Karl Stefanovic and his Today co-host Sarah Abo's HUGE pay gap exposed in TV Rich List - as Nine's male stars earn over a million dollars more than their female colleagues
Disputes over pay parity in TV Land could be set to erupt again following a bombshell report revealing the salaries of Australian television's brightest stars.
The Australian's inaugural TV Rich List report claimed that Nine star Karl Stefanovic is currently being paid an eye-watering $2million more than his Today show co-host Sarah Abo.
The report has collated the 35 highest salaries among TV stars on Australia's three commercial networks - Channel Seven, Nine and Network 10.
It revealed that Stefanovic, 50, is the highest paid small screen star, bringing home a formidable $2.8million annually, making almost three times as much as Abo, 39.
This is in stark contrast to his Today counterpart who comes in at tenth place with a salary of $800,000.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
It was also reported that Stefanovic's salary is almost as much as sitting chief executive Matt Stanton ($1.6 million) and his predecessor Mike Sneesby ($1.5 million) combined.
It appears that Nine has the deepest pockets out of the three commercial networks, with six of its stars making the top ten.
The Block host Scott Cam trailed close behind Stefanovic on $2.4million, while Lego Masters star Hamish Blake sits third on $2million.
The top ten Nine contingent is rounded out by newsreaders Alison Langdon ($1.2million), Peter Overton ($1 million) and Abo.
Meanwhile Seven's highest paid star, Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur sits in fourth place at $1.6million, while Sunrise host Natalie Barr came in fifth on $1.3million.
Meanwhile, Network Ten did not feature in the top ten at all, with their highest paid star Waleed Aly coming in at number 12 on $700,000.
Stefanovic wears a few different caps at Nine, having worked as a reporter on 60 Minutes. He has also filled in for presenters on Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media) stations 2GB and 4BC
This is also in stark contrast to Aly's Project co-star Sarah Harris, who clocked in at number 24 on $500,000 - $200,000 less than her co-host.
While there is quite a considerable gulf in salary between Stefanovic and Abo, the former has been in the Today chair for almost two decades while his co-host joined in 2023.
Stefanovic wears a few different caps at Nine, having worked as a reporter on 60 Minutes as well as helming the short-lived series, This Time Next Year.
He has also filled in for presenters on Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media) stations 2GB and 4BC.
Former Network Ten producer Rob McKnight told the publication these eye-watering salaries could soon be a thing of the past with the exception of the breakfast stars.
'The days of big network contracts are long gone,' he told the publication.
'With smaller revenues, TV networks can't afford to have big stars sitting on contracts doing nothing.'
'While there are still some exceptions due to historical deals, performers are more likely to be paid on a per show basis,' he added.
'The exception to this rule is news and breakfast shows. As these shows go all year round, hosts are signed up to multi-year contracts.'
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nine for comment.
It's not the first time discussions about pay parity have popped up around Stefanovic, with his former co-host Lisa Wilkinson leaving the network in 2017 over a reported salary dispute.
The Australian had previously reported that Karl was earning at least $2 million a year in a three-year contract, with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3 million if ratings were hit.
Lisa was also was said by the Daily Telegraph to have been on a $1.1 million-a-year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8million.
The amount was claimed to have not been enough for her to stay with the network and she defected to Ten where she co-hosted The Project.
Nine CEO Hugh Marks spoke out on the claims, saying he offered Lisa $1.8million, but that she asked for $2.3 million.
'I went to an incredible amount of trouble to build that [$1.8million] package for her. She wanted $2.3million,' he told the publication.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Home and Away star Tammin Sursok shares horrific health scare photos after stepping in ant nest
Tammin Sursok revealed the horrific allergic reaction she had to ant bites this week, sharing a shocking video of her swollen ankle to Instagram. The Australian actress, 41, told her followers on Saturday she accidentally stepped on a fire ant nest and gotten bitten seven times. Suffering a severe reaction, the Home and Away star broke out in painful looking blisters as her ankle swelled up to almost three times its size. 'In another episode of Tammin is allergic to bugs and insects, the ant bite situation has been gnarly... I stepped on an ant nest. Got bitten by seven,' she said. 'Ran into my house and yelled at everyone, "Don't be worried. I'm taking off all my clothes."' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Tammin then went on to post a poll to her Stories, asking her followers if they wanted to see a photo of the allergic reaction she had to the ant bites. It would appear the majority of her fans said yes, as she posted the shocking image just moments later. 'Fire ants are no joke! Swelling has gone down thank goodness! They are all the way around [her ankle],' Tammin captioned the image. The photo saw her ankle looking very red and swollen with several large blisters marring the skin. It comes just a few months after Tammin revealed a shock health update after she visited her doctor for a routine check-up following a spider bite. The Australian actress was bitten in March and visited her GP the following day to undergo a standard examination. But the former Home and Away star's routine trip to the local medical centre soon turned harrowing when her doctor found something 'unexpected'. The saga began when Tammin, who is based in Nashville, Tennessee, told her Instagram followers she had been bitten. Sharing an image of a tiny raised bump on her arm, she said: 'You'd think because I'm from Australia I'd know about spiders. 