Karl Stefanovic experienced an awkward moment during a segment on Thursday’s Today show about Australia’s richest people.

The veteran presenter, 50, was discussing The Financial Review Rich List when reporter Jayne Azzopardi said Gina Rinehart topped the list with a staggering total worth of $38.1billion.

‘New South Wales has been named as the wealthiest state. It is home to 81 Rich Listers,’ Jayne told co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.

‘However, Gina Rinehart’s wealth dropped by $2billion.’

Karl then revealed his theory as to why her fortune slightly dipped.

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Karl Stefanovic experienced an awkward moment during a segment on Thursday’s Today show about Australia’s richest people

‘You see, she gives so much away to charity,’ Karl said.

In a bizarre moment, Karl then trailed off about his own friendship with Rinehart and her love of good quality meat.

He said he had personally dined with the Aussie billionaire and revealed she served only the finest cuts.

‘Her steak – have you eaten her meat? She’s got delicious meat, some of the best steak I have ever had. That will surprise no one, that I have eaten really expensive steak,’ Karl boasted.

Sarah then asked Karl what one of Gina’s prize steaks was worth, but he remained tight-lipped.

The segment follows reports that disputes over pay parity could be set to erupt again  in Australia’s television industry following a bombshell report revealing the salaries of the nation’s biggest stars.

The Australian’s inaugural TV Rich List claimed that Nine star Karl is being paid an eye-watering $2million more than his co-host Sarah.

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 he was the highest paid small screen star, bringing home $2.8million annually, making more than three times as much as Sarah, 39.

The veteran presenter, 50, was discussing The Financial Review Rich List when reporter Jayne Azzopardi said Gina Rinehart topped the list with a staggering total worth of $38.1 billion

Karl boasted to co-host Sarah Abo that he had personally dined with Rinehart, and ate one of her expensive steaks

Karl’s Today counterpart came in at tenth place with a salary of $800,000.

It was also reported that his salary is almost as much as sitting chief executive Matt Stanton ($1.6million) and his predecessor Mike Sneesby ($1.5million) combined.

It appears that Nine has the deepest pockets out of the three commercial networks, with six of its stars making the top 10.

The Block host Scott Cam trailed close behind Stefanovic on $2.4million, while Lego Masters star Hamish Blake sits third on $2million.

The Nine contingent in the top 10 is rounded out by newsreaders Alison Langdon ($1.2million), Peter Overton ($1 million) and Sarah.

Meanwhile Seven’s highest paid star, Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur, sits in fourth place on $1.6million, while Sunrise host Natalie Barr came in fifth on $1.3million.

While there is a quite considerable gulf in salary between Karl and Sarah, Stefanovic has been in the Today chair for almost two decades while his co-host joined in 2023.

Karl wears a few different caps at Nine, having worked as a reporter on 60 Minutes as well as fronting the short-lived series, This Time Next Year.