Celebrity MasterChef Australia has brought together Olympians, actors, singers and sporting legends to swap their day jobs for aprons — all for charity. Across two seasons, spanning a 12-year gap, only two celebrities have claimed the title. Here’s the complete list of winners, judges, contestants and prize money.
Quick Reference: All Celebrity MasterChef Australia Winners
| Series | Year | Winner | Occupation | Runner-up | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009 | Eamon Sullivan | Olympic swimmer | Kirk Pengilly | $50,000 (for charity) |
| 2 | 2021 | Nick Riewoldt | AFL player | Tilly Ramsay | $100,000 (for charity) |
Unlike the main MasterChef Australia series, prize money on the celebrity edition goes to a charity of the winner’s choice rather than into their own pocket.
Series 1 (2009): Eamon Sullivan
The first-ever Celebrity MasterChef Australia aired from 30 September to 25 November 2009 on Network Ten, featuring 18 Australian celebrities. The format was different from the main show — celebrities competed in groups of three through heats featuring an Invention Test and a Pressure Test, with one celebrity progressing from each heat into the semi-finals.
Eamon Sullivan, a former world-record-holding Olympic swimmer, was crowned the winner on 25 November 2009, finishing ahead of runner-up Kirk Pengilly (INXS musician) and third-place finisher Rachael Finch, a model and TV host who had actually auditioned for the original MasterChef Australia Season 1 but didn’t progress past the early rounds.
Sullivan took home $50,000 for his chosen charity, Swim Survive Stay Alive. He later reflected that his competitive sporting instinct kicked in when the going got tough, admitting there were moments he nearly gave up.
Judges/Hosts: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston (Calombaris and Mehigan also took over hosting duties)
Series 2 (2021): Nick Riewoldt
After a 12-year hiatus, Celebrity MasterChef Australia returned on 10 October 2021 with a fresh line-up of judges and a star-studded celebrity cast of 10.
Nick Riewoldt, a former AFL champion and Fox Footy presenter, won the season on 22 November 2021, defeating finalists Tilly Ramsay (British TV presenter and daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay) and Collette Dinnigan (renowned fashion designer) in the grand finale. Riewoldt scored 38 out of 40 points in the final round, beating Tilly’s 34 and Collette’s 30.
Riewoldt won $100,000 for his charity, Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, named after his late sister.
Judges: Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo
Celebrity MasterChef Australia Season 2: Full Celebrity Cast
| Celebrity | Known For |
|---|---|
| Nick Riewoldt | AFL champion (Winner) |
| Tilly Ramsay | TV presenter, daughter of Gordon Ramsay (Runner-up) |
| Collette Dinnigan | Fashion designer (3rd place) |
| Rebecca Gibney | Actress, Gold Logie winner |
| Matt Le Nevez | Actor (Offspring) |
| Dami Im | Singer, X Factor winner, Eurovision representative |
| Ian Thorpe | Olympic swimming legend |
| Chrissie Swan | Radio host, TV personality |
| Dilruk Jayasinha | Comedian |
| Archie Thompson | Football (soccer) legend |
Guest chefs who appeared throughout Season 2 included international heavyweights Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Curtis Stone and Martin Benn — giving the celebrities a serious culinary education along the way.
Celebrity MasterChef Australia Judges Timeline
- Series 1 (2009): Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston — carried over from the original MasterChef Australia judging panel of that era
- Series 2 (2021): Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo — the same trio judging the main MasterChef Australia series at the time
How Celebrity MasterChef Differs from the Main Show
- Prize money goes to charity, not the winner personally
- Smaller cast — 10 to 18 celebrities compared to 24 home cooks on the regular series
- Shorter season — around 10 to 13 episodes versus 60+ on the main show
- Format — Series 1 used a heats-and-semifinals structure closer to MasterChef Goes Large rather than the standard weekly elimination format
FAQs
Who won the first Celebrity MasterChef Australia? Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan won in 2009.
Who won Celebrity MasterChef Australia in 2021? AFL legend Nick Riewoldt.
Does the winner keep the prize money? No — unlike the regular MasterChef Australia series, the celebrity edition’s cash prize goes to a charity chosen by the winner.
How many seasons of Celebrity MasterChef Australia have aired? Two — in 2009 and 2021.
Will there be a Season 3 of Celebrity MasterChef Australia? No official announcement has been made as of the latest information available.