Radio rich list: Inside the mega homes of Australia’s biggest stars

Aussie media personalities who originally found fame on TV screens are increasingly transitioning to gigs on radio and podcasts – and are making extravagant property purchases.

The exodus in the industry mirrors a slide in free-to-air audiences, with radio and podcasting seemingly weathering the downturn.

Radio has also remained lucrative for established stars who didn’t come from the world of TV, with names long associated with radio also making big property moves.

Here’s what some of the new and established radio stars have bought and sold:

Jackie O

“Jackie O” Henderson is currently building a new home atop a Clovelly property she purchased for $13.25m in 2023. The rebuild cost is allegedly $5m.

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Radio star Jackie O. Picture: Getty Images

Henderson made headlines in March 2023 when she bought the Clovelly home after it was revealed she paid $1.25m above the reserve at auction.

She made the purchase shortly after selling her previous home, a property in Woollahra, for $13m. The price was about $2m more than what she paid for it.

Henderson has been back in the spotlight this month as she temporarily “steps away” from KIIS FM Breakfast for several days. The move followed an on-air clash with co-host Kyle Sandilands that played out live on Friday last week.

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Construction at Jackie’s new mansion overlooking Gordon’s Bay in Clovelly. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Henderson’s former Woollahra home sold for $11m in 2020

Karl Stefanovic

The Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic has recently stepped into the world of podcasting with ‘The Karl Stefanovic Show’.

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Karl Stefanovic recently launched The Karl Stefanovic Show. Picture: Toby Zerna/The Photo Pitch for news.com.au

Stefanovic and wife Jasmine are in the process of a multi-million dollar redevelopment of a property on Sydney’s north shore, which they bought for $3.2m in 2021.

They were initially given approval for a $4.5m rebuild of the property in 2024, but later amended their plans by reducing the number of proposed floors.

The Castlecrag property is just 1km away from their previous address. The new house is set to include a lift, wine cellar, television equipment room as well as a surf, bike and tool storage room.

Kyle Sandilands

The pairing of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O has shown there is a staggering amount to be earned in radio, with the pair signing a KIIS FM 10-year contract that is reportedly worth more than $200m.

Kyle Sandilands has invested well when it comes to property.

Sandilands last week listed a weekender home on the outskirts of Sydney’s Hills District. It is up for sale with a price guide of nearly $6m.

The weekender had complemented a Vaucluse residence Sandilands purchased with wife Tegan for $14m in 2023.

The Vaucluse purchase was made about a year after his Hills District purchase, which he was reported to have originally made with the intention of building a Hampton-style family home.

The property had cost over $3m.

Sandilands’ $6m Hills District home is for sale.

It is now being been brought to market by Carolyn Wheatley Principal at Belle Property Dural, who are guiding $5.7m to $5.9m.

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Kyle Sandilands’ Vaucluse house.

Sarah Harris

Ex-host of The Project Sarah Harris has joined the growing number of media personalities migrating to radio.

Harris’s latest role is as a newsreader on Nova Sydney’s revamped breakfast show hosted by Rikki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell. Coulter herself has come from the world of TV after rising to fame on screen via Australian Idol.

Ms Harris’ Cremorne home

Harris joins Nova’s Ricki Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell

Harris has made some significant property moves in Sydney.

She purchased a four-bedroom Cremorne property via auction a decade ago, alongside her husband Tom Ward.

It was reported the former Studio 10 presenter spent $2.175m for the home in 2015.

Carrie Bickmore was recently named 2026 Victorian Australian of the Year. Picture: Josie Hayden

Carrie Bickmore

Carrie Bickmore started her career in radio as a newsreader on 92.9FM in Perth.

She later became a star on TV screens after landing a hosting job on The Project in 2009.

She now co-hosts the national drive radio show Carrie and Tommy, alongside Tommy Little, and was recently named the 2026 Victorian Australian of the Year.

The Hit Network’s star has made numerous forays into the property market.

She sold a five-bedroom, three-bathroom property in Byron Bay back in 2023 for about $4.3m – over $1m more than she paid for it.

The home had been offered as an Airbnb rental.

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Bickmore’s former Byron Bay holiday home

The property sold for $2.3m in December 2023

According to property records, Bickmore bought the home for $3m in January 2018 and added a pool deck and spa at a cost of around $100,000.

In 2022, it was reported she had quietly sold a family home in Melbourne’s Ivanhoe, with the five-bedroom dwelling selling for $3.71m.

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Kate Ritchie. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Kate Ritchie

Katie Ritchie is another TV star who migrated from the screen to radio.

After starring in beloved programs such as Home and Away, she is now a co-host of the Nova breakfast show with Fitzy and Wippa.

Ms Ritchie has made a number of moves in the property market, most recently selling a weekender in the NSW Southern Highlands for $3.2m in 2021.

One of her first property moves was purchasing a two-bedroom unit for $355,000 in June 2000 while she was acting as Sally Fletcher on Home and Away.

MORE: Sandilands quits Sydney in $6m deal

Ritchie sold her Bellevue Hill apartment for $885,000 in December 2020

In December 2020, she sold a Bellevue Hill apartment for $885,000.

She also owns a home in Randwick, purchased in 2003 for $990,000 with her ex-husband, former rugby league player Stuart Webb. The pair later renovated the house.

