How Much Does Ita Buttrose Earn as the Chair of the ABC? The Surprising Truth Behind Her Salary

Ita Buttrose is a renowned Australian journalist, editor, and businesswoman who has made a significant impact on the media industry. She is currently the chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the nation’s public broadcaster. She is also a former magazine editor, publishing executive, and newspaper journalist who founded the popular women’s magazine Cleo and edited The Australian Women’s Weekly. In this article, we will explore her salary, net worth, and career achievements in detail.

Ita Buttrose Salary

As the chair of the ABC, Ita Buttrose receives a generous salary package that reflects her responsibilities and experience. According to the latest annual report released by the ABC in October 2022, Buttrose’s salary at the broadcaster increased from $195,350 to $205,631. This amount includes her base salary, superannuation contributions, and other benefits.

Buttrose’s salary is comparable to other senior executives at the ABC, such as the managing director David Anderson, who earned $1.14 million in 2022. However, it is lower than some of her predecessors, such as Justin Milne, who received $280,000 in 2018. and James Spigelman, who earned $239,000 in 2017.

Ita Buttrose Net Worth

Ita Buttrose has an estimated net worth of $8 million as of 2022. She has accumulated her wealth from her long and successful career in the media industry, as well as from her various business ventures and book sales.

Buttrose started her career at the age of 15 as a copy girl at The Australian Women’s Weekly, then became a cadet journalist at The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney. She rose to prominence as the founding editor of Cleo magazine in 1972, which was a groundbreaking publication that catered to women’s interests and sexuality. She later became the editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly and the editor-in-chief of both magazines.

In 1981, she made history as the first woman to edit a major Australian metropolitan newspaper when she joined Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited as the editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. She also became the first woman to serve on the board of directors of News Limited.

In 1989, she left News Limited to start her own company, Capricorn Publishing, which launched Ita magazine in 1990. However, the company folded in 1994 due to financial difficulties.

Buttrose has also written several books, including her autobiography A Passionate Life (1999), which was a bestseller. She has also co-authored books on health and wellness topics, such as Alzheimer’s: Everything You Need to Know (2015) and A Guide to Australian Health Care (2016).

Buttrose has also been a regular television and radio personality, appearing on shows such as Good Morning Australia, Studio 10, Today Tonight, and Q&A. She has also been portrayed in several films and TV series based on her life and career, such as Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo (2011) and Paper Giants: Magazine Wars (2013).

Career Achievements

Ita Buttrose has received numerous awards and honors for her outstanding contributions to the media industry and society. Some of them are:

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979 for services to journalism
• Australian of the Year in 2013 for her leadership in media and public health
• Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2019 for eminent service to the community through leadership in the media
• Hall of Fame Award from the Magazine Publishers Association of Australia in 2000
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Melbourne Press Club in 2003
• Walkley Award for Journalism Leadership in 2011
• Honorary Doctorate from Macquarie University in 2012
• Honorary Doctorate from University of Wollongong in 2014
• Honorary Doctorate from University of New South Wales in 2015

Conclusion

Ita Buttrose is a remarkable woman who has achieved many milestones in her career and inspired generations of journalists and media professionals. She is one of Australia’s most influential and respected figures who has used her voice and platform to advocate for various social causes. She is also a successful entrepreneur and author who has diversified her income sources and built a substantial net worth. As the chair of the ABC, she continues to uphold the values and standards of public broadcasting and serve the Australian people.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: How old is Ita Buttrose? A: Ita Buttrose is 81 years old as of January 17, 2023.

Q: Who are Ita Buttrose’s husbands? A: Ita Buttrose has been married twice. Her first husband was Alasdair Macdonald, a lawyer and journalist, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1976. They had two children, Kate and Ben. Her second husband was Peter Sawyer, a builder and developer, whom she married in 1979 and divorced in 1981.

Q: Who are Ita Buttrose’s parents? A: Ita Buttrose’s parents were Charles Oswald Buttrose and Clare Rosenthal. Her father was a journalist and editor, and her mother was a homemaker.

Q: What is Ita Buttrose’s ethnicity? A: Ita Buttrose has Jewish ancestry on her maternal side. Her maternal grandmother, Ita Clare Rodgers, was born in London to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Poland and Russia.

Q: What is Ita Buttrose’s religion? A: Ita Buttrose was raised as a Catholic by her parents. However, she has said that she is not a practicing Catholic and that she respects all faiths.

Q: Where does Ita Buttrose live? A: Ita Buttrose lives in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She owns a penthouse apartment in Elizabeth Bay, which she bought for $3.1 million in 2017⁵.

Q: What is Ita Buttrose’s education? A: Ita Buttrose left school at the age of 15 to pursue her career in journalism. She briefly attended a private school but then moved to a public school. She completed her secondary education at Dover Heights Home Science High School.

Q: What is Ita Buttrose’s role at the ABC? A: Ita Buttrose is the chair of the ABC, which is the statutory authority responsible for the operations of the ABC as the national public broadcaster. She was appointed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2019 for a five-year term. She oversees the board of directors and works with the managing director to ensure the ABC fulfills its charter and functions.

Q: What are some of Ita Buttrose’s books? A: Some of Ita Buttrose’s books are:

• A Passionate Life (1999), her autobiography
• Alzheimer’s: Everything You Need to Know (2015), co-authored with Dr James Wright
• A Guide to Australian Health Care (2016), co-authored with Dr Penny Adams
• The Secret Life of Men (2005), co-authored with Dr Kerryn Phelps
• Motherguilt (2005), co-authored with Dr Penny Adams

Q: What are some of Ita Buttrose’s TV shows? A: Some of Ita Buttrose’s TV shows are:

• Good Morning Australia (1981–1992), a morning talk show on Network Ten
• Studio 10 (2013–2018), a morning talk show on Network Ten
• Today Tonight (1995–2001), a current affairs program on Seven Network
• Q&A (2008–present), a political panel discussion program on ABC
• Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo (2011) and Paper Giants: Magazine Wars (2013), TV miniseries based on her life and career on ABC