Big Brother star reveals the surprising amount he was paid to go on the reality show

He is best known as one third of Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie show.

But Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald became a household name by appearing on Channel 10’s Big Brother back in 2004.

Speaking on his Nova breakfast show on Tuesday, Fitzy, 42, revealed the surprising amount he was paid to appear on the then controversial reality show.

The radio host debunked rumours the cast were raking in the big bucks during his time on the ratings juggernaut.

‘A lot of people thought that we got paid a motza when we were on Big Brother,’ Ryan revealed.

‘It was $100 a day.’

While this may seem a pittance, even by 2004 standards, Ryan added that he wasn’t perturbed by his paycheck given his lack of expenditures during his reality show stint. 

‘This is the thing,’ Ryan added. 

‘I was in there for three months and you’re not spending that money on anything so it’s a long time. 

‘It’s a good little whack when you get out.’

Ryan, who finished fourth on the show’s fourth season behind winner Trevor Butler and runners-up Bree Amer and Paul Dyer, said there were some fringe benefits thrown in to soften the blow of his meagre money.

‘Back in 2004 when I was on Big Brother, I mean I finished fourth, but I left the show with a Mitsubishi Lancer, a trip to New Caledonia, I think I got a TAG Heuer watch, which I’ve got somewhere around here.’ 

Ryan’s co-host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli added he though the reality pay well would have dried considerably over the years.

‘A lot of people thought that we got paid a motza when we were on Big Brother,’ Ryan revealed. ‘It was $100 a day.’

‘I would have thought you used to get paid more,’ he said.

‘I would have thought, as the years have gone on and budgets tightened up, people see the opportunity too, and social media probably drives a lot of it as well, where people think, well, you can build a huge following. 

‘So this payoff, you’re not getting a lot of money for the show, but this payoff afterwards.’

Ryan added that despite his bank balance, he did not regret his time on the reality show as it wasn’t as labour intensive as other series.

 ‘Big Brother was the best because It was a show that you didn’t really have to do much,’ he said.

‘Back in 2004 when I was on Big Brother, I mean I finished fourth, but I left the show with a Mitsubishi Lancer, a trip to New Caledonia, I think I got a TAG Heuer watch, which I’ve got somewhere around here,’ he added

 ‘I’m talking about the realty shows like MasterChef now and Survivor. The hard yards you’ve got to go through.’

Ryan’s admission comes after a source exclusively told Daily Mail Australia that the cast of Channel Seven reality series Made In Bondi as little as $70 per day.

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

‘The core cast are on minimum wage, and I was told that some of the cast were on $70 a day.’

One of the castmates’ parents were said to be seriously concerned about the show ruining their socialite reputation, with the low salary doing little to allay their fears.

‘He would be making more money as a busboy,’ the source went on. ‘Hardly worth the risk of ruining the family’s reputation.’

Ryan added that despite his bank balance, he did not regret his time on the reality show as it wasn’t as labour intensive as other series. Ryan is pictured with wife Belinda Irons and co-host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli