Richard Wilkins has reportedly been forced to take a massive pay cut that could threaten his ‘rock star lifestyle’.
The entertainment editor, 70, is said to have taken a huge salary cut which has brought his earnings down to around $200,000, according to news.com.au.
Though Richard’s exact salary is not currently known, he was last reported to be raking in $400,000 from his Nine job back in 2019.
Richard’s representatives are said to have denied the reports of a salary decrease amid a cost-cutting drive at the national network.
Richard has no plans of retirement any time soon, but some insiders have claimed Nine have been trying to ‘nudge’ him towards the exit door.
Richard Wilkins (pictured in October) has reportedly been forced to take a massive pay cut that could threaten his ‘rock star lifestyle’
The Today star is said to also bolster his already lucrative salary by engaging in public speaking opportunities and other gigs which support his ‘rock star lifestyle’.
Richard has been a regular face on Nine for almost four decades, having first joined the network in 1987 as the original host of the Australian version of MTV.
He currently serves as the channel’s entertainment editor and occasionally makes appearances co-hosting Weekend Today.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Elsewhere, Richard recently went public with his new girlfriend Mia Hawkswell and the couple have been seen making some very-loved up outings together.
Daily Mail Australia broke the news of their romance after the Channel Nine star was seen with Mia, 47, at his friend Annika Martyn’s birthday party.
Appearing at Channel Nine’s Upfronts event in October, Richard then gave a rare insight into his budding romance with Mia.
‘Mia is gorgeous, she’s very well, she’s very busy, she’s got lots on,’ Richard told Daily Mail Australia.
The entertainment editor, 70, is said to have taken a huge salary cut which has brought his earnings down to around $200,000, according to reports
Elsewhere, Richard recently went public with his new girlfriend Mia Hawkswell and the couple have been seen making some very-loved up outings together
Mia is the go-to make-up artist for some of Sydney’s best-known stars, including Sonia Kruger – who reportedly introduced her to Richard.
Mia also works closely with the likes of fitness influencer Rachael Finch, Jessica Rowe and Kate Waterhouse.
Richard has five children to four different mothers.
He was 18 years old and working at an abattoir in New Zealand and studying to be a teacher when his then-16-year-old girlfriend gave birth to his eldest child Adam, 51, who has Down syndrome.
He went on to have his daughter Rebecca, 41, and a son Nick, 39, from other previous relationships.
Richard shares another son, Christian, 29, with his ex-wife Michelle Burke while he also welcomed Estella, 20, with fashion designer Collette Dinnigan, who reportedly lives in Rome.
After his split from Michelle, Richard went on to date Nicola Dale but news of their split emerged in January and he has since gone public with Mia.