan partnered with Cotton On Kids to create a summer collection for children.
The collaboration produced 35 resort looks for kids and two limited-edition looks for adults, with the design team working from Dinnigan’s private studio and travelling to India to see the manufacturing process.
The prices of the kids’ clothing ranged from $19.99 to $79.99, and the two matching adults’ pieces were $79.99 and $59.99.
“I’ve been involved in the design process from beginning to end and it has been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated and hardworking team of creatives,” the designer said.
“I think we have created a collection that’s nicely youthful in spirit and sparks a real sense of joy and playfulness.”
ALICE MCCALL
After one of Australia’s biggest fashion designers, Alice McCall, closed her eponymous label in February this year, fans were eagerly awaiting a comeback.
But when it was announced McCall would be teaming up with global ultra-fast fashion retailer, Shein, to create a capsule collection, there was an immediate outcry.
Fans denounced the move, citing Shein’s contribution to environmental decay and their controversial labour practices in China, where most of their production occurs.
“Everyone has a right to express their views,” McCall responded. “This collab will allow a whole new audience, who may not have been able to afford an Alice McCall piece in the past, the opportunity to purchase a piece that is every bit as good as anything I have previously created. One of my principles as a designer is to make garments that last and are keepsakes and I’ve taken this philosophy through to the pieces in this collection.”
The collection launched in November with prices ranging from $15 to $120.
DARRYN LYONS
Former paparazzo Darryn Lyons has put one of his companies, Big Australia, into liquidation.
The Geelong-born businessman, who made a name for himself in London in the 90s chasing stars and on Celebrity Big Brother UK, runs a number of companies from his hometown.
Big Australia reportedly owes almost $2m to creditors including employees, ATO, Westpac, Kia Finance and Moet Hennessy.
Lyons also claims he is owed over $100K and that another company owned by him and business partner Mario Gregorio is owed $200K.
One of his most well-known companies, Big Pictures, collapsed in 2012.
In 2013, Lyons ran for Geelong mayor and won. But in 2016, the whole council was stood down by the Victorian state government after a report found the council was deeply dysfunctional.
NEW SHARK TANK JUDGES
After a four-year hiatus, Shark Tank returned to Australian screens with five new judges in tow.
The series, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the judging panel in the hopes of investment, has also switched from Channel 7 to 10.
The five judges consist of Jane Lu, flounder of popular online fashion store Showpo which turns over $100 million a year and Sabri Suby, founder of King Kong Digital, worth about $40 million.
There is also Dave Fogarty, founder of multimillion-dollar brand Oodie and Dr Catriona Wallace, founder of Flamingo AI and now head of Responsible Metaverse Alliance.
Robert Herjavec rounds up the five - he made his fortune in the 90s dot-com boom and is now the founder of information technology company, the Herjavec Group.
PROVIDOOR
Food delivery service Providoor was thrown a lifeline by a number of celebrities after the business collapsed earlier this year.
Founded by celebrity chef Shane Delia, the delivery service launched during lockdown, when no-one could leave their homes. It proved very popular, providing people with culinary delights from their favourite restaurants.
The business went into liquidation in April with a debt of more than $6.3 million, including $4.4 million in gift vouchers that ultimately could not be honoured.
Yet in October, Providoor announced a relaunch with a celebrity team including former MasterChef judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, as well as Silvia Colloca, Manu Feildel and Luke Nguyen among others.
The business was bought by Rolling Stone Australia and Brag Media owner Sam Benjamin, a loyal customer.
TEDDY BRIGGS
Reality TV star Teddy Briggs’ company EcomConnect folded in November.
The company, which built e-commerce platforms for its clients, had received a raft of complaints before its collapse.
After being confronted on news program A Current Affair over the customer complaints, he told the reporter to “f**k off, man”.
Liquidators estimated EcomConnect owed customers, suppliers, ATO and other creditors hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Briggs found fame after appearing on the first season of Love Island Australia in 2018 and then on The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition with fellow Aussie and reality TV star Harry Jowsey this year.
CRAIG ‘HUTCHY’ HUTCHISON
The Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) lost $9.2m and also has to pay back a $28m loan from Commonwealth Bank.
Owner and former sports reporter Craig Hutchison laughed off suggestions he was overpaying presenters and “going on a wild spending spree”, leading to the company’s financial woes.
Hutchison also acquired other assets under SEN, including radio stations Sydney 2CH which he paid $11.2m for in 2020 and Brisbane 4QK which he paid $12m for last year.
In 2021, Hutchison paid $8.5m for basketball team, Perth Wildcats.
Despite reports, the business owner said SEN has never been better.
“Our finance position is no different than what it was 3-4 years ago. Health of the business has never been stronger. In fact we turned over a tick under $128m,” he said.
“We are in an incredibly strong spot and have never had more momentum than we do now. It’s my job to do a better job so I will.”
Originally published as The Aussie celebs who won — and lost — in 2023
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