Former Carlton boss Luke Sayers splits from wife after ‘dick pic’ scandal

Luke Sayers has been left by his wife after his lewd photo scandal, with the former Carlton boss spotted dining with a mystery blonde.

Former Carlton boss Luke Sayers has been left by his wife two months after a “dick pic” scandal forced him out of the club.

Work colleagues of the Sayers have confirmed that Cate split from Mr Sayers in recent weeks.

Top-end-of-town sources have also revealed that Mr Sayers has put a deposit down on a luxury inner city bachelor pad in a building where apartments regularly sell for more than $10m.

A friend of the Sayers’ confirmed the break-up on Thursday.

“The media coverage earlier this year was very challenging,” the friend said.

“Cate is a strong person, but also a realist.

“She has understandably prioritised protecting the family. Now she knows it is the right time for a fresh start.”

Luke Sayers is spotted with a companion. Picture: Herald Sun

The pair outside Geppetto Trattoria in East Melbourne. Picture: Herald Sun

News of the split comes as the Herald Sun has captured video and photographs of Mr Sayers enjoying a cosy dinner with a mystery blonde woman at Geppetto Trattoria in East Melbourne on Tuesday night.

The acclaimed Wellington Parade restaurant is just a few hundred metres from the MCG.

A video shows Mr Sayers clinking glasses with the woman at a discreet table near the staircase at the rear of the restaurant.

The woman, who was wearing a long brown trench coat, was seen walking out with Mr Sayers about 8.30pm after more than two hours inside.

Mr Sayers, casually dressed in faded stonewash jeans and a navy blue polo shirt, was snapped as he walked past the restaurant’s sidewalk specials board.

Business sources have confirmed that Mr Sayers had purchased a luxury apartment on Clarendon St, East Melbourne, however, title deeds have not yet changed hands.

Luke Sayers and his wife Cate Sayers in Lucca, Italy shortly after the scandal made headlines. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

Cate Sayers in Italy. Picture: Instagram

The building is one of Melbourne’s most exclusive addresses and includes a 24-hour concierge service, a 25m swimming pool, gym, sauna boardroom and cinema.

The estranged couple, who share four daughters, had already sold their 1880s-built mansion in Hawthorn East before Christmas.

The home, known as Strathnaver, had an asking price of $16.5m.

The sale was finalised before Mr Sayers hit the headlines in January after a photograph of a man’s penis was posted from his X (Twitter) account.

A senior female staff member at one of Carlton’s major sponsors Bupa was tagged in the post.

The AFL integrity unit investigated who posted the photograph after Mr Sayers said he would “leave no stone unturned” to discover how it was uploaded to his account while he was at his holiday home in Lucca, Italy.

In synchronised statements, the AFL and Carlton later said his account was compromised and no further investigation would take place.

Mr Sayers also released a statement, resigning from his role as Blues president.

Sayers (right), at the Melbourne GP. Picture: Angelica Snowden

Sayers with Blues coach Michael Voss in his time as Carlton president. Picture: Getty

Mr Sayers said in the January 22 statement that his decision to walk away from Carlton “draws a line in the sand” regarding the dick pic.

He has been under siege in recent years after a scandal at PwC where the company was accused of selling secret government tax advice for profit.

Mr Sayers told parliament he had no knowledge of the alleged offending while he was chief executive of the company.

However, some of his answers in parliament were compared to disgraced businessman Alan Bond by Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck.

PwC lost $820m in fees in the year after the tax scandal broke, which happened while Mr Sayers’ was the company’s Australian chief executive.

The Blues’ pre-season was significantly interrupted by Mr Sayers’ dick pic scandal and the side is now under significant pressure following four straight losses to start the 2025 season.

He has also been urged to change the name of his consulting company following the lewd photo saga.

Sayers Group investors have been pushing for the rebrand, but Mr Sayers, who reportedly owns a 25 per cent stake in the company, has been resisting the move, sources claim.

Mr Sayers has been a powerful figure in Melbourne’s business community for decades and counts former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and former Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg among his friends.

Business sources are now questioning his worth to the Sayers Group consultancy.

“He was always known as the rainmaker but now it feels like they’re in a drought,” a source said.

Cate Sayers could not be contacted for comment.

Mr Sayers did not respond to the Herald Sun’s inquiries.

Originally published as Former Carlton boss Luke Sayers splits from wife after ‘dick pic’ scandal