Following his wildly successful stint as co-host on this year’s season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – and his TV Week Gold Logie nomination – Robert Irwin has quickly become top-tier on-air talent.
But the 20-year-old star has also fast become the go-to name for many Australian advertising agencies whose execs are clamouring to sign him up for their latest marketing campaigns.
“Robert can basically name his price for work right now,” a TV insider tells New Idea.
“His brand, both as a TV talent and as an advertising influencer, is in white-hot demand.”
Savvy Robert – no doubt being closely advised by his mother, Terri – is making the most of the many opportunities that are coming his way.
He’s rumoured to have banked $400,000 for his hosting stint on I’m A Celeb – a figure that our TV insider notes “could feasibly double” when he returns to the jungle in 2025.
He commanded at least $200,000 for his 48-second appearance in a Twisties chip commercial.
A huge international profile, reflected in his 5.9 million Instagram followers, means Robert is able to generate so much money.
As one online fan recently commented: “As far as I’m concerned, the Irwins are Australia’s royal family.”
“If Robert endorses something, people will inevitably believe that it’s trustworthy and legitimate,” our insider says.
“Robert’s already well on the way to making a fortune as a TV star – but he can supplement that income by commanding huge fees from advertisers as well.”
The young star is sensible to feather his nest via commercial opportunities now, too.
“The Australian TV landscape is volatile at the moment, with mass culling of shows from the on-air schedule and on- and off-air redundancies,” our source notes.
In fact, Network Ten, who Robert is currently contracted to, could be facing an uncertain future after it was reported last week that its US-based parent company, Paramount Global, has been sold. The sale has prompted widespread speculation among financial circles that Ten’s new owners could look to offload the struggling network.
“TV is a tough landscape at the best of times,” our source says.
“It would be wise for Robert not to put all his work-related eggs in one basket.”
Despite this, Rob himself revealed that he was in the midst of filming a new ‘reality series’ as recently as June.
In a video posted to Instagram, the 20-year-old shared a video of himself lying in bed wearing his Australia Zoo khakis.
“Do you ever get that strange feeling when you wake up that you’re being watched?” he said before flipping the camera to show a camera crew filling his room.
“Tell me you do reality TV without telling me. And yes… I sleep in my khakis. 😂😂,” he captioned the post.
Fans immediately took to the comments section speculating what the television personality could be filming.
“Praying we’re getting another season of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, I’ve been waiting years,” one wrote.
“A new season of Crikey! It’s the Irwins???? Finally!!!” another said.
Channel 10 has previously confirmed there is a new project in the works…
“We have a show with Robert Irwin, but we haven’t announced a title,” Channel 10 programming boss Dan Monaghan recently told TV Tonight.
“It’s heading into his wheelhouse… it’s reflected back on what Steve had done, and then handing over the baton to Robert, Bindi, and the kids.”
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