Matt Shirvington’s lavish life with wife Jessica as he’s set to replace David Koch on Sunrise
Matt Shirvington has represented Australia at the Olympics, has a portfolio of beautiful homes near Sydney, a woman who has sold books all over the world, and is now poised to become Sunrise’s newest host.
Shirvington, or ‘Shirvo’ as he is affectionately known, is about to take the biggest step of his TV career and fill David Koch’s shoes after the veteran breakfast presenter announced his resignation after 21 years before dawn last week.
The 44-year-old has been Seven’s weekend sports reporter for the past three years, presenting Fox Sports NRL coverage, appearing on Dancing with the Stars and hosting competition series Holey Moley and Ultimate Tag.
His wife, Jessica Shirvington, is also very successful and best known as the author of the Embrace series of supernatural romance novels.
She is the general manager of the chic waterfront restaurant Bathers Pavilion in Mosman on Sydney’s lower north coast.
Matt Shirvington is seen with his wife Jessica. Shirvington becomes the new host of Sunrise after an illustrious career in athletics and sports journalism
The Shirvingtons turned a heritage Tudor-style home in Killara, on Sydney’s north coast, in less than three weeks after buying it for $11.2 million last year.
Shirvo and his wife are seen at the opening of Rebel’s flagship store in Bondi Junction’s Westfield shopping center in 2015
The Shirvingtons’ seven-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion overlooks Sirius Cove in Mosman
Ms. Shirvington joined the team in 2019 when the iconic venue was renovated and renamed by her father Ian Pagent, who co-owns the business with Serge Dansereau.
Mr. Pagent retired as executive director of the prestigious auto giant Autosports Group in February this year, but remains on its board of directors.
Mrs. Shirvington ran a coffee distribution business, Stella Imports, in London, and was involved in the management of restaurants in Sydney, Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage, which were also operated by Mr. Pagent.
She is also director of finance company MPS Investments.
She met Matt Shirvington when she was just 17 and the couple now have two daughters and a son; Sienna, Winter and Lincoln.
The Shirvingtons are active in the Sydney property market and have re-listed their home in Mosman in 2022.
But the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion overlooking Sirius Cove in Mosman failed to find a buyer.
They asked for $12.5 million after paying $7 million for the property in May 2017.
Built in 1896, the sprawling Federation-style home is 5 miles from the CBD. It features a swimming pool and a tennis court.
Shirvington was seen driving a white XC90 B6 Volvo station wagon on Balmoral Beach on Wednesday morning
Jessica Shirvington is the general manager of the chic waterfront restaurant Bathers Pavilion in Mosman on Sydney’s lower north coast
Shirvo is one of Australia’s fastest sprinters and is pictured at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
The Shirvingtons purchased the 1,334-square-foot home in 2017 after selling another Mosman Federation mansion in 2016 for $4.15 million.
More recently the couple in just 17 days last year, it flipped a Grade II listed Tudor-style house – also with a tennis court and swimming pool – in Killara, on Sydney’s north coast.
They paid $11.2 million in May, settled in November and promptly sold it again for $11.6 million less than three weeks later, the Sydney Morning Herald reported..
The profit from the sale would not have covered the $720,000 stamp duty on the property.
Shirvington first became a household name through his career in track and field.
He is Australia’s third-fastest sprinter of all time and represented the country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics when he was 22.
That year, Shirvington earned $500,000, and had he managed to run less than 10 seconds in the 100-meter dash, his earnings would have risen to $1 million through his sponsorship with Nike, the Australian Financial Review reported at the time.
Shirvington also competed in the 1998 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and seven World Championships.
After his athletics career ended, Shirvington joined the Seven Network in 2005 and became its weekend sports anchor in July 2020.
He was also part of Seven’s commentary team for the Tokyo Olympics.
His new role on Sunrise is expected to be made official on Monday, June 5, four days before Koch films his final show as host.
It is unknown how much Shirvington will be paid, but Koch was reportedly on a $1 million salary.
The new appointment follows a carefully curated training process for ‘Shirvo’, widely loved by Seven’s top executives and popular with viewers.
It is clear that Koch himself gave Shirvington his ‘blessing’.
On Wednesday morning, Shirvington showed off his expensive taste in a black Maison Margiela designer hoodie worth about $1,150 and a pair of $700 Golden Goose sneakers as he headed to Balmoral Beach.
He drove a white XC90 B6 Volvo station wagon.