The shockingly low salaries of My Kitchen Rules contestants revealed… as claims emerge the reality stars have to work unpaid overtime

Although many people think that starring in a reality series is a passport to fame and fortune, the opposite is often true.

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

An anonymous contestant on the 2024 season told Daily Mail Australia the going rate for entry-level TV chefs is $1,100 a week – barely more than minimum wage.

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

The candidate said that for many, taking part in the reality show meant getting paid less, with one actor even ending up in the red after the shoot, he said.

“It was certainly not enough to pay our usual salaries,” they claimed.

“I think one of our fellow actors had debts after the recording.”

According to a Seven casting director, the show continues to attract large audiences each season, but the show’s popularity is often not reflected in the way candidates are paid.

“A lot of people still think that if you appear on television you will become rich and famous,” they said.

“That’s not true.”

They added that the excitement of being selected for the show often outweighs the meager compensation.

“By the time you see your contract, most candidates are so excited about being chosen that they don’t care about the money. That’s what producers expect,” the source said.

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

An anonymous contestant from the 2024 season revealed to Daily Mail Australia that the going rate for up-and-coming TV chefs was $1,100 a week

A former MKR participant told Daily Mail Australia that while on the program they were forced to work well beyond the hours expected of someone earning just above the average minimum wage.

“The shoot took longer than we were told and there was no overtime,” the participant said.

“We didn’t expect how long we would be there. Some nights we were filming until late at night.”

“It certainly wasn’t enough to cover our usual salaries,” they claimed. “I think one of our cast members got into debt after filming.”

The anonymous casting director also pointed out the disparity between what reality show hosts earn and the salaries of the candidates who capture the interest of the Australian public in the shows.

“Television is wild,” they said.

“If you’re the host of the show, you can make millions. But if you’re the main character and usually the reason people talk about your show, you can make as little as $70 a day.”

A source also revealed to Now to love This month, participants were paid $1,000, but they also had to use that amount to pay for groceries for the training.

“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.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

While the MKR stars reportedly get paid for their time, the situation on Seven’s reality series Made in Bondi is even worse.

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

A source exclusively told Daily Mail Australia that the actors were paid just $70 a day, meaning they could have earned more with a minimum wage job.

“The Made In Bondi cast’s salaries are more embarrassing than the show’s storylines,” the source confirmed.

“The core cast makes minimum wage, and I was told some actors made $70 a day.”

It was said that the parents of one of the actors were very concerned that the series would ruin their reputation as socialites. The low salary did not allay their fears.

“He would make more money as a busboy,” the source continued. “It’s not worth the risk of ruining the family’s reputation.”