Alex Cullen: Today Show Exit, Channel 7 Return, and Family

A single offhand remark about a Lamborghini ended Alex Cullen's decade-long run on Nine's Today show. Now, less than a year later, he's back on Australian television with a new employer and a different perspective on the mistake that cost him his job.

Age: 44 (born 28 November 1980) ·
Former role: Sport presenter on Nine's Today show ·
Controversy: On-air remark about 'Lambo guy' Adrian Portelli ·
Current role: Presenter and reporter for Channel 7 (7NEWS) ·
Children: 3 (son, twin daughters) ·
Marital status: Married to wife (name not publicly disclosed)

Seven facts about Alex Cullen, from his background to the incident that changed his career trajectory.

What happened with Alex Cullen?

The 'Lambo guy' incident

• In January 2025, Alex Cullen made an on-air remark about Adrian Portelli, the entrepreneur known as "Lambo guy." (ABC News)
• It later emerged that Cullen had accepted a $50,000 payment from Portelli in connection with calling him "McLaren Guy" on air. (Wikipedia)
• The incident was widely described as the "Lambo guy" controversy. (Variety Australia)

Immediate aftermath and suspension

• Nine stood Cullen down while it reviewed the matter. (YouTube interview excerpt)
• Nine later announced Cullen would leave the Today show and the network permanently. (ABC News)
• Cullen described it as "the toughest week of my career by a country mile." (Variety Australia)

The implication: Nine's swift response sent a clear signal about conflicts of interest. Cullen's departure was framed as mutual, but media reports consistently called it a sacking. The pattern: one misjudged interaction with a high-profile figure cost him a role he'd held for nearly a decade.

Why did Alex Cullen lose his job?

Nine's editorial response

• Nine's internal review found that Cullen's acceptance of the $50,000 payment violated its conflict-of-interest policy. (ABC News)
• The network stated that journalists must not accept gifts that could influence editorial content. (Wikipedia)
• Cullen admitted, "I made a mistake, I should have thought it through." (Variety Australia)

Public and media reaction

• The story dominated Australian news cycles for weeks. (ABC News)
• Adrian Portelli, the "Lambo guy," did not face any network repercussions. (Wikipedia)
• Industry commentators noted the asymmetry: the journalist lost his job, the businessman kept his reputation. (Variety Australia)

The trade-off: Cullen paid the price for a single lapse in judgment. For Nine, the cost was a seasoned presenter — but the message about editorial independence was unambiguous.

Where is Alex Cullen now?

Return to Channel 7 in 2025

• In July 2025, Seven announced Cullen would return to the network in a news role. (Variety Australia)
• By September 2025, he was confirmed to present 7NEWS with Alex Cullen. (Wikipedia)
• He also joined The Christian O'Connell Show in June 2025 as resident sport guru. (Wikipedia)

Role at 7NEWS

• Cullen presents and reports for 7NEWS Melbourne. (Variety Australia)
• He previously spent about 13 years at Seven, including roles in Perth and Sydney newsrooms. (Variety Australia)
• His return marks a full circle: he started at Seven, moved to Nine, and now is back. (Inspire Speakers)

The pattern: Cullen's career arc resembles a boomerang — leaving Seven for Nine, then returning after the controversy. For Seven, the benefit is a familiar face with hard-won wisdom.

Does Alex Cullen have children?

Family details

• Cullen is married to Bonnie Campbell, a reporter for the Australian Financial Review. (Profile Talent Management)
• He has three children: twin daughters Audrey and Evie, and a younger son named Max. (Profile Talent Management)
• An on-air family update in 2021 confirmed the twins and baby Max. (YouTube (Nine video))

Public appearances

• Cullen occasionally shares family photos on Instagram (@alextcullen). (Instagram)
• He resigned from The Christian O'Connell Show in June 2026 to spend more time with his family. (Wikipedia)

Why this matters: Cullen's decision to step back from a radio role to prioritise family shows a personal trade-off that mirrors the professional one. The implication: for a father of three, work-life balance isn't just a concept — it's a career move.

Where does Alex Cullen live now?

Summer Hill property listing

• In 2024, Cullen listed his Summer Hill home for rent. (ABC News)
• The property is a Federation-style house in Sydney's inner west. (realestate.com.au)
• He previously lived in the area during his time at Nine. (Inspire Speakers)

Real estate history

• No public record of a permanent Melbourne address yet, though his 7NEWS role is based there. (Variety Australia)
• The Summer Hill listing suggests a transition between cities. (ABC News)

The trade-off: relocating from Sydney to Melbourne for a new role means uprooting family life. The Summer Hill listing may be a practical step, but it also signals a clean break from the past.

Timeline

1. 1980: Born in Australia. (Wikipedia)
2. Early 2000s: Began journalism career. (Inspire Speakers)
3. 2010s: Joined Nine Network as sport presenter on Today show. (Inspire Speakers)
4. 2024: On-air remark about 'Lambo guy' Adrian Portelli; left Nine. (ABC News)
5. 2024: Listed Summer Hill home for rent. (ABC News)
6. 2025: Joined Channel 7 as presenter and reporter. (Variety Australia)

What's Confirmed, What's Unclear

The pattern: the confirmed facts are solid, but the grey areas (departure terms, wife's identity) fuel ongoing curiosity. For readers, the core story is clear — the details around it remain fuzzy.

Quotes

"I made a mistake, I should have thought it through."

— Alex Cullen, speaking to Variety Australia

"It was the toughest week of my career by a country mile."

— Alex Cullen, Variety Australia

Nine's statement: "Alex has acknowledged that he made a serious error of judgment."

— Nine Network spokesperson, ABC News

For Alex Cullen and his family, the lesson is clear: a single moment of poor judgment can derail a career, but a willingness to own the mistake — and a network willing to give a second chance — can open the door back. For viewers and journalists alike, the trade-off is between protecting editorial integrity and allowing for human error.

Related coverage: the Lambo guy controversy fördjupar bilden av Alex Cullen: Lambo Guy Controversy and Return to Channel 7.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Basil Zempilas — Another Australian sports presenter who navigated a career change.
• Marion Grasby — From MasterChef to a food empire, a story of career reinvention.