Property speculation over how Robert Irwin will spend $7.5m wealth

Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin, continues to live at home with his mother, Terri, on the family’s 32,000-acre Australia Zoo property on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Located on Steve Irwin Way, the land alone is rumoured to be worth $25 million and doubles as a sanctuary for more than 1200 animals.

At 21, Robert’s decision to stay at home mirrors many young Australians, but his circumstances are far from ordinary.

His growing wealth, bolstered by recent TV appearances on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing with the Stars US, sets him apart.

Robert reportedly earns a base salary of $US125,000 ($A188,000) for the first two weeks of Dancing With The Stars.

The figure could potentially reach a total of $US295,000 ($A447,000) to $US400,000 ($A606,000).

Robert’s wealth news comes after Terri revealed last year she was forced to spend Steve’s final $200,000 on the family’s debts.

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Robert Irwin’s net worth has been revealed. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

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With his rising net worth and public profile, onlookers are eager to see if Robert’s property ambitions will extend beyond the iconic Australia Zoo compound.

Family remains a priority for Robert, especially after his sister Bindi and mother Terri temporarily relocated to the US for three months to stay close to him while he’s on US television.

Despite receiving a modest inheritance from his late father, the Irwin family overcame financial struggles to preserve Steve’s legacy.

According to Woman’s Day, the son of the late Crocodile Hunter has an estimated net worth of $US5 million ($A7.5 million).

Robert’s wealth stems from his work as a zookeeper, TV presenter, actor, and paid partnerships including a recent viral shoot for Bonds Australia’s Made for Down Under campaign.

The 21-year-old’s wealth stems from his varied work as a zookeeper and TV presenter. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

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But Robert said despite his wild schedule, his family life wasn’t as eventful.

“In terms of the family dynamic, we’re the most undramatic boring people in the world, which is awesome. What we do is absolutely nuts. You’re jumping on crocs, you’re saving wildlife, you’re doing this, doing that,” he told the Mental as Anyone Podcast by Jonathon Moran last July.

“But in terms of the Irwin family dynamic, we’re just like, proper, just vanilla ice cream, like we are so boring.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a boring family dynamic. In fact, that’s what you’re shooting for.”

Steve died on September 4, 2006, aged just 42, after a stingray accident. At the time, his net worth was said to be $US10 million ($A15 million).

Despite his substantial wealth, the TV personality left a life insurance of just $200,000 to his family.

The rest of the conservationist’s fortune went into Australia Zoo and other wildlife work.

After Steve’s death, Terri sold off properties in 2011 from their multimillion-dollar portfolio, which had an estimated worth of $20 million.

At the time, she sold a $1.3 million luxury property at a $380,000 loss.

Robert reportedly earned a base salary of $US125,000 for the first two weeks of Dancing With The Stars. Picture: Instagram

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At the time of his death, Steve had a reported net worth of $US10 million.

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Robert, Terri and Bindi Irwin at Australia Zoo. Picture: Lachie Millard

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Last year, Terri told the Australian Financial Review she had hundreds of staff and animals to consider without any “pile of gold coins” to fund operations.

“Everything was reinvested into conservation work,” she told the publication.

“I was in debt … and Steve’s life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000 which didn’t even cover half of one week’s payroll.”

However, Terri was grateful she could count on Steve’s “iron-clad will” that prevented “some crazy person (to) sweep in from some distant family connection and try to take everything”.

“I really advise people to plan your legacy … You can’t be arrogant enough to think that ‘I’ll deal with that in 10 or 20 or 50 years,” she said.

It’s suspected that Bindi and Robert will one day inherit Australia Zoo following Terri’s death.

— Additional reporting by Stephen Nicholls

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