Outback Wrangler Matt Wright’s extraordinary weekly pay packet

Matt Wright is pictured with wife Kaia

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, who is on bail for allegedly tampering with a helicopter crash the killed his mate, potentially earns more than $200,000 per week thanks to the property empire he owns with his wife – including an island resort.

The Netflix star, 43, was hit with a string of charges in November over a chopper smash in the Northern Territory in February that resulted in the death of his co-star Chris Wilson.

Police allege Wright flew to the site with three others and interfered with evidence at the crash site in an attempt to pervert the course of justice. He strenuously denies the charges and intends to plead not guilty.

Wright was granted bail in Darwin Local Court on November 30 and the judge granted him permission to leave the territory to go back to the home he shares with his wife Kaia, toddler son and newborn daughter on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Over the following days, he was dropped by major sponsor Great Northern beer and his face was removed from an advertising campaign for G-Shock watches.

But the financial loss won’t be too much of a strain for the Wright family, who own and operate five luxury Airbnb properties around the Darwin area called ‘Freshwater Retreat’ – which cost up to $5,000 for a couple for a minimum two-night stay.

He also owns Tiwi Island Retreat, which is part of an island complex 80km off Darwin’s north coast, and charges couples $4,400 to stay in a ‘luxury’ tent for a minimum of two nights.

The Wright’s own five villas on a property they call Freshwater Retreat’ (pictured). All villas can be booked for a combined $5,984 for two nights

There are four villas, which cost between $808 and $912 per couple for a minimum two-night stay (pictured)

Wright also owns Tiwi Island Retreat, which features a ‘luxury’ tent (pictured) as it’s most expensive option – at $4400 per couple for two nights

Wright also runs Top End Safari Camp which is a major tourist attraction and costs about $1700 for two people, which includes tent accommodation and a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight.

Furthermore, Wright’s home on the outskirts of Darwin is a $4million, 31-acre fortress with ‘private’ and ‘keep out’ signs at the front gate, with security cameras overhead.

The house – sold to Wright in 2019 – is surrounded by palm trees and has nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, and enough parking for 10 vehicles.

The Airbnbs are run by Wright’s wife, Kaia. Below a happy snap of them together on the accommodation website, their profile reads: ‘My husband and I manage a number of accommodation and tourism businesses in the Northern Territory.’

‘We rent our Freshwater Retreat property including The Wright Residence and the property’s 4 self contained villas on Airbnb. We love our property and hope you can experience its beauty too.’

The largest villa is named The Wright Residence and hosts up to 10 guests across four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and features a library, gym, kitchen and pool access.

The Wright Residence (pictured) is the largest accommodation option within the Wright’s Airbnb complex

Thrill-seekers interested in the Top End Safari Camp with a friend are looking at about $1700 for a 20-hour adventure. Guests stay in one of 15 tents (pictured)

Villa Setosa and Villa Maritima each have space for two, boast a ‘tropical’ outdoor bathroom and cost $808 for a two-night minimum stay, while Villa Maritima and Villa Excelsa have the same features but cost $912 for two nights.

Two guests would have to fork out $5,984 to rent all villas, including The Wright Residence, for two nights. The entire complex sleeps 18 people.

Tiwi Islands Retreat is ‘set amongst a pristine marine sanctuary’ and features 20 rooms with varying degrees of ‘luxury’.

The priciest accommodation option is ‘glamping’ in a ‘luxury tent’ with ocean views,  an en-suite and private pool, and costs $4,400 for two people. A family-of-four would have to fork out $4,800 for the same tent.

A room with an ocean view costs $3,000 for two people, for a two-night stay, and includes an en-suite with double shower heads, while a family ocean room costs $4,400 for two adults and two kids and has a bathroom and living area.

Village rooms have shared bathrooms, a communal outdoor balcony, and a mixture of queen rooms, king singles and single bunk beds – all for $2,400 for a couple for two nights.

The house is surrounded by palm trees and has nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, and enough parking for 10 vehicles (pictured) 

Matt Wright’s home in Darwin cost $4million in 2019, and sits on a 31-acre block with security cameras at the gate (pictured)

Thrill-seekers interested in the Top End Safari Camp with a friend are looking at about $1,700 for a 20-hour adventure, which includes crocodile feeding, an airboat cruise, a sunset cheese board, an outdoor dinner, and a barbecue breakfast.

The accommodation available is an ‘overnight outback glamping experience in deluxe lotus belle tent’. There are 15 tents on site.

If all the properties owned by Wright were booked out at the same time, he would earn about $211,000 per week.

Mr Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs in a remote area of west Arnhem Land when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was hanging 30 metres below collided with trees and the ground.

His body was found 40m from the main wreckage at the King River crash site. Wright is accused of flying to the crash site with three others after the accident.

NT Police Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Mellon, 47, was arrested after walking into work at Darwin Police Station in August and accused of interfering with the helicopter crash investigation. 

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson (pictured) died in the crash in west Arnhem Land while collecting crocodile eggs

Police allege Wright flew to the site with three others and interfered with evidence at the crash site (pictured) in an attempt to pervert the course of justice

He was hit with 32 charges, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, stealing, unlawfully accessing data, as well as alleged destruction of evidence in relation to a major crash investigation.

In November, Wright was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, unlawfully entering a building, unlawfully entering a dwelling, making a false declaration and interfering with witnesses in a criminal investigation or court process by making threats/reprisals. 

‘Matt Wright strenuously denied these charges,’ his lawyer David Newey said outside court in November.

‘Regulatory investigations have found no defect in the helicopter. Matt requests that the media respects his privacy and Wilson’s, and his wife.

‘Matt is naturally disappointed that the charges have been laid.’ 

A spokesman for Wright had earlier added: ‘What happened was a tragic accident that took the life of a close mate.

Kaia and Matt Wright are pictured together with their son Banjo, 4. Outback Wrangler is shown in 100 countries

Matt Wright is pictured arriving at Darwin Local Court in November. He was granted bail 

‘His immediate concern following the accident was the condition of the two team members on board at the time.

His matter will be mentioned in Darwin Local Court on January 25.

Wright did his best to try and evade reporters when he arrived in Darwin in November to present himself to police  in November – from the moment he left NSW at about 8am to the point where he walked out of a police station in Palmerston at about 6pm.

He tried to out-run reporters inside Sydney Airport before settling in for the 4.5-hour business class flight across the Red Centre.

When he emerged from Darwin Airport, he was flanked by bodyguards who barged past media while shouting and throwing their hands at flashing camera lenses.

Wright could be seen grinning in the photos and footage of the ordeal, as his guards pushed camera crews out of the way.

The warrant for his arrest came a week after Mrs Wright welcomed the birth of their second child, a daughter Dusty Faith, on November 18.