'One just bit me. It's so painful. Do I just do the ring around the spot and watch it?' Tammin appeared unconcerned by the bite as she already had a routine check-up scheduled with her doctor for the following day. She shared an update as she sat in the waiting room at her GP, showing the bite had become very red. 'Spider bite update. Went to bed thinking it's gone away. Pain slightly better. This morning...' she wrote alongside a shocked emoji. But the news soon got worse for Tammin just a few hours later when she spoke with her doctor and learned they found something 'unexpected' during her check-up. Assuring followers the health concern was unrelated to the spider bite, Tammin said she underwent an ultrasound to investigate it further but is yet to receive the results. 'Found out some news at the Dr that was unexpected. Thinking positively but please keep me in your good thoughts,' she said alongside a selfie. 'Always advocate for your health. Ask for second opinions. Trust your gut.' Tammin later uploaded a video to her Stories as she sat in her car after the doctor's visit. 'So, I just got back from the doctor's. I was having my routine yearly exam. Very important,' she said. 'While that was happening, nothing to do with the spider, they found something a little unexpected. I ended up getting an ultrasound. 'Don't really know much more than that. Just being super positive. Thank you for asking. I'm just not going to share anything until I have anything to share.' The Pretty Little Liars star finished her video with: 'I'm just hoping everything is all good. Lots of positive thoughts.' Tammin currently lives in Nashville with her husband Sean McEwen who she married in an Italian ceremony in 2011. The couple share two daughters—Phoenix, 11, and Lennon, five.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Disturbing new sex trend 'JOI' surges 186% in popularity on porn sites - 'it fulfills the need to be praised'
Porn sites have reported a surge in searches for clips featuring a new sex fetish in which the viewer is given 'instructions' for pleasuring themselves. Dubbed 'JOI', the craze is more than 200 per cent more popular than it was in 2022, according to the latest data released by Clips4Sale. Short for 'jerk off instructions', the videos see an adult star tell the person watching how to engage in self-pleasure— in spine-curdling detail. Commenting on the trend, sex experts have said the popularity of the trend is indicative of a growing need for adult content that feels as if it's 'created specifically for the viewer'. 'It creates a fantasy where someone is not just another viewer or random fan,' MelRose Michaels, the founder of Sex Work CEO, a company that offers guidance to adult entrepreneurs, told Vice. 'Instead, they're the viewer, the one this content was created for. JOI taps into more than just arousal. 'It fulfils the need to feel wanted, controlled, denied. It's a direct connection or between the fan and the creators.' Clips4Sale, which allows visitors to purchase adult content, has seen 186 per cent rise in sales of JOI-related clips in the US over the last two years. Meanwhile, the German contingent of the site has seen a 208 per cent spike. Australians are also indulging, bumping up sales by 48 per cent. 'JOI as a concept has existed for a long time, but it's only more recently that it got a name and became its own recognised fetish,' Avery Martin of Clips4Sale explained. 'It's a direct connection between the fan and the creators, and since the pandemic, interest has really surged.' Since the pandemic, growing numbers of people—including NHS and social care workers—have revealed they have abandoned their jobs in favour of selling home-made porn. Subscribers to sites like OnlyFans pay a monthly subscription fee, in the region of £10-a-month, for personalised pictures and videos. MissWaltrude, a digital creator and hyponkinkster described the new trend as a 'fully immersive trance'. She said: 'JOI, to me, is a masturbatory trance experience with multiple layers. 'It's about taking control of another person's erotic energy, layer by layer. I'm a story teller above all, and my goal is to guide the viewer through a deeply embodied journey.' The emergence of the trend comes as new data suggests that technology is creating new obstacles for intimacy, with almost 10 per cent of men admitting that they have asked AI models, such as ChatGPT, for advice in the bedroom rather than talking to their partners. The study, conducted by Asda online doctor, revealed that people still find it incredibly difficult to have open conversations about sex, with 48 per cent of women and 31 per cent of men admitting they pretend to be sexually satisfied. Over half of women surveyed said they have faked or lied about climaxing, compared to just 21 per cent of men. Dr Crystal Wyllie, a GP at Asda online doctor specialising in reproductive and sexual health, said: 'Sometimes we feel the need to lie about our pleasure or sexual experience so that we don't feel judged. 'But while it's a normal response, getting into the habit of being dishonest about our sexual habits can create emotional distance with a partner and make insecurities even worse. 'Open communication is key for a happy, healthy sexual relationship, so being honest about how we're feeling is a great first step.' Studies have also linked regular ejaculation, through sex or masturbation, with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Experts found men who orgasmed at least 21 times a month were a third less likely to develop the disease than men who did so four to seven times. Scientists theorise frequent ejaculation may allow the prostate to clear out cancer-causing substances or it may prevent the development of calcium deposits, which are associated with prostate cancer.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
As Crocodile Dundee star Linda Kozlowski makes a rare public appearance in Los Angeles - why did the actress who claimed Paul Hogan's heart turn her back on fame?
