Australia’s highest paid radio stars are revealed by industry insider

Australia’s highest-paid radio hosts are revealed – and it’s not just Kyle and Jackie O making the big bucks

An Australian radio industry insider has revealed the highest-paid presenters in the industry – including some surprising big earners.

Jake Challenor, the publisher of industry bible Radio Today, said KIIS 106.5 duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson are paid $5million a year each to host Sydney’s top-rated FM breakfast show.

While they easily have the most generous pay packet, there are plenty of other anchors who command seven-figure salaries.

No. 1: KIIS 106.5 duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson are paid $5million a year each to host Sydney’s top-rated FM breakfast show – making them the industry’s biggest earners

Mr Challenor said the likes of Marty Sheargold, Amanda Keller, Dave Hughes, Ray Hadley, Neil Mitchell, Fifi Box, Sam Pang, Mick Molloy all earn ‘in the millions’.

These hosts’ co-anchors would presumably be commanding similar salaries.

On the ‘lower end’ of the big-earners scale, you have the likes of Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, who host KIIS FM’s syndicated drive show Will and Woody, and Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman, David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral, who front Nova 106.9’s breakfast show Ash, Kip and Luttsy in Brisbane.

These second-tier presenters are ‘averaging three or four hundred [thousand] a year’, said Mr Challenor.

Radio’s biggest earners

According to Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor

$5million a year each

  • Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (KIIS 106.5)

‘In the millions’

  • Marty Sheargold (Triple M Melbourne)
  • Amanda Keller (WSFM)
  • Dave Hughes (2Day FM)
  • Ray Hadley (2GB)
  • Neil Mitchell (3AW)
  • Fifi Box (101.9 The Fox)
  • Sam Pang (Nova 100)
  • Mick Molloy (Triple M)

‘Up to $400,000 a year’

  • Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw (KIIS FM)
  • Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman, David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral (Nova 106.9)
Not bad! Triple M presenter Marty Sheargold also earns 'in the millions', according to Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor

Not bad! Triple M presenter Marty Sheargold also earns ‘in the millions’, according to Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor

Laughing all the way to the bank: Mick Molloy is also said to command a seven-figure salary

Laughing all the way to the bank: Mick Molloy is also said to command a seven-figure salary

Kyle and Jackie O are contracted to the Australian Radio Network (ARN) until 2022.

While rumours have swirled about their salaries, the pair have refused to confirm exactly how much they are paid to host KIIS 106.5’s breakfast flagship.

When they last re-signed with ARN, some reports estimated their five-year contracts were worth $80million in total – a figure Kyle didn’t rush to correct.

Despite being extremely well-paid, Kyle has expressed dissatisfaction with KIIS FM management in recent months.

He has complained on air about censorship and also accused executives of cutting segments from The Kyle and Jackie O Show podcast without consulting him.

Big money: Mr Challenor said WSFM's Amanda Keller (right) was in the millionaire's club - which presumably means her co-host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones (left) is too

Big money: Mr Challenor said WSFM’s Amanda Keller (right) was in the millionaire’s club – which presumably means her co-host Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones (left) is too

Not bad! On the 'lower end' of the big-earners scale, you have the likes of KIIS FM's Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, who are 'averaging three or four hundred [thousand] a year'

Not bad! On the ‘lower end’ of the big-earners scale, you have the likes of KIIS FM’s Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, who are ‘averaging three or four hundred [thousand] a year’