As the 2025 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! reaches its nail-biting climax, the focus is on who will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. However, behind the scenes, there has always been another fierce competition: the battle over pay cheques.
The Jungle's Top Earners: A Million-Pound Club
While the show famously levels the playing field in camp, the fees negotiated beforehand tell a very different story. The highest-paid star in the show's history is now reportedly Coleen Rooney. The WAG and influencer is said to have commanded a staggering fee in excess of £1.5 million for her appearance in the 2024 series, setting a new record.
She dethroned the previous title-holder, Nigel Farage. The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader also secured a reported £1.5 million for his controversial stint in the Australian outback the year before.
They are part of an elite group of celebrities who have walked into the jungle for a small fortune. In 2018, veteran TV presenter Noel Edmonds was paid a whopping £600,000, only to be the first contestant voted off. Meanwhile, three very different stars – singer Boy George (2022), football manager Harry Redknapp (2018), and Olympian Caitlyn Jenner (2019) – each reportedly banked a cool £500,000 for their efforts.
Reality TV personality Katie Price set an early benchmark, earning a then-record £450,000 for her return to the jungle in 2009.
Surprisingly Modest Paydays for Camp Favourites
In stark contrast, several well-known faces have entered the competition for surprisingly modest sums. The lowest fee on record belongs to Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo. When the then-little-known Made in Chelsea star joined the 2017 series, she was paid just £13,000. The public adored her, and she went on to win the entire series.
Other contestants who received relatively low fees include:
- Malique Thompson-Dwyer (Hollyoaks, 2018): £15,000
- Jordan Banjo (Diversity, 2016) and Myles Stephenson (Rak-Su, 2019): £25,000 each
- Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners, 2018): £40,000
- Hollie Arnold MBE (Paralympian, 2020): £50,000
This demonstrates that a huge payday does not guarantee popularity or longevity in the camp, as proven by the early exits of some high earners.
Fees Versus Fortunes: Does Big Money Equal Success?
The history of I'm A Celebrity pay reveals a fascinating disconnect between fee and performance. While Harry Redknapp justified his £500,000 by winning in 2018, Noel Edmonds left early despite his huge salary.
Similarly, in 2022, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock – whose fee was not publicly confirmed among the highest – defied expectations to finish in third place, outlasting many others. His journey showed that public perception, not pay packet, often dictates a contestant's fate.
As the 2025 finalists battle it out, one thing is clear: the financial negotiations before entering the jungle are as dramatic as the trials themselves, creating a hidden hierarchy that is completely overturned once the famous faces are left to fend for themselves.
