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Benji Marshall was crowned the winner of Celebrity Apprentice Australia during Tuesday’s finale episode.
The rugby league footballer beat out television presenter Darren McMullen for the prize, $100,000 for his chosen charity.
Benji raised an additional $387,105 through his final event, making it a total $487,105, for his charity, Souths Cares, a not-for-profit institution, closely affiliated with the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club.
Benji Marshall (pictured) was crowned the winner of Celebrity Apprentice Australia during Tuesday’s finale episode
‘Who would’ve thought, just a washed-up footy player… winning Celebrity Apprentice. We raised almost half a million dollars,’ Benji said after his win.
During the episode, the two finalists had been tasked with creating an event, and whoever raised the most money, would take the crown.
‘You have been a bit of a character on the show. What was your event?’ Lord Sugar asked Darren.
The rugby league footballer beat out television presenter Darren McMullen (pictured) for the prize, $100,000 for his chosen charity
‘So just in line with the charity, I felt that it would be good to lean into the whole magical element of it and put on a magic extravaganza on an island, have acrobats, magicians, a band playing ethereal and magical music, celebrity chefs, and, uh, people with lots of money. That was the plan,’ Darren replied.
‘I hope your magicians were much better than me, because I’ve been trying to make you disappear for ages. Now what happened to your black book?’ Lord Sugar asked.
‘When you’re putting on an event at this scale, you spend so much of your time bogged down in the logistics that I couldn’t do what I was great at, which is getting black book contacts and raising money,’ Darren answered.
‘What you did do was inspired, this website that you did online, right? This was a fantastic idea. And you was auctioning things like trips to Japan, is that right? And Nick here said that you had no shame,’ Lord Sugar said of Darren’s event
‘Yeah. So ultimately I certainly tried my best, but, um, there was a lot of phone calls not answered.’
‘What you did do was inspired, this website that you did online, right? This was a fantastic idea. And you was auctioning things like trips to Japan, is that right? And Nick here said that you had no shame,’ Lord Sugar continued.
‘You went around the room, harassing every single person there. Trying to get something out is that right?’
‘You went around the room, harassing every single person there. Trying to get something out is that right?’ Lord Sugar asked
‘No shame is probably a blessing and a curse, I guess. And, uh, it’s a blessing in a situation like this because we were able to raise some really serious,’ Darren said
‘No shame is probably a blessing and a curse, I guess. And, uh, it’s a blessing in a situation like this because we were able to raise some really serious,’ Darren said.
He then discussed why he picked his chosen charity, Feel the Magic, that provides early intervention grief education programs for kids aged 7 to 17.
‘Mental health has been a big part of my life. I’ve had friends who have died early, leaving young children. I’ve had my family who have lost parents early and I’ve seen the repercussions that’s had on them. Finding their dad’s dead and having to try and resuscitate them.’
‘That was my, my cousin, you know, my uncle. And he went down the route that a lot of people go down and that is substance abuse and mental health issues. And it’s just it’s really important to me. I think that we can nip that in the bud early. And they are the only charity in Australia that looks after grieving children.’
Lord Sugar then turned his attentions to Benji. ‘Listen, Benji, you came in here as an ex football player one year on and you’re already back in a final. So the theme of your event was dream big,’ he said
‘The reason why I love being involved with this charity is the kids remind me of me when I was a kid. I feel very connected to them,’ Benji replied
Lord Sugar then turned his attentions to Benji.
‘Listen, Benji, you came in here as an ex football player one year on and you’re already back in a final. So the theme of your event was dream big,’ he said.
‘The reason why I love being involved with this charity is the kids remind me of me when I was a kid. I feel very connected to them,’ Benji replied.
In the end, the results spoke for themselves as Darren raised $172,617 while Benji raised a whopping $387,105 and won the competition
Lord Sugar declared: ‘Benji, I’m delighted to say that you are the winner of celebrity apprentice with the additional $100,000, you have raised $487,105. That’s a lot, a lot of money. Fantastic. Well done’
‘The biggest thing I wanted to get out of this event was to an inspire kids to dream as big as you want. Believe in yourself, work hard and you’ll be surprised at what can happen.’
Judge Janine Allis chimed in: ‘You could see it in the eyes of the children that you achieved your goal, which was amazing.
‘But you had three opportunities to raise money. And the first one was obviously the sponsorship. The second one was merchandise. The last one was ticket sales, and I was so impressed that you had thousands of dollars worth of merchandise sitting there. And then you just gave it away.’
The two finalists embraced once the winner was announced
‘To be fair. I probably took a lot of bad business decisions in terms of I could have raised more money, but I just could have missed this opportunity to give her kids stuff for free,’ Benji said.
In the end, the results spoke for themselves as Darren raised $172,617 while Benji raised a whopping $387,105 and won the competition.
Lord Sugar declared: ‘Benji, I’m delighted to say that you are the winner of celebrity apprentice with the additional $100,000, you have raised $487,105. That’s a lot, a lot of money. Fantastic. Well done.’
Pictured: Judges Nick Bell, Lord Sugar and Janine Allis
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