Her Southern Highlands property was in Burradoo. The four-bedroom abode ‘Fallow Field’ was purchased by the pair for $1.75m in 2016, featuring an 1800s carriage house with a hayloft.

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Ben Fordham. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ben Fordham

Former TV reporter Ben Fordham is now one of talk radio’s highest paid breakfast hosts at 2GB.

The host of 2GB’s morning program has owned an investment property in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay since 1997.

He purchased the studio apartment for $139,000.

Ben Fordham longtime Elizabeth Bay investment property

He also sold his family’s Redfern home for $3.2m in 2017 with the four-bedroom house originally purchased by Fordham for $1.7m in June 2010.

Dave Hughes

Aussie comedian, television and radio presenter Dave Hughes purchased a house on the finale of the 2017 season of The Block.

Winners of the season Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker thanked Hughes when he purchased the five-bedroom Elsternwick house in Melbourne for $3.067m, $447,000 above the reserve price.

Hughes later listed the renovated Elsternwick pad for rent in April 2021 for $2000 a week.

It is also reported that he owns a three-bedroom Victorian terrace in St Kilda, bought for $2.112m in November 2014.

Chrissie Swan

Chrissie Swan rose to fame as runner-up on the 2003 TV series Big Brother.

Since then, she has featured across a myriad of television shows including The Circle, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and The Project.

Swan now hosts the Chrissie Swan Show on Nova FM every weekday afternoon.

Swan has made significant moves in real estate, purchasing a couple of Victorian properties over the years.

She bought a home in Hawthorn East back in 2017, paying $3.2m. She made the purchase after selling her previous home.

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Chrissie Swan’s former South Yarra home

Chrissie Swam South Yarra home. nsw re

Her former transformed Victorian South Yarra home was reported to secure almost $5.5mat the end of 2017, with the property changing hands in a private auction.

Records revealed the property had last sold for $2.8m in July 2012.

Fitzy & Wippa

Nova FM host Michael Wippa co-hosts the national drive timeslot for the Fitzy and Wippa show with Kate Richie.

His property moves include purchasing a home in Sydney’s Rose Bay for $6.5m in 2019 with wife Lisa.

Sitting on a large 700sqm block, the six-bedroom mansion was purchased after Wippa sold his former Queens Park family abode for $2.4m.

The former Queens Park residence was purchased in July 2014 for $1.87m, property records show.

Wippa’s former Queens Park home sold for $2.4m.

It has been reported Wippa also sold a Brisbane investment property in 2021 for $775,000. He had bought that property, an apartment on the 15th floor of Casino Towers, in 2008 and paid $620,000.

Former footy star Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald became a household name when he appeared on Big Brother in 2004.

Living in Adelaide with his wife Belinda and their two sons, his property empire includes a beachfront mansion at Port Noarlunga, SA, reportedly purchased for $780,000 in 2008.

It was leased out as a holiday rental for years before being renovated in 2021. It is now estimated to be and worth around $5m.

Jacqui Felgate

Former Channel 7 presenter Jacqui Felgate is now a star on the airways.

In 2022, she transitioned to radio becoming the senior host of 3AW’s football coverage and regularly appeared as a fill-in host on 3AW Breakfast, Afternoons and Drive.

The 3AW presenter has a strong prescence on social media, where she recently shared her relocation last year with sport journalist husband Michael Felgate and their two children.

Their new property is a $4m-plus eco-luxe estate on the Mornington Peninsula.

Records show the property was listed with $5.3m-$5.6m price hopes, before selling for $4.35m.

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Jacqui’s Mornington Peninsula home

Jacqui inside the home. Picture: Instagram/ @jacquifelgate

The pair snapped up an over-7ha property last year, finalising the sale in February, according to property documents.

The pair previously lived in Bayside in Melbourne and listed the home with a guide of $2.25m to $2.35m.

Hamish and Andy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Hamish Blake and Andy Lee

The comedy duo, who formed in 2003 after becoming friends at the University of Melbourne, broadcast nationally for over a decade. They had the highest rated drivetime show in Australian history.

Rising to fame on the airways, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee have since held a combination of radio and TV roles including Gap Year, Caravan of Courage and True Story. Both now feature on the Hamish and Andy podcast.

Blake and his wife author and skincare entrepreneur Zoë Foster Blake spent $8.925m in Vaucluse for a 885sqm estate.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom home was bought off-market and is now known for it’s colour and personality-filled interior and design.

Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster Blake. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Hamish and Zoe’s backyard. Picture: Instagram/ @zotheysay

In Melbourne, they previously lived in a Richmond home that cost $4.25m in 2015

In Melbourne, they had previously lived in a Richmond home that cost $4.25m in 2015.

In 2021, Andy Lee purchased a $8m derelict mansion with his fiance Rebecca Harding, the co-founder of the razor body brand LuiBody. The mansion at the time had reportedly sat idle for more than a decade with no running water or electricity.

The $8m mansion. Photo: Instagram/ @thebuild_ravenswood

Andy Lee and fiance Rebecca Harding at the manor. Photo: Instagram/ @thebuild_ravenswood

Since then, Lee and Harding have commenced a $5m Ravenswood renovation, updating public on their Instagram account The Build Ravenswood.

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