‘I certainly didn’t control what she got paid’: Karl Stefanovic denies a gender pay gap dispute with former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson – and says their 10-year relationship simply ‘ran its course’
Lisa Wilkinson sat alongside Karl Stefanovic on the Today show for 10 years, before leaving Nine in October 2017 over a reported gender pay gap dispute.
And for The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine cover story, Karl denied he had any part in determining his former co-host’s salary.
The 45-year-old also revealed how just like his marriage to first wife Cassandra Thorburn, their relationship had simply ‘run its course’.
‘I certainly didn’t control what she got paid’: Karl Stefanovic, 45, denied a gender pay gap dispute with former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson, 60, in The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine. Both pictured on Today
‘I became part of the dialogue, but I had nothing to do with the capacity of Lisa to earn, and I certainly didn’t control what she was getting paid,’ Karl told Stellar.
The father-of-three added that while he ‘loved’ working with Lisa, she was ‘probably getting tired’ of working alongside him.
‘We had 10 years together and we could’ve kept it together for a few more years, but I think we were done. It was the same with my marriage. We just ran our course.’
No hard feelings: Karl added that Lisa, she was ‘probably getting tired’ of working alongside him: ‘We had 10 years together and we could’ve kept it together for a few more years, but I think we were done. It was the same with my marriage. We just ran our course’
Lisa, 60, was believed to have quit Today because Karl, as her male co-host, was reportedly earning $2million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3million if ratings were a hit, The Australian wrote in 2017.
The former magazine editor was said to be on a $1.1million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8million, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The amount was not enough for her to stay with the network, prompting her departure.
Reports: Lisa was believed to have quit Today because Karl, as her male co-host, was reportedly earning $2million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3million if ratings were a hit, The Australian wrote in 2017. Pictured on Ten’s The Project
Figures: The former magazine editor was said to be on a $1.1million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8million, according to The Daily Telegraph
Since joining The Sunday Project in 2018, Lisa has landed sit-down interviews with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue and Bradley Cooper.
In an interview with The Herald Sun in December 2018, Lisa applauded the ‘integrity’ and high ‘calibre’ of her colleagues at Ten, referencing Carrie Bickmore, Fifi Box, Amanda Keller, Julia Morris and Gorgi Coghlan.
‘One of the absolute bonuses that I really hadn’t anticipated in moving to Ten, is the calibre of my colleagues,’ she said.
Rival network: Since joining The Sunday Project in 2018, Lisa has landed sit-down interviews with A-list stars. Pictured with co-hosts Tommy Little (left) and Waleed Aly (right)
Read more: Karl’s interview with Stellar is featured in this week’s The Sunday Telegraph