Samantha Armytage recently shocked fans when she decided to quit Seven and leave Farmer Wants A Wife, with new details emerging about the new contract she turned down. The former Sunrise star appeared as a guest host on the matchmaking reality series in 2022 before taking over as the host in 2023. However, she reportedly decided to leave after two seasons because Seven wanted to cut her massive salary. Sam was asking for a salary comparable to what other hosts like Natalie Barr and Sonia Kruger were making, but Seven was unable to meet her demands. Additionally, the network refused to give Sam more creative control over the show, which further soured her experience. After 21 years at Seven and a reported salary of $500,000 per year, her agents are now setting up meetings with Nine and Ten.
Despite losing her massive TV paycheck, Sam has made smart investments in the property market, acquiring luxury properties across Australia with a collective value of $10 million. Her most recent purchase was a stunning three-bedroom, two-bathroom renovation project in Moss Vale, Southern Highlands, which she bought for $1.3 million in May. She also owns a stylish investment property in Rushcutters Bay and a holiday rental in Hyams. Sam also made a profit from selling part of her property portfolio when she sold her North Bondi home in 2020. With her impressive property portfolio to fall back on, she has financial security as she transitions from Channel Seven.
Samantha Armytage announced her departure from Seven last week after declining a new deal with the network when her current contract expires in October. Describing the departure as ‘sad and bittersweet,’ she expressed that she felt her time had come and that she was excited about her future. Sam mentioned that she follows her instincts and felt it was time to move on. While she will still appear at the upcoming Logies, where Farmer Wants A Wife is nominated for Best Structured Reality Program, she will not return to host the show’s next series, which is currently in pre-production. The veteran presenter is optimistic about what the future holds for her beyond Seven.
The decision to leave Channel Seven and Farmer Wants A Wife comes after Sam made headlines by pushing out Natalie Gruzlewski as the face of the reality series in 2023. Sam’s desire for a higher salary and more creative control seemed to be key factors in her decision to depart the show. Her reported request for a salary on par with other high-profile hosts may have been a sticking point for Seven, which was unable to meet her demands due to financial constraints. Sam’s departure marks the end of a long-standing career at Seven and opens up new opportunities for her in the television industry.
As Sam explores opportunities with other networks like Nine and Ten, her financial security from her impressive property portfolio gives her a solid foundation to build upon. Her savvy investments in luxury properties across Australia have enabled her to secure a valuable asset that provides stability and independence as she transitions from her role at Seven. By following her instincts and acknowledging when it was time to move on, Samantha Armytage is looking forward to the next chapter in her career. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of leaving her long-time network, she remains optimistic about the future and is excited to see what new opportunities await her outside of Channel Seven.
