C
osima De Vito

    Cosima rose to prominence in the first season of Australian Idol, withdrawing at the final three after a throat nodules diagnosis. She later topped the ARIA charts in 2005 with “When the War Is Over.” In 2023, she and husband Gus De Romanis (owner of Five Dock Meat Market) purchased an $800,000 two‑bedroom unit at Wentworth Point’s Waterfront Estate, featuring two courtyards and a double garage. The couple, parents to seven‑year‑old Amelia, now enjoy the waterfront lifestyle.

    Shannon Noll

    The runner‑up of season one faced financial hardship after his father’s death, struggling to keep the family farm in Condobolin amid drought. He sold the property to clear debts and used Idol earnings to pay off creditors, avoiding extravagant spending. Noll’s first home was a $150,000 purchase in 2002, later listed for $220,000. In 2005 he and wife Rochelle bought a $1.285 million house in Lilli Pilli, selling it in 2012 for $1.26 million. They now reside on a 100‑acre farm near Casino, NSW.

    Guy Sebastian

    Winner of the inaugural season, Sebastian built a lucrative music career and a formidable real‑estate portfolio. In 2013 he and wife Jules invested $3.3 million in a Maroubra mansion, spending an additional $7 million on construction. The 1,400 sqm estate, dubbed “Fort Guy,” has been the subject of a long‑running dispute with neighbour Phillip Hanslow, involving legal claims and security concerns. Prior to Maroubra, the couple sold a Clovelly home for $2.22 million and owned a waterfront property in Gerroa, later selling a Toogoom, Hervey Bay, investment for $735,000 in 2021.

    Paulini Curuenavuli

    Fourth‑place finalist Paulini released four albums, with her debut reaching number one on the ARIA chart and earning platinum status. She debuted on the Australian stage in 2017 as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard musical. Paulini currently lives in Sydney, having previously shared an apartment with sister Litia in Matraville.

    Rob Mills

    Season one contestant Rob Mills transitioned from Idol to a successful career in music and theatre, starring in productions such as Wicked, Grease, Ghost, and Hairspray, and playing Finn Kelly on Neighbours (2017‑2022). He resides in a Sydney inner‑city apartment with fiancée Georgie Tunny. Mills has spoken publicly about the mental toll of sudden fame, admitting a brief period of suicidal ideation after Idol.

    Anthony Callea

    Runner‑up of season two, Callea turned his earnings into solid real‑estate holdings. In 2008 he bought a four‑bedroom house in Sanctuary Lakes, Victoria for $557,500, later listing it in 2013 for $675,000–$695,000. He and actor husband Tim Campbell also purchased a $1.165 million apartment on the 20th floor of Yarra Point in 2012, initially priced at $1.25 million.

    Ricki‑Lee Coulter

    Fan favourite of season two, Ricki‑Lee shifted from a beachside lifestyle to urban property investment. She and manager husband Richard Harrison spent $3.505 million on a renovated three‑bedroom terrace in Redfern, targeting a $1,650 weekly rent (yield 2.45 %). They sold their Avalon Beach home for $2.845 million in 2023 and are now leasing a luxury three‑bedroom apartment in The Residence overlooking Hyde Park, aiming for $4,000 weekly rent.

    Damien Leith

    Season four winner Damien Leith, an Irish expatriate, built a steady career while making prudent property moves. He and wife Eileen bought a four‑bedroom house in Sydney’s Inner West for $940,000 in 2011, selling it in 2014 for over $1.28 million, netting a $340,000 profit. The family now resides in Wollongong, NSW.

    Jessica Mauboy

    Jessica Mauboy, a fourth‑season finalist, achieved chart‑topping albums and film roles in Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. In 2016 she invested $1.8 million in a two‑level apartment in Paddington, Sydney. The move marked her first major entry into the property market, following her relocation from Darwin to Sydney in 2009.

    These former Idol stars illustrate a spectrum of real‑estate strategies, from waterfront apartments and luxury mansions to rural farms and city rentals, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges that accompany sudden fame.