The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition Cast Earns $1.5M Total Salaries

The salaries for reality TV stars on Australian shows vary significantly, with hosts and judges earning substantially more than contestants. On The Block, host Scott Cam earns $2.4 million annually, while contestants receive only $100 a day, which industry experts say is below minimum wage given the demanding workload. In contrast, The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition features a collective celebrity cast salary of $1.5 million, with top stars like Melissa Leong and Gretel Killeen earning around $150,000 each, while less prominent contestants receive smaller paychecks. Some celebrities, such as Ed Kavalee, reportedly earned six-figure sums despite early elimination, indicating that Channel 10 pays fixed fees regardless of competition longevity. The increased budgets and high-profile casting reflect networks’ efforts to attract viewers amid declining reality TV formats. While contestants on The Block endure low pay for exposure, The Amazing Race celebrities receive significant salaries, underscoring contrasting compensation models in Australian reality television.