It was one of the biggest reality TV shows during the early 2000s.
But the stars of Big Brother didn’t just achieve overnight notoriety, with many of the series’ most memorable contestants channeling their 15 minutes of fame into millions.
Woman’s Day revealed this week how stars such as Sara-Marie Fedele, Chrissie Swan and Trevor Butler have become big earners more than a decade after appearing on Big Brother.
Split the cheque: Winning $836,000 when he came equal first place with twin brother David, Greg Mathew, 36, is now a multi-millionaire.
Greg Mathew: Season five 2004
Winning $836,000 when he came equal first place with twin brother David, Greg Mathew, 36, is now a multi-millionaire.
The former reality TV star is now worth a staggering $10 million, after investing in a series of hotels, nightclubs and properties in Newcastle, located north of Sydney.
‘We were quite smart with what we did,’ Greg, who is now a father of three, told the magazine.
Cheers! The former reality TV star is now worth a staggering $10 million, after investing in a series of hotels, nightclubs and properties in Newcastle. Pictured centre
Instant millionaire: Trevor Butler pocketed a hefty $1 million when he won the series
Trevor Butler: Season four 2004
Trevor Butler pocketed a hefty $1 million when he won the series, also proposing to his then girlfriend Breea during the live finale.
Woman’s Day reports that Trevor and Breea lived off the interest from the prize money for 12 months, before using it to buy a house on the Gold Coast and multiple cars.
Trevor invested the rest of the money after winning a battle not to pay half the winnings to the Australian Tax Office.
Romantic moment: Trevor also proposed to his then girlfriend Breea during the live finale
Now a father of two, the 44-year-old works in promos for 102.9 Hot Tomato radio station on the Gold Coast.
Last year, Trevor revealed to News.com.au that his savings had been hit hard by the Global Financial Crisis.
‘We’re living a comfortable life but $1 million doesn’t actually go very far,’ he explained.
Radio career: Now a father of two, the 44-year-old works in promos for 102.9 Hot Tomato radio station on the Gold Coast
2000s heart throb: Coming second, Blair McDonough scored a lucrative acting gig on Neighbours hot the heels of his reality TV fame
Blair McDonough: Season one 2001
Coming second, Blair McDonough scored a lucrative acting gig on Neighbours hot the heels of his reality TV fame.
The 36-year-old is now said to be worth $4 million, appearing on Sea Patrol, Home and Away, and Winners & Losers.
A ‘mate’ of Blair’s told Woman’s Day the onetime reality TV lived in luxury with his wife Kristi Townley and their two children in Melbourne after investing his money in property.
‘He is sitting on a couple of million dollars’ worth of property, and lives off his investments in between acting gigs,’ the friend claimed.
Doing well: A ‘mate’ of Blair’s told Woman’s Day the onetime reality TV lived in luxury with his wife Kristi Townley and their two children in Melbourne
Popular Australian actor: The 36-year-old is now said to be worth $4 million, appearing on Sea Patrol, Home and Away, and Winners & Losers
Memorable contestant: Former AFL player Ryan came fourth on season four of Big Brother
Popular: Fitzy found fame soon after his Big Brother appearance with a string of TV gigs
Ryan Fitzgerald: Season four 2004
Now 41, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald hosts a Sydney breakfast radio show on Nova with Michale Wipfli after coming fourth on Big Brother.
He is also a guest host on The Project, with Woman’s Day estimating he is now worth $8 million.
Fitzy lives in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Balmain with his wife BJ and their two sons.
Radio personality: Now 41, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald hosts a Sydney breakfast radio show on Nova with Michale Wipfl
Invested her winnings: Sara-Marie capitalised on her fame after Big Brother, releasing a song, book and sleepwear line which an insider claims made her millions
Sara-Marie Fedele: Season one 2001
The 39-year-old may now looks unrecognisable from her time as the bubbly blonde who liked to ‘bum dance’, with Sara-Marie Fedele now a savvy brunette businesswoman.
Coming third, She capitalised on her fame after Big Brother, releasing a song, book and sleepwear line which an insider claims made her millions.
Today, Woman’s Day claims the mother of one is worth $3 million and now runs an internet business selling name personalised grains of rice.
After disappearing from the spotlight Sara-Marie made a surprise appearance as a guest on Studio 10 earlier this month.
‘Now I’m a mum, I have a daughter…of three years so I’ve just enjoyed being a mother and I’ve created my own online business,’ she said.
‘It’s been 17 years [since Big Brother] so, I’ve done a lot.’
Owns an online business: Sara-Marie made a surprise appearance as a guest on Studio 10 earlier this month
Beloved: Coming second on Big Brother in 2003, Chrissie Swan is now one of Australia’s most popular TV and radio personalities
Chrissie Swan: Season three 2003
Coming second on Big Brother in 2003, Chrissie Swan is now one of Australia’s most popular TV and radio personalities.
The 44-year-old is said to be worth $3 million, and is now a mother of three to Leo, nine, Kit, six, and Peggy, four.
Chrissie hosts Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Brownie, as well as TV shows The Great Australian Spelling Bee and Can Of Worms.
Seasoned host: Chrissie hosts Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Brownie, as well as TV shows The Great Australian Spelling Bee and Can Of Worms
Still doing well: Tim Dormer won $250,000 when he came first on Big Brother in 2013 and appears to be still doing well after his reality TV stint
Tim Dormer: Season 10 2013
Tim Dormer won $250,000 when he came first on Big Brother in 2013 and appears to be still doing well after his reality TV stint.
In 2014, Tim told the Kyle and Jackie O Show he was being ‘stingy’ with his prize money, only spending $50,000 of the quarter of million he had received.
In 2016 Tim revealed he was in a relationship with his best friend Ash Toweel, confirming in September last year the pair were engaged.
A regular on the Sydney social scene and signed to Chic Management, on Sunday Tim made an appearance at Cadbury’s Easter launch.
Popular: Tim is a regular on the Sydney social scene and signed to Chic Management
Popular party goer: On Sunday Tim made an appearance at Cadbury’s Easter launch