"Worth every cent": Robert Irwin's I'm A Celeb salary revealed
Crikey! It seems like Robert Irwin is about to make a serious splash in the entertainment industry. The 19-year-old wildlife warrior has just landed a deal to co-host the upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here alongside the ever-entertaining Julia Morris, and the paycheck he's bagged is leaving jaws dropped - even those of the crocodiles he's used to wrestling.
Daily Mail Australia, always on the prowl for celebrity news, has uncovered that Irwin is set to pocket nearly half a million dollars for his month-and-a-half-long adventure in the wilds of South Africa. Yep, you read that right; $430,000 for six weeks of living in the jungle and mingling with celebrities who are just a tad less famous than his family's favourite marsupials.
Now, you might be wondering, "Why on Earth is a teenager getting paid more than some seasoned celebs?" Well, according to a well-placed source at Channel 10, Irwin's star power is the real deal. They believe he'll be "worth every cent" - a sentiment shared by everyone except maybe the critters he'll be sharing the jungle with.
But why Robert? Turns out it's not just his rugged good looks and charming Aussie accent. It's his magnetic appeal and the adoration he commands from fans around the globe.
The source at Channel 10 spilled the beans on the reason behind this financial safari expedition: "His pairing with the witty and ever-entertaining Julia [Morris] has all the makings of a dynamic duo, promising viewers an unforgettable experience."
So, not only will we get to see Irwin in action, but we'll also witness Julia trying to teach him how to make a proper cup of tea while being chased by hungry lions.
In April, we learned that other celebrities on the show are getting paid anywhere from $35,000 to $180,000. The top earner before Robert's arrival was TV legend Kerri-Anne Kennerley, with a generous salary of $300,000. That's a lot of khaki shirts right there!
The show must've really wanted Irwin because they pulled out all the stops to outbid big names like Sam Pang, Jimmy Rees, Curtis Stone, Beau Ryan, and Tristan MacManus for the role. It wasn't an easy task to replace Dr Chris Brown, who is loved by many, but casting agents were impressed with Robert's natural charm during the audition.
"He had charisma and spontaneity. He was funny and had amazing instincts," said an insider. "It was actually part of the original brief back when Dr Chris got the job that animal experience was required - which Robert has in spades." So, it's safe to say that Robert's ability to charm a crocodile probably came in handy during the audition.
And as for the age difference between Robert, 19, and veteran host Julia Morris, 55, casting agents weren't worried at all. They believe that Robert's maturity and the fact that he can wrangle a croc as well as he can tell a dad joke made him the perfect match for the job. (And, bless her, Morris herself has promised to be very mature also... for once!)
Images: Instagram / Network 10