Lisa Wilkinson leaves Channel 10’s The Project and focuses on Sydney real estate

TV host Lisa Wilkinson’s lavish salary from The Project has helped the media star fund an affluent lifestyle with high-end properties, fancy cars, high-end fashion and trips overseas.

Wilkinson, 62, abruptly quit co-hosting 10’s flagship current affairs program last Sunday citing ‘targeted toxicity’ from sections of the media as the reasoning behind her exit.

The veteran media star has reportedly commanded a salary of $1.7million during her tenure on the show. However, she will remain with Ten on other projects, with years remaining on an ongoing multi-year contract that was revealed last year.

Wilkinson signed the ‘lucrative’ deal with the network back in 2020, which reportedly runs for four years.

It means the presenter will be staying with Ten until new projects come up for her in the foreseeable future.

Paramount executive vice president Beverley McGarvey confirmed that she’d be back on our screens soon.

She said: ‘I know she will be sorely missed both by our audience, and the entire Project team, and while we are saddened that Lisa will no longer be on The Project, we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Lisa into 2023 and beyond.’

Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) is still living large after her departure from The Project on Sunday night 

Despite her role on The Project coming to an end, Wilkinson will still be able to live large as she takes in money from the network.

Wilkinson currently resides in a multi-million dollar home in Cremorne that has views over the Sydney Harbour with her husband, journalist and author Peter FitzSimons and their children, and has lived in mansions across the city for the past 29 years.

The couple’s previous property, a mansion in Mosman, had five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The former Project host previously resided at a luxury mansion in Mosman with her family

Wilkinson also owns a 1970s single bedroom apartment in Cremorne that overlooks Sydney Harbour 

The cosy apartment features a contemporary decor, open plan living, modern ensuite bathroom and a balcony with sweeping views

Wilkinson also owns a 1970s single bedroom apartment in Cremorne that overlooks Sydney Harbour with views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

The property currently had an eye-watering weekly rental fee of $770 per week in July.

The home once belonged to her late mother, Beryl who reportedly bought it for $388,000 in 1996.

After her mother’s death in 2018, Wilkinson’s brothers Kyle and Brett sold her their share of the property for $275,000 each.

Along with her luxurious property portfolio, Wilkinson also drives an expensive Audi A7 Sportback, worth more than $124,000, and is an ambassador for the marque.

She has also been pictured driving an Audi A3 convertible, worth around $53,000.

Wilkinson currently drives an expensive Audi A7 Sportback, worth more than $124,000

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Wilkinson has also been pictured driving an Audi A3 convertible, worth around $53,000.

Along with her love for fancy sports cars, Wilkinson is frequently pictured overseas on lavish getaways.

In April this year, the 62-year-old media personality shared a series of snaps from her trip to the five-star Eden Health resort.

The resort offers seven-night packages for up to $11,375 per person in its top-of-the-line Cascade Lodge. On the lower end of the scale, Eden offers seven nights in a deluxe double lodge for just under $8000 for two people.

The TV star has also been pictured holidaying in Sydney’s exclusive Newport beach, Greece, Italy and France.

 The TV star been pictured holidaying in Sydney’s exclusive Newport beach, Greece, Italy and France

Lisa Wilkinson enjoyed a relaxing holiday at a $11,000-a-week health retreat in Queensland earlier this year

Lisa’s love for the good life does not stop there, with the TV star often spotted at the world’s best restaurants.

In May, she wrote about dining at the iconic Ivy restaurant in Los Angeles, where main courses cost up $66 each.

The restaurant is frequented by some of the world’s biggest stars, including Nicole Richie, Tara Reid, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise and Kim Kardashian.  

Back home, she also enjoys fancy meals out, with Wilkinson spotted enjoying a cocktail at the at Spoonbill Restaurant and Bar in Melbourne in March, sitting alone at a table by the window.

She also ordered a meal, dining on what appeared to be mussels and broccoli as she enjoyed her solo outing.  

Lisa Wilkinson is pictured drinking a margarita at the Spoonbill Restaurant and Bar at The Olsen hotel in Melbourne

Lisa spares no expense when it comes to her wardrobe choices, with the TV star pictured in a boho D’Ascoli frock costing $550

The TV host’s fashion tastes are not cheap, and she has worn dresses from Koh Woman, Karen Millen and Cazinc The Label, costing up to $550.

Wilkinson’s lavish lifestyle has prompted some to question if she is in touch with ordinary Aussies when commenting on political issues.

‘Lisa lives in her mansion in Mosman, she can’t relate,’ said one Twitter user.

‘Lisa Wilkinson is not qualified to give financial advice,’ commented another.

A third wrote: ‘Lisa Wilkinson … with harbourside mansion … oh dear another one with irrelevance syndrome.’

‘Coming from someone in a mansion… clueless,’ added another.

The presenter stunned viewers on The Project on Sunday night when she announced she was stepping down as host to reprioritise her life after a tumultuous six months.

‘The last six months have not been easy. And the relentless, targeted toxicity by some sections of the media has taken a toll not just on me, but on people I love,’ she said.

