George Calombaris: Life After the MasterChef Scandal

Fans of MasterChef Australia were stunned when news broke in 2019 that judge George Calombaris had underpaid his staff by $7.8 million. The scandal upended his career: his restaurants closed, his TV contract wasn’t renewed, and he stepped away from public life. Years later, he’s slowly reemerging as a brand ambassador and consultant, but the road back hasn’t been easy.

Underpayment Amount: $7.8 million (ABC News) ·
MasterChef Tenure: 11 years (BBC News) ·
Current Restaurant Ownership: None (Yahoo Finance Australia)

Six key facts capture the man behind the story.

What Has Happened to George Calombaris?

The story of George Calombaris since the scandal is one of public retreat and quiet reinvention. In 2019, after the underpayment became public, he apologized and stepped back from television. By February 2020, his company MADE Establishment had entered voluntary administration, closing 12 Melbourne restaurants and affecting 400 employees (Yahoo Finance Australia). Today he works as a brand ambassador and chef consultant, slowly rebuilding his reputation.

What is George Calombaris doing now?

• He is a brand ambassador for Moffat and Blucookware, promoting commercial kitchen equipment (Facebook).
• He makes occasional cooking appearances on social media and at events.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2022, Calombaris said he was focused on his family and new business ventures, though he did not detail any specific television projects. His Instagram feed shows a mix of food posts, family moments, and brand partnerships.

Where does George Calombaris live now?

Based on his social media and public records, Calombaris still resides in the Melbourne area. He has not publicly sold his family home or moved interstate. Reports from SBS News in 2019 listed his address as suburban Melbourne, and recent photos on Instagram confirm he remains in Victoria.

Does George Calombaris Still Own a Restaurant?

No. By the end of 2020, Calombaris had closed every restaurant under his umbrella, including Hellenic Republic, Press Club, and his flagship Gazi. The rapid collapse followed the underpayment scandal and the financial strain of the pandemic (Yahoo Finance Australia). He does not currently operate any food businesses.

How much did George Calombaris underpay his staff?

• Investigations revealed that Calombaris and his company underpaid employees by $7.8 million over several years (ABC News).
• The Fair Work Ombudsman imposed a $200,000 contrition payment (ABC News).
• More than 500 current and former employees were affected (The Indian Express).

The implication: the scale of the underpayment was substantial—equivalent to roughly $15,000 per affected employee—and the FWO’s penalty was seen by many as too light for a high‑profile repeat offender.

Why Did George Get Sacked from MasterChef?

Network Ten did not explicitly fire Calombaris. Instead, after the scandal broke, the network announced in July 2019 that Calombaris, along with fellow judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan, would not return for the next season. The network said the parties could not reach a deal after months of negotiation (ABC News). While the network initially expressed support for Calombaris (SBS News), the underpayment scandal made his continued presence untenable.

What role did the underpayment scandal play?

It was the decisive factor. Public outrage over the wage theft, combined with calls for his removal on social media, left Network Ten with little choice. Calombaris was also dropped from a Western Australian government tourism campaign (The Indian Express). The affair effectively ended his television career.

The implication: the scandal left Network Ten with no viable path to retain a judge whose public standing had collapsed over wage theft.

Is George Calombaris Still Married?

Yes. George Calombaris is married to Natalie Calombaris, and the couple have two children. There have been no public reports of separation or divorce. Natalie is often featured in his social media posts, and she stood by him through the scandal (SBS News).

Who is George Calombaris’s wife?

Natalie Calombaris (née Van Vuuren) is a former hospitality professional. She and George married in 2008 and have a son and a daughter. She largely stays out of the media, but during the scandal she was described as a supportive partner.

What this means: while his professional life collapsed, his personal foundation held. The couple appears to have weathered the storm privately.

What Is George Calombaris’ Net Worth?

Estimates vary widely. SBS News and other outlets place his net worth around $10 million as of 2025, though the scandal and restaurant closures likely reduced his wealth. He still earns from brand endorsements and occasional appearances, but his TV salary—previously estimated at $500,000 per season—is gone.

How tall is George Calombaris?

Calombaris stands approximately 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in). This is based on visual comparisons with other MasterChef judges; no official source confirms his height. Given the lack of authoritative measurement, this detail remains uncertain.

The trade-off: Calombaris may still be a millionaire, but he is no longer the household name he once was. His income now depends on merchandise partnerships rather than television contracts.

Timeline

• 2009: Became judge on MasterChef Australia (BBC News)
• May 2017: Charged with assault after shoving a fan at the A-League grand final (BBC News)
• October 2017: Fined $1,000 for the assault (The Guardian)
• July 2019: Underpayment scandal becomes public; Calombaris apologizes (SBS News)
• July 2019: Network Ten announces he will not return to MasterChef (ABC News)
• February 2020: MADE Establishment enters voluntary administration; all restaurants closed (Yahoo Finance Australia)
• 2021–2025: Works as brand ambassador and consultant (Facebook)

The pattern: a decade of public acclaim undone by a single scandal, followed by a slow, quiet rebuild.

Key Quotes

“I am deeply sorry for the underpayment of my staff. It was my responsibility.”George Calombaris, public apology, July 2019 (SBS News)

“George Calombaris will not return as a judge for the next season of MasterChef.”Network Ten statement, July 2019 (ABC News)

The chef’s fall from grace began with the underpayment scandal that ended his MasterChef tenure, which revealed he had underpaid over 500 employees by $7.8 million.

Frequently asked questions

For related reading, see Shannon Bennett Now: Family, Restaurants and Net Worth and Antony Catalano: Net Worth, Wife, Assault Charge, and Biography.