Meghan Markle wasn't paid for her MasterChef Australia appearance, Channel 10 confirms

It’s safe to say that Meghan Markle’s upcoming appearance on MasterChef Australia has set tongues wagging, with many fans questioning if Meghan used her time on the show as a quick cash grab during her time Down Under.

Actually, as soon as the news broke that Meghan was doing the show, the same question was on everyone’s lips: Just how much was Meghan Markle being paid to appear on MasterChef Australia?

Sky News reported that Meghan was set to rake in a “eye-watering six figure fee” for her appearance on the beloved TV show. After all, Katy Perry was paid $100,000 for being on the show in 2015, so surely Meghan would command even more, with one popular rumour suggesting the former actress bagged a $380,000 fee.

How much was Meghan Markle paid to appear on MasterChef Australia?

However, per The Australian, Network 10 has since confirmed that Meghan wasn’t paid a cent to appear on MasterChef Australia, nor did she promote her lifestyle brand, As Ever, during her time on the show. So, that settles that question!

Yep, the 44-year-old apparently gave her time up for free, spending a whole day on set at Melbourne Showgrounds alongside judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

While fans may be perplxed as to why Meghan would do the appearance without making a cent, PR expert Kayley Cornelius has said that it’s a smart move.

“Meghan’s latest move on MasterChef feels far from random or one-off appearances,” she told OLBG. “There’s a clear strategy at play here, and it very much points to a more permanent return to the world of mainstream celebrity being front of mind.

“Australia is a particularly savvy choice too, as it’s a market that’s historically been receptive to her, but it also allows her to trial this next phase slightly outside of the intense scrutiny she faces in the US and UK.”

She adds that Meghan is likely using her time in Australia to really “nail down” her personal branding.

Poh Ling Yeow praises Meghan Markle

In a radio interview last week, MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow revealed that Meghan was a “delight” to work with.

“There is so much public conjecture about this. She’s so delightful, [I have] nothing but praise for the time that we spent with her. [She’s] very easy going, good sense of humour, and, like, a consummate professional… she just slid right into that judging role, like, seamlessly,” she said.

Poh went on to call out the relentless criticism Meghan has received ever since marrying into the royal family.

“I think it’s very interesting, because when you drill down, you can’t really, no one can actually, really say why. It’s one of those situations. And at the end of the day, like, I really feel for her, because she’s still a human, there’s an emotional human at the end of that, with all this hatred that people like spitting out. She was honestly so lovely.”