The highest-paid I’m A Celebrity contestants, in order – and it’s not who you’re expecting

Over the years, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here has pulled in some pretty famous contestants (as well as some… less famous contestants).

This year alone, that includes actual popstar Boy George, actual member of the royal family Mike Tindall, and actual disgraced politician Matt Hancock.

In previous years, there’s been Caitlyn Jenner – part of the multi-billion-dollar Kardashian-Jenner clan – as well as reality TV icon Gemma Collins, Olympic hero Mo Farah, and football legend Harry Redknapp.

That’s not to mention the stars who created some of the ITV show’s most memorable TV moments, like Myleene Klass, Katie Price, Paul Burrell and Gillian McKeith.

You’d expect those names to pull in some pretty hefty fees – but some of the highest-paid contestants in I’m A Celebrity history are probably not who you’re expecting.

This is a reported ranking of the highest-paid I’m A Celebrity contestants of all time, compiled by The Tab.

Jennie McAlpine – £250k

N’aww, lovely Jennie McAlpine off Coronation Street has made the list of the highest-paid I’m A Celebrity contestants.

She’s the only soap star to make the cut as well.

Nadine Coyle – £250k

Ah yes, that lying-about-her-age, going-viral-for-having-a-Derry-accent beauty Nadine Coyle pulled in a hefty fee for her time in the jungle.

The former Girls Aloud star is believed to have made almost a quarter of a million pounds for her stint, which saw her finish in fifth place.

Mike Tindall – £265k

Not only is Mike Tindall British sporting royalty thanks to his rugby background, but he’s also actual royalty, given that he’s married to Zara Phillips.

He’s been a firm fan favourite so far this year and ITV bosses have probably agreed he’s been worth every penny.

Mo Farah – £300k

Sir Mo Farah was one of I’m A Celebrity’s most endearing contestants of all time, and everyone – both at home and in the series – loved him.

For his time in the Welsh castle (ah, Covid times), it’s reported he was paid £300k.

Matt Hancock – £400k

Eugh, this the contentious one. Matt Hancock, the disgraced MP who was caught breaking his own lockdown restrictions to have an affair with an aide, and who handed out Government contracts to his own contacts, landed in the jungle on this year’s series – and has promptly been voted in to do every single trial.

It’s been claimed he’s been paid £400k, which might come in handy given that he’s been suspended from his day job.

His arrival is the most-complained about moment in I’m A Celebrity history.

Amir Khan – £400k

This one’s not that surprising, given the huge sums that boxers as successful as Amir Khan can bring in for a single fight.

The Bolton-born Olympian commanded quite a big fee from ITV.

Ian Wright – £400k

There was a bit of tension surrounding Ian Wright’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity, with the star accused of bullying Andrew Maxwell.

But overall he was pretty entertaining (even with the mood swings) and he pulled in a cool £400k. Series 19 was expensive.

Katie Price – £450k

Katie Price is so synonymous with I’m A Celebrity that she’s actually been a contestant twice – and her romance with pop star Peter Andre blossomed on the show back in 2003.

Her second visit to the jungle in 2009 it cost ITV £450k.

Boy George – £500k

It’s still pretty wild to see Boy George, arguably one of the most-recognised and famous pop stars of all time, in the Australian jungle eating out of a metal tray.

But here we are, and the Karma Chameleon singer is still living the bug-filled dream as we type.

Harry Redknapp – £500k

Harry Redknapp was crowned King of the Jungle back in 2018, and he probably felt like he needed it after how much he missed his food back home (honestly, it was all he talked about).

He beat the much-loved Emily Atack to the crown, who went on to co-present the spin-off series Extra Camp.

Caitlyn Jenner – £500k

Can you actually believe this happened? Imagine any other member of the Kardashain-Jenner clan rocking up in the khaki shirt and red gilet (okay, except Rob, that wouldn’t be quite so shocking).

But Olympic hero Caitlyn Jenner made quite a splash when she was announced as a campmate, and struck up some unlikely friendships with British reality stars.

Noel Edmonds – £600k

Noel Edmonds. Noel makes-pretend-phone-calls-to-a-‘banker’, is-mates-with-a-giant-pink-blob Edmonds. That’s who got paid the most money of all time.

He was parachuted into the jungle several days late, then got voted out first. He did just nine days for his £600k fee.

Nice work if you can get it.

Featured image: ITV