Michael Goonan is Married At First Sight‘s most high-profile contestant ever.
The 29-year-old lives in a $1.1million Adelaide mansion he bought in his early twenties, travels in private jets and runs his family business, Adelaide Ice.
After moving to Australia from Scotland when Michael was just eight, the Goonan family built their empire by taking a huge gamble, and it has more than paid off.
Mansions, private jets and solid gold watches: Inside Married At First Sight star Michael Goonan and his family’s colossal wealth – and how they built their business empire
THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Michael’s father, also called Michael, moved the family to Australia in 2000.
After spending 13 years managing a chain of nursing homes in the UK, he initially started an online grocery business in South Australia – but it failed to take off.
Moving out of his comfort zone, he bought small local business, Reliable Ice, in 2002, renamed it Adelaide Ice and then spent years building it into an empire.
‘Ice wasn’t our first interest’: Michael’s father, also called Michael (pictured), moved the family from Scotland to South Australia in 2000. He bought small local business Reliable Ice in 2002
‘Coming to Australia – ice certainly wasn’t our first interest… To be honest, I stumbled into the ice business,’ he told Migrant Solutions in 2016.
‘It wasn’t my skill set, manufacturing, or the food industry – but I had a look at this business and thought, “I could buy that, I could make that work”.’
Adelaide Ice is now South Australia’s largest ice manufacturing and packaging business, and has offices in Victoria, Northern Territory and Queensland.
Empire: He renamed the company Adelaide Ice, and it is now SA’s largest ice manufacturing and packaging business, and has offices across the country. Pictured: Michael on Wednesday
MICHAEL’S SLOW TAKEOVER
Reality star Michael started working for his father before his 13th birthday.
‘I can’t remember a week since when I was 12 when I wasn’t working. I’m the director of a cold-storage and food manufacturing business,’ he said during his MAFS introduction, after becoming a company director years ago.
‘When I was 24 years old, I was able to afford a property over one million dollars.’
Start: Michael started working for his dad when he was 12. He was promoted to company director years later, and bought a $1.1million mansion when he was 24. Pictured as a teen
In November, while filming MAFS, he told his now ex-‘wife’ Stacey Hampton he could no longer live with her in Adelaide once filming wrapped, having received a call saying he must relocate to Melbourne for six months for the business.
His quick decision, impacting his personal life, showed his commitment to work.
Kara Goonan, believed to be Michael’s sister, also works for the family business, previously telling Adelaide Now she ‘does the accounts’.
His main priority: In November, while filming MAFS, he told his now ex-‘wife’ Stacey Hampton he could no longer live with her in Adelaide once filming wrapped, having received a call saying he must relocate to Melbourne for six months for the business
HIS OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME
Adelaide Ice isn’t Michael’s only source of income or commitment.
As he travels so much, he hires his $1.1million mansion out on Airbnb for up to $1,000-a-night, and has earned a top rating from previous guests.
He also co-owns wine label, Australian Sapphire Enterprises, with his friend Calvin Daniels, which they launched in May 2019, three months before filming MAFS.
The company donates 50% of profits made to ‘charities and causes of need’.
Other sources of income: Michael hires his $1.1million mansion (pictured) out on Airbnb for up to $1,000-per-night, and has earned a top rating from previous guests
Venture: He also co-owns wine label, Australian Sapphire Enterprises, with his friend Calvin Daniels, which they launched in May 2019, three months before filming MAFS
NET WORTH & EXPENSIVE TASTES
According to some websites, Michael currently has a net worth of at least $1million. However, this is yet to be confirmed and is simply rumoured.
The newfound reality star, who is dating co-star KC Osborne, definitely has expensive tastes, and is rarely seen without his solid gold watch on.
On Monday, he chartered a private jet from Sydney to Melbourne for the couple, with the quick journey tipped to have set him back at least $9,000.
Expensive tastes: Michael has a rumoured net worth of $1million and enjoys the finer things. Pictured: Michael and KC Osborne with matching Louis Vuitton luggage outside of a private jet
Flashy: Michael is rarely seen without his famous solid gold watch on