He’s one of the most well-know celebrity chefs on Australian television.

But My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge was paid a shockingly low salary when he joined the show.

The Irish-born chef, 51, has revealed he was paid just $40,000 for his time on My Kitchen Rules in 2013, when he joined the show’s fourth season.

‘My first MKR, I got paid $40,000 for the year. That’s below minimum wage,’ Colin told the Confessions of a Reality Star podcast.

‘I was still learning. And then after, when I saw what everyone else was getting paid, I was like, we need to have a chat.’

Colin Fassnidge is one of the best-known faces on Australian TV, but the My Kitchen Rules star was paid a shockingly low salary when he joined the show

In 2013, the minimum wage salary for full-time workers based on 38 hours was $622.20 a week, which works out to $32,354 a year, slightly less than what Colin earned.

While many believe a stint on a reality TV series is a passport to fame and riches, often the opposite is true.

Sadly, the latter seems to be the case for the current crop of contestants on the long-running series My Kitchen Rules.

In September, an unnamed contestant from the 2024 season revealed to Daily Mail Australia that the going rate for burgeoning TV chefs was $1100 per week – barely above minimum wage.

The Australian minimum wage is currently $24.10 per hour, or $915.90 per week based on 38 hours.

The contestant said appearing on the reality show meant taking a pay cut for many, claiming that one castmate ended up in the red after filming.

‘It certainly didn’t cover our usual salaries,’ they claimed.

‘I think one of our castmates was in debt after filming.’

The Irish-born chef has revealed he was paid just $40,000 for his time on My Kitchen Rules in 2013, when he joined the show’s fourth season

Despite the series drawing a huge audience each season, the show’s popularity is often not reflected in how the contestants are compensated, according to a Seven casting executive.

‘A lot of people still think getting on TV will make you rich and famous. It doesn’t,’ they said.

They added the excitement of being selected for the show often outweighs the meagre remuneration.

‘By the time you have seen your contract most applicants are so excited to be picked, they don’t care about money. That’s what producers expect,’ the source revealed.

A former MKR participant also revealed to Daily Mail Australia that, during their time on the show, they were forced to work well outside hours expected of someone earning just above average minimum wage.

‘The shoots were longer than we were told. There was no overtime,’ the contestant revealed.

‘We were not expecting how long we were required to be there. Some days we would be filming well into the night.’

The unnamed casting executive also pointed out the disparity between what the hosts of reality shows can earn versus the pay packets of the contestants who drive interest in the shows for Australian audiences.

‘My first MKR, I got paid $40,000 for the year. That’s below minimum wage,’ Colin said. Pictured with fellow MKR judge Manu Feildel

‘TV is wild. If you are the host of the show you could be making millions. However, if you are the main character and usually the reason why people are talking about your series – you are on as low as $70 a day,’ they said.

A source also revealed to Now To Love that contestants were paid $1000 but had to pay for groceries out of that amount to practice.

‘It’s hard. We were spending up to $600 a week on food because you’re encouraged to cook as much as possible,’ the insider said.