Almost 40-years have passed since Crocodile Dundee turned Paul Hogan into a global star and his roguish titular character into one of Hollywood's most enduring money-spinners. Made on a relative micro-budget of just $10million and crafted predominantly for mainstream American cinema, the film grossed an astonishing $328million following its 1986 release and introduced Hogan - already a household name in his native Australia - to a wider audience. But as it changed Hogan's fortunes, so too did it impact those of his glamorous and hitherto unknown co-star, Linda Kozlowski. Born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Kozlowski was 27-years old when she won her first film role as Sue Charlton - the tenacious reporter hired to interview Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee before ultimately falling in love with him. It would be a career defining role for the actress, who would play Charlton across three films as Crocodile Dundee's initial success spawned a lucrative franchise. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. But it would also be the catalyst for a notable change in her personal life, with Kozlowski and Hogan developing an off-screen relationship that would lead to marriage in 1990 and, eight years later, the birth of their son, Chance. The couple would divorce in 2014 and Kozlowski has since found love with Moulay Hafid Baba, the Moroccan tour guide and location scout she met through friends and subsequently married in 2017. A low-key affair, the ceremony was reflective of Kozlowski's decision to turn her back on the film industry after years spent living beneath the tall shadow cast by Hogan and his hugely successful franchise. She told the Los Angeles Times in 1988 that she ended up being typecast by Hollywood casting directors after Crocodile Dundee - a film she described as a blessing and a curse. 'After Crocodile Dundee, I turned down lots of stuff, most of it where I'd play the girlfriend of some funny man,' she said. In an interview with Scripps Howard News Service in 2001, she discussed her choice to leave Hollywood behind and quit acting after starring a series of low-budget films with little or no commerical appeal. 'These straight-to-video schlocky films I was getting were giving me an ulcer, basically because I was the only one on the set that cared about anything,' she said at the time. 'I'd say, "Well, this scene doesn't make sense." [They would say,] "Aw, so what, just say the lines." [And] I thought, "This isn't fun anymore. This is not why I studied, it's not what I love." Between that and my biological clock, I decided to give it all away.' On Wednesday, the former actress made a rare public appearance with her ex-husband, their son Chance and Baba in Los Angeles. Kozlowski, who sported blonde hair while starring in three Crocodile Dundee films alongside Hogan, now has a shoulder length brunette locks. Opening up about their divorce in 2014, she told New Idea: 'Honestly, we just naturally grew apart. 'One of our problems was we really had nothing in common and, over time, that happens to a lot of people.' She insisted, however, that she and Paul were amicable. 'We've been separated to a certain degree for a long time,' she explained. 'The divorce is not sudden. It is very friendly. We talk all the time. We co-parent our son.' Between motherhood and 'living in Paul's shadow,' Linda was forced to retire from acting after being typecast in Hollywood, a source says. 'Linda loves acting, loves theater, loves the arts,' a source exclusively told the Daily Mail. But she felt like she was being offered 'pretty crappy roles' and 'started not liking' the industry as much as a result. 'She thought the roles and the rocket to superstardom were going to take her places she never even imagined. But the roles weren't there, she wasn't offered anything of substance,' the insider said. Since leaving Hollywood, Kozlowski divides her time between Los Angeles and Morocco, Baba's country of birth. Friends and business partners before embarking on a relationship, the couple launched Marrakech based company Dream My Destiny, which provides tours for tourists and location scouting for films, more than a decade ago. Speaking in 2014, Kozlowski said the experience and business venture had breathed new life into her ambitions following her divorce. 'Paul is very famous and I lived for a long time in his shadow,' she admitted. 'I feel good now to be out on my own and be doing my own things. 'My partner Baba really knows Morocco like the back of his hand,' she gushed. 'And combine that with my sense of what's happening now. What's hip, what's trendy, what do people want... What do the ladies want! I have a sense for that being an actress and traveler. 'So when you put us together we are really on top of the pulse of Morocco.' Two years ago the couple purchased a newly remodelled single story, four-bedroom, two-bath home in Ojai for nearly $2million. Ojai is a haven for artists and people who love the outdoors with its numerous biking, hiking, and horse trails. But their home in the village-like city isn't the only residence of Linda's, since the retired actress appears to have spent her one-off payment of $6.25 million in her divorce settlement on becoming a property tycoon. The brunette has bought three Venice Beachfront properties, which is dubbed Silicon Beach for the tech-CEOs it attracts. She's even earned the title of the Queen of Silicon Beach after having sold one home for $1.9 million in order to buy a $2 million home that she's now renting out. A neighbour told Daily Mail Australia in 2017: 'She has been really smart and made millions. She got a settlement from Paul of course and she's used it well. 'She's definitely her own woman now. Property prices have rocketed in Venice and she's rode the crest of a wave, no doubt about it.'
