Remember when this MasterChef judge ruled the screen? Turns out, success came at a painful cost
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George Calombaris was once one of Australia’s most recognisable TV chefs.
But behind the fame, scandals and headlines, he was privately spiralling—financially, emotionally and personally.
Now, he’s revealing the full extent of the battle that nearly destroyed him.
The former MasterChef Australia judge said he turned to alcohol after losing millions and becoming a pariah in the industry he once dominated.
Calombaris rose to fame in 2009 as one of the original judges on MasterChef, quickly building a restaurant empire on the back of the show’s success.
But within a decade, his world began to unravel amid a $7.8 million wage underpayment scandal, a public assault case, and the collapse of his hospitality business, MAdE.
His company went into voluntary administration in February 2020 after being ordered by the Fair Work Ombudsman to repay millions in unpaid penalty rates.
Calombaris himself was fined $200,000, though he has consistently maintained the underpayments were a result of inexperience and not deliberate wrongdoing.
‘Ridiculous, stupid, I would have rather taken that 3 million and given it to charity,’ he said, reflecting on the $3 million in endorsements he lost.
The publicity surrounding the scandal, he said, made it impossible to keep his 21 businesses afloat—even though the issue had been self-reported.
Then, COVID hit.
‘After Covid hit, I'm suddenly sitting in Melbourne, which is shut for now two years, sitting with my pyjamas on … looking at my phone going there's no emails, there's nothing to do (and I) start drinking daily,’ he admitted on the Ouzo Talk podcast.
He described a moment three months into this spiral when he lost control.
‘I'll never forget three months down the track I lost it one night. I got in my car, drove down the road, I don't know where (I was). My brother found me pissed as a fart.
‘And that was a moment, he really slapped it out of me and went enough is enough.’
Calombaris’s public image suffered another blow after he was filmed physically attacking a 19-year-old during an A-League grand final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
He was convicted of assault and fined $1,000, though the conviction was later overturned.
In March 2020, Calombaris and his family moved to Arthurs Seat on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where he began to find a path back to himself.
He became the executive chef in his own household, focusing on cooking for loved ones and finding meaning in simplicity.
At first, he feared the public shame would follow his children, but he was heartened when fellow school parents quickly embraced them.
By slowing down and reconnecting with his community, Calombaris discovered a renewed sense of purpose.
He cooked meals for neighbours and lent support to struggling friends in the hospitality scene.
Despite the darkness of those years, he said the biggest silver lining was spending more time with his family—something he often missed during the peak of his career.
Struggles with addiction and public scrutiny aren’t limited to one person or profession—many in the spotlight have faced similar battles behind the scenes. When someone shares their private pain so openly, it can open the door for others to do the same.
One such moment happened live on air, when a beloved media personality made a confession that stunned listeners.
Read more: Jackie O made a jaw-dropping confession live on air—and no one saw it coming
Has public forgiveness come too late—or just in time—for the fallen star who lost it all?
But behind the fame, scandals and headlines, he was privately spiralling—financially, emotionally and personally.
Now, he’s revealing the full extent of the battle that nearly destroyed him.
The former MasterChef Australia judge said he turned to alcohol after losing millions and becoming a pariah in the industry he once dominated.
Calombaris rose to fame in 2009 as one of the original judges on MasterChef, quickly building a restaurant empire on the back of the show’s success.
But within a decade, his world began to unravel amid a $7.8 million wage underpayment scandal, a public assault case, and the collapse of his hospitality business, MAdE.
Calombaris opens up after career collapse. Image source: Instagram/gcalombaris
His company went into voluntary administration in February 2020 after being ordered by the Fair Work Ombudsman to repay millions in unpaid penalty rates.
Calombaris himself was fined $200,000, though he has consistently maintained the underpayments were a result of inexperience and not deliberate wrongdoing.
‘Ridiculous, stupid, I would have rather taken that 3 million and given it to charity,’ he said, reflecting on the $3 million in endorsements he lost.
The publicity surrounding the scandal, he said, made it impossible to keep his 21 businesses afloat—even though the issue had been self-reported.
Then, COVID hit.
‘After Covid hit, I'm suddenly sitting in Melbourne, which is shut for now two years, sitting with my pyjamas on … looking at my phone going there's no emails, there's nothing to do (and I) start drinking daily,’ he admitted on the Ouzo Talk podcast.
He described a moment three months into this spiral when he lost control.
‘I'll never forget three months down the track I lost it one night. I got in my car, drove down the road, I don't know where (I was). My brother found me pissed as a fart.
‘And that was a moment, he really slapped it out of me and went enough is enough.’
Calombaris’s public image suffered another blow after he was filmed physically attacking a 19-year-old during an A-League grand final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
He was convicted of assault and fined $1,000, though the conviction was later overturned.
In March 2020, Calombaris and his family moved to Arthurs Seat on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where he began to find a path back to himself.
He became the executive chef in his own household, focusing on cooking for loved ones and finding meaning in simplicity.
At first, he feared the public shame would follow his children, but he was heartened when fellow school parents quickly embraced them.
By slowing down and reconnecting with his community, Calombaris discovered a renewed sense of purpose.
He cooked meals for neighbours and lent support to struggling friends in the hospitality scene.
Despite the darkness of those years, he said the biggest silver lining was spending more time with his family—something he often missed during the peak of his career.
Struggles with addiction and public scrutiny aren’t limited to one person or profession—many in the spotlight have faced similar battles behind the scenes. When someone shares their private pain so openly, it can open the door for others to do the same.
One such moment happened live on air, when a beloved media personality made a confession that stunned listeners.
Read more: Jackie O made a jaw-dropping confession live on air—and no one saw it coming
Has public forgiveness come too late—or just in time—for the fallen star who lost it all?
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