‘Don’t get me wrong. I’m not above criticism. Far from it. I’m human, and I don’t always get it right. None of us do. But by god I’ve tried. I’ve given this job. Everything I have. And I hope you at home know that. I hope I’ve brought you stories that matter, and introduced you to people whose lives and stories otherwise might never have been told.’

Wilkinson was adamant that the decision to leave the program was hers and hers alone.

Wilkinson claimed ‘targeted toxicity’ from sections of the media was behind her departure 

Last year, OzTAM ratings revealed Channel 10’s flagship current affairs program had lost almost a third of its audience since 2011. Pictured (L-R): Tommy little, Peter Helliar, Hamish Macdonald, Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly, Lisa Wilkinson and Gorgi Coghlan

Wilkinson’s departure comes as both comedian Peter Helliar and co-host Carrie Bickmore also revealed they were leaving.

Peter Helliar became the latest star to quit as the mass exodus on Tuesday night’s program, claiming he needed more time to work on other ventures.

Long-time anchor Carrie Bickmore confirmed her departure a month ago. Her last appearance is scheduled for next Wednesday’s program.  

The Project has struggled in the ratings in previous years, with a consistent decline in ratings. 

OzTAM ratings have previously revealed The Project had lost almost a third of its audience since 2011.

The struggling show saw its metro ratings plummet to an all-time low of just 367,000 last year.

That’s a 30 per cent decline from its five-city audience of 538,000 a decade earlier.

Lisa Wilkinson is ‘out of touch with reality’: The Project host’s biggest ‘mistakes’ are laid bare by a rival TV presenter 

A rival TV host has slammed Lisa Wilkinson as being ‘out of touch with reality’ as she made her ‘dramatic’ exit from The Project.

Wilkinson revealed she would be departing Channel 10’s current affairs program on Sunday night, saying ‘targeted toxicity’ from sections of the media was behind her exit.

Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) announced her shock exit from The Project on Sunday. It comes as Peter Helliar and Carrie Bickmore also announced their resignations from the program

But right-wing commentator Rita Panahi decided to sink the boot in Wilkinson once more, claiming her resignation speech was over the top.

‘Typical of Lisa Wilkinson, the announcement of full of drama and self-pity,’ she said. 

Panahi then cut to Wilkinson’s farewell on The Project, where the TV host said: ‘The last six months have not been easy.’

Right-wing political commentator Rita Panahi (pictured) blasted the TV host in a segment on Sky News by going through all of her ‘mistakes’

3AW entertainment reporter Peter Ford (pictured) slammed Wilkinson for her overdramatic resignation speech on the current affairs show

‘And the relentless targeted toxicity by some sections of the media has taken a toll, not just on me, but on people I love…I don’t always get it right. But by god, I’ve tried.’

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She then played audio from entertainment reporter Peter Ford, who ruthlessly mocked her leaving speech.

‘Lisa, love, you’re not working in the salt mines for Siberia, it’s three hours a week on television. Someone provides your dress, someone does your makeup, your script’s written for you,’ he said on Melbourne radio station 3AW.

It cut back to Panahi, who said in response: ‘That was entertainment reporter Peter Ford giving Lisa Wilkinson a much-needed dose of reality.’

Panahi then outlined Wilkinson’s many ‘stuff ups’ throughout her years in the media.

She began with the TV host delaying a trial due to her Logies acceptance speech.

Wilkinson claimed ‘targeted toxicity’ from sections of the media was behind her departure 

Stefanovic co-hosted the Today show with Wilkinson for ten years until 2017. She alleged he treated her poorly after she came back from her honeymoon

The original trial date was slated for June 27, but in the aftermath of Wilkinson’s Logie’s acceptance speech, a judge delayed the high-profile case ruling it would be ‘unfair’ to continue due to public commentary surrounding the case.

Panahi then spoke about Wilkinson’s apology to former Coalition MP Dr Andrew Laming for accusing him of taking an inappropriate photo of a woman.

She apologised to Dr Laming in June of this year for making the controversial tweet, which she wrote back in March 2021.

‘Just to clarify, it only took her 16 months to admit she was wrong there,’ Panahi clarified.

The Sky News host then turned to Wilkinson’s memoir, where she alleged her former Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic treated her poorly after she came back from her honeymoon.

She wrote in her book: ‘How could he still treat me with such uncaring disregard?’

‘For two hours, I sat there feeling completely useless. The Today Show was now The Karl Show.’

‘What was the point of me even being there? The camera were on me so there was nowhere to hide. And yet, I felt completely invisible.’

Panahi showed the footage of the day she was referencing in that instance, where Stefanovic is seen greeting his co-host warmly and asking about her honeymoon.

Finally, the right-wing host slammed Wilkinson for berating former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for not enforcing a harsher lockdown and Covid restrictions during the pandemic.

Wilkinson also praised Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews for ‘stamping’ out Covid outbreaks with harsh lockdowns.

‘That would be Victoria, where more than five million people endured the world’s longest lockdown and where the state government managed to record the highest Covid death rate in the country,’ said Panahi in response.

‘You nailed it there, Lisa,’ she joked.

WIlkinson was signed by Ten for a staggering $1.7 million a year in 2018.