George Calombaris: Scandal Timeline, Net Worth, What He Does Now

When a celebrity chef known for mentoring young cooks ends up in the headlines for underpaying his own staff, it raises questions that go beyond the kitchen. George Calombaris, the former MasterChef Australia judge, saw his restaurant empire collapse after a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation found he owed more than 500 employees $7.8 million in back wages. This article traces the timeline of the scandal, the legal consequences he faced, and where his career stands today.

Net worth: $3 million ·
MasterChef Australia seasons judged: 11 ·
Wage underpayment total: $7.8 million ·
Number of restaurants closed: 5

The table below summarises the key biographical and financial details of George Calombaris.

What happened with George Calombaris?

The wage underpayment scandal

In July 2019, the Fair Work Ombudsman revealed that MADE Establishment — the company behind Calombaris’s restaurants — had underpaid 515 current and former employees a total of $7.8 million for work between 2011 and 2017 (Fair Work Ombudsman). An additional $16,371 was owed to nine employees of Jimmy Grants (same source). The underpayments stemmed from annualised salary arrangements that failed to account for overtime and penalty rates, as well as incorrect classification of workers (Fair Work Ombudsman enforceable undertaking).

Public backlash and resignation from MasterChef

News of the underpayment sparked public outrage. Calombaris issued a public apology on social media and in newspapers, as required by the enforceable undertaking (Hall & Wilcox). In 2020, he stepped down from his role as a judge on MasterChef Australia after 11 seasons (Wikipedia). The Fair Work Ombudsman’s investigation also found that an earlier letter of caution had been sent to The Press Club in 2015 over workplace issues (Fair Work Ombudsman enforceable undertaking).

Fair Work Ombudsman investigation

The Ombudsman’s investigation began after a social media tip-off in 2017 (ABC News). MADE Establishment self-disclosed the underpayments at Press Club, Gazi, and Hellenic Republic (ABC News). The group had already repaid 162 employees $2.6 million in 2017 before the full scale of the underpayment became public (ABC News).

Does George Calombaris still own a restaurant?

List of closed restaurants

By 2020, Calombaris had closed five of his venues: The Press Club (opened 2004), Hellenic Republic, Gazi, and others (Wikipedia). The closures came amid the COVID-19 pandemic and financial strain following the underpayment scandal.

Current ventures: Providoor and Cleaner Future Australia

Calombaris shifted his focus to delivery-only brand Providoor, launched in 2021 (Wikipedia). He also co-founded Cleaner Future Australia, a plastic waste initiative. He is a Moffat ambassador and maintains an active Instagram presence with 482,000 followers.

What is George Calombaris doing now?

Providoor meal delivery business

Providoor delivers restaurant-quality meal kits and prepared dishes in Melbourne and Sydney. The brand positions itself as a premium home dining experience, leveraging Calombaris’s culinary reputation (Wikipedia).

Cleaner Future Australia environmental projects

Calombaris co-founded Cleaner Future Australia, an initiative that tackles plastic pollution through community clean-ups and educational programs. The project aligns with his post-scandal efforts to rebuild a positive public image.

Social media presence and public appearances

He remains active on Instagram (@georgecalombaris), where he posts cooking videos, family content, and promotional material for Providoor. Public appearances are limited but include select food festivals and industry events (Wikipedia).

How much money did George Calombaris owe?

Total wages underpaid

The enforceable undertaking confirmed a total back-payment of $7,832,953 to 515 employees (Fair Work Ombudsman). A further $16,371 was owed to nine Jimmy Grants employees (same source). The underpayments dated from 2011 to 2017 (Fair Work Ombudsman).

Penalties and legal costs

MADE Establishment paid a $200,000 contrition payment to the Commonwealth Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (Fair Work Ombudsman). Calombaris was required to complete seven public speaking engagements educating the industry on workplace compliance (Hall & Wilcox). No criminal charges were filed.

Repayment status to employees

All underpaid wages were fully repaid by 2019 (ABC News). The Fair Work Ombudsman confirmed compliance with the enforceable undertaking.

Did George Calombaris pay his staff back?

Repayment timeline

Yes. The enforceable undertaking required full repayment, and MADE Establishment completed the process by 2019 (Fair Work Ombudsman). An initial partial repayment of $2.6 million had already been made in 2017 to 162 employees (ABC News).

Fair Work Ombudsman statement

The Fair Work Ombudsman stated that the company entered into a Court-Enforceable Undertaking voluntarily and cooperated fully (Fair Work Ombudsman). The regulator described the case as one of the largest underpayment settlements involving a high-profile employer.

Timeline

• 2004: Opened first restaurant, The Press Club (Wikipedia)
• 2009: Became judge on MasterChef Australia (Wikipedia)
• 2017: Fair Work Ombudsman investigation begins after social media tip-off (ABC News)
• 2019: Underpayment publicly revealed; Calombaris apologizes and begins repayment (Fair Work Ombudsman)
• 2020: Leaves MasterChef Australia; multiple restaurants close (Wikipedia)
• 2021: Launches Providoor delivery service (Wikipedia)
• 2022: Co-founds Cleaner Future Australia plastic waste initiative (Wikipedia)
• 2024: Active on social media; Providoor continues operations; public appearances limited (Wikipedia)

Quotes

“The company entered into a Court-Enforceable Undertaking after the underpayments were identified.”

Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia’s national workplace regulator)

“I am so sorry. I have let you all down.”

George Calombaris, public apology on Instagram (2019), as reported by ABC News

For Calombaris, the path forward depends on rebuilding trust—one Providoor meal at a time. The restaurant industry in Australia now has a clearer precedent: annualised salary arrangements must be audited, and a celebrity brand offers no shield from enforcement. For the 515 workers who were underpaid, the financial restitution was complete, but the broader lesson for employers is that compliance is non-negotiable.

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For a detailed look at the timeline of events and his subsequent professional moves, see the article on George Calombaris wage scandal fall and comeback.

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