The salaries of this year’s stars on The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition have been revealed.

With a boosted budget and top-tier celebrities on board, this season’s cast is raking in a collective $1.5million – a notable jump from last year’s $1million pot, Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong and Gretel Killeen lead the pack with a rumoured $150,000 in their pocket.

Ant Middleton, the ex-SAS star, wasn’t far behind, reportedly locking in around $140,000 for himself and his brother Dan before his abrupt exit from the competition.

Also cashing in are Ed Kavalee and Tiffiny Hall, who together secured about $120,000.

Meanwhile, lesser-known faces Luke and ‘Sassy’ Scott are believed to be walking away with about $90,000.

The salaries of this year’s stars of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition have been revealed

With a boosted budget and top-tier celebrities on board, this season’s cast is raking in a collective $1.5million – a notable jump from last year’s $1million pot, Daily Mail can reveal

Parkour pro Dom ‘Tomato’ Di Tommaso and his teammate Marx Marsters were reportedly paid less, as were comedy siblings Steph and Ben Tisdell.

In comparison, last year’s contestants shared a $1million budget, with top-tier celebs pulling in around $100,000 each.

This year’s larger budget reflects the network’s commitment to drawing in high-profile talent.

Host Beau Ryan previously revealed he was paid ‘more than $500,000‘ for a second run of the series.

The 39-year-old said the amount was ‘a lot more’ than that offered for later seasons.

Beau ultimately accepted a lower offer to appear on the eighth season of the show, which aired in 2022.

He also revealed he turned down the initial big-money deal because he was contracted to Nine at the time.

Despite trying to secure the more-than-half-a-million-dollar offer for his eventual appearance, Beau said his request was denied.

Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong (left) and Gretel Killeen (right) lead the pack with a rumoured $150,000 in their pocket

Ex-SAS star Ant Middleton wasn’t far behind, reportedly locking in around $140,000 for himself and his brother Dan (both pictured) before his abrupt exit from the competition

Host Beau Ryan previously revealed he was paid ‘more than $500,000’ for a second run of the series

‘I said [to Ten], “Do you still have that offer from 2015 or 16?” and they said, “No, we don’t,”‘ laughed the former NRL star.

But the big question is why Channel 10 is going all out this year.

As dating shows like The Bachelor face the axe and other reality formats get the chop, the network is determined to lure viewers back to their screens.

‘They’re shaking things up and investing in big names to create must-watch TV,’ the insider said.

‘With other shows being cut, they know they need something huge to bring audiences back, and paying these celebrities well is part of that strategy.’