RTÉ TOP TEN HIGHEST EARNING PRESENTERS 2025

RTÉ is today publishing the earnings of its top 10 highest-earning presenters for 2025, ahead of the publication of RTÉ’s Annual Report 2025 later this year.

In line with the implementation of the Government’s Expert Advisory Committee’s recommendations,  RTÉ has reconsidered what constitutes a “presenter” for the purposes of compiling the Top Ten Table for 2025. RTÉ has made the decision to consider all personnel holding dual roles (such as producer-presenter, or editor–presenter etc) for inclusion in RTÉ’s top 10 highest-earning presenters for 2025. See table here.

See Top 10 basis of preparation in Notes to Editor below.

RTÉ’s reconsideration has led to the inclusion of Derek Mooney in the list. He currently undertakes some presenting duties as part of his dual role as producer/presenter and, as such, is included in the Top Ten table. In this context, RTÉ is today also re-presenting the information published regarding the earnings of its top 10 highest-earning presenters for 2024, for comparison purposes with 2025. This revision allows RTÉ to provide a like-for-like comparison with last year’s publication. See table here.

See Top 10 basis of preparation in Notes to Editor below.

For clarity, in 2020 (and up to and including 2024) Derek was designated by RTÉ as a producer, and not as a presenter, in line with his contract of employment.

Terence O’Rourke, Chair of RTÉ, says: “The Board supports the ongoing commitment by RTÉ to transparency, as evidenced in today’s announcement. We acknowledge the scrutiny brought by RTÉ in preparing RTÉ’s 2025 Annual Report and fully support the decision to review the previous categorisations of RTÉ’s top ten highest-paid presenters.”

Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ, says: “In keeping with RTÉ’s commitment to increased  transparency, we are today confirming – and publishing – our decision to include all those presenters who are in dual roles in the annual top ten presenters. As well as publishing the list for 2025, we are also re-presenting the top 10 list for 2024 for consistency and comparison purposes. The list also confirms the continued application of the RTÉ pay cap for all RTÉ employees at the level of pay of the Director-General.” 

Tables (2025 and 2024) also available via this link: https://we.tl/t-3JMoSzpaF7K73ZSe

For information:

Neil O’Gorman | neil.ogorman@rte.ie (Thursday only due to annual leave)

Maureen Catterson | maureen.catterson@rte.ie

Laura Fitzgerald | laura.fitzgerald@rte.ie

Joseph Hoban | joseph.hoban@rte.ie

The Board of RTÉ are responsible for the proper preparation and fair presentation of the RTÉ Top 10 Highest Presenter Earnings Statement for the relevant periods.

i. Presenters are deemed to comprise tv and radio programme presenters including those involved in sports programming and those journalists and editors who have an on-air presence in news and current affairs programming.

ii. The RTÉ Top 10 highest presenter earnings for the year ended 31 December 2025 is prepared on an accruals basis under the measurement and valuation criteria of IFRS. It relates to the contracted expense incurred directly by RTÉ for 2025 relating to employees or independent contractors who have a direct relationship with RTÉ and is for services performed in that year.

iii. Where an employee or contractor performs a dual role, for example that of producer and presenter or editor and presenter, their total earnings from RTÉ are included.

iv. Payments in respect of independently produced programming made by RTÉ-funded independent production companies to any RTÉ employee or contractor are excluded.

v. Also excluded are any accruals or payments in respect of the ongoing SCOPE investigation with the Department of Social Protection regarding the employment status of certain contractors.

vi. Employee expense includes salaries, employer pension contribution, benefit-in-kind and related benefits. Certain RTÉ employees are assigned as foreign correspondents, the associated benefit-in-kind costs for additional benefits they receive that relate solely to their overseas assignment such as accommodation, travel, utilities and medical insurance are excluded from the calculation of earnings for the Top 10 presenters.

vii. The expense recognised for contractors represent fees and expenses payable for services provided in 2025 and excludes VAT. Contractors do not earn salaries and RTÉ does not make any pension contributions on their behalf.

*Payments to Derrough Media Limited and Whatnext Productions Limited relate to the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Both companies had contracts to provide services for the full year 2025. Services provided to RTÉ by Derrough Media Limited ceased on 31 October 2025, while services provided by Whatnext Productions Limited ceased on 9 October 2025. Payments made to these companies, from the dates their services ended through to the end of the year included in the table above amounted to €47,000 to Derrough Media Limited and €50,000 to Whatnext Productions Limited respectively.

** Derek Mooney, an employee of RTÉ provides both producer and presenter services to RTÉ. In accordance with note (iii) above which outlines the basis of preparation, he is included in the 2025 Top 10 Highest Paid Presenters disclosure.

The Group auditors, Forvis Mazars have issued a reasonable assurance report on the Top 10 highest paid presenters for 2025 presented in the table above. Forvis Mazars planned and performed their assurance work, so as to obtain all the information and explanations that they considered necessary, in order to provide them with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the schedule above has been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable criteria.