Aussie content producers make millions and invest in real estate

Australia’s adult entertainment stars are building their own property empires that stretch far beyond the screen.

As they continue to build loyal fanbases – they’re also making moves in the property market, amassing wealth through real estate investments.

From Katija Cortez to Belinda Gavin – these savvy content creators are embracing a traditionally unconventional career to build a pathway to property ownership.

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Katija Cortez – Podcast Host

Sydney-based Playboy Playmate of 2023 Katija Cortez has made a stamp on the industry with her open discussions about sex and success.

Cortez also heads up award-winning podcast The Kat and Mark Show alongside co-host Mark Vukasin.

Property has also played a key part of Cortez’s success – she owns two investment properties in South Western Sydney and currently rents them both out.

“My first one I bought when I was 22 which is when I was still an accountant,” Cortez said.

“I’d saved up all the birthday and Christmas money my whole life and when I started my full time job as an accountant I was still living at home with zero expenses so was able to add a nice amount to my savings after working for over a year.

“My very “safe job” as an accountant for one of the big four banks made it tremendously easy to get out a loan.”

Cortez said the second property she purchased commencing working in the adult industry – she bought her second property at aged 27.

“The significant jump in my pay rise made saving up for my second property very quick, especially since I already had a lot saved up from the three years I spent working as an accountant while still living at home with zero expenses” she said.
“I didn’t move out until I was 25 and then joined the adult industry six months later.”

Cortez has amassed a following of 15,700 followers on Instagram.

Princess Poppy – Content creator

Adelaide’s own Princess Poppy has carved an impressive dual career for herself in the world of adult entertainment and property investment.

With a devoted Instagram following of 12,200, she said her achievements in the property realm gave her fulfilment.

“I own five acres of land myself, in the Adelaide Hills – complete with 30 chickens, a creek and an orchard, (I) did it with my husband from scratch, and we are revegetating it with local natives,” she said.

Poppy’s job in the adult entertainment industry has enabled her and her husband to acquire their property, where they sought a homestead lifestyle.

Both Poppy and her partner want to live self-sufficiently with solar power, rainwater, local plant species, and an expanding orchard.

She said she married her high school sweetheart — after being with him since age 15, but he is absent from most of her online content.

“Most of my content does not include him, but he does star in some videos – I work with other professional content creators,” the entertainer said.

While the Covid pandemic created a surge in new industry participants and intensified competition Poppy said maintained her footing, balancing content creation with a day job as an IT Service Manager.

In 2023, she returned to full-time content creation.

Lucy Banks – Founder of Million Billion Media

In a meteoric rise from content creator sensation to owning multiple properties, Lucy Banks, the founder of adult PR agency Million Billion Media has built herself a real estate empire.

The Perth-based 33-year old purchased four houses in just 15 months, all funded by her online success.

After turning her first investment into a profitable flip, she now revels in her dream home, complete with a luxurious pool and a flock of chickens for her children.

“I bought my first house from my (online) income,” she said.

“As a single mum, getting into the property market is easily one of the best achievements in my life.

“I bought four properties within 15 months, and made sure I leveraged my income to set up myself and my family long term.

Ms Banks said there was no way she could have bought one house if she was in a normal job.

“It is a perfectly viable option for someone who is willing to hustle hard and be smart with their income. It’s a great way to try and break into the property market,” she said.

“It is not a ‘get rich quick’ kind of deal. It is extremely competitive and you need to be putting in a crazy amount of hours, especially when you first start.

“I worked hard, bought my properties, and then left the industry to start my public relations company.”

Banks has been nominated for Best Entrepreneur for the AdultChoiceAwards.com.au and has accumulated nearly 99,000 followers on Instagram.

Her company Million Billion Media is the first adult-industry-friendly Public Relations and Talent Management agency in Australia

She is also the co-host of the fempirepodcast.

Annie Knight – Content creator

At just 27-years old, Gold Coast’s Annie Knight has made impressive progress in her financial endeavours, leading to her being nominated for several awards, including Alpha Female, Marketing Excellence, Best Podcast, Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Female Content Creator and many more.

Driven by her online endeavours, Knight has managed to acquire three properties in just 18 months.

Recently, she purchased her dream home and plans to use the other two as investment properties.

Knight has a strategic approach to her real estate plans and intends to purchase more properties in the future.

She acknowledges the judgement often faced by content creators but remained unfazed.

“Being a creator comes with a lot of judgement – but I’m the one who will own five properties before I’m 30, I’m setting myself up” Ms Knight said.

“People can judge all they want, but I’m confident in my choices.

“I feel very fortunate to be in this position and I want to make the most of it.”

Feeling privileged to be in her current position, Knight is determined to keep expanding her property portfolio while also investing in other ventures.

She has accumulated 152,000 followers on Instagram.

Maddi Miller – Content creator

At just 20-years old, Maddi Miller, a rising online content creator star from the Western Australian outback has been nominated for awards.

But her accomplishments stretch beyond the adult entertainment industry.

Demonstrating a keen sense for investment and financial growth, Miller has already purchased her second property, with her first acquisition taking place when she was just 18.

Miller’s passion for cars played a role in her decision-making regarding her properties.

She said she plans to use her first home as a workshop.

“I’m going to live in my new property and most likely rent out my first home after I do some renovations,” Ms Miller said.

Miller said she is looking to the future, with plans to expand her investments in industrial workshops.

On social media, Miller has garnered a significant following, with 19,100 followers on Instagram.

Blair Hunter – IvySociete owner

32-year-old Blair Hunter from Melbourne has garnered success as founder and owner of escort directory IvySociete.

Ms Hunter said like many of her friends in the industry, she originally thought she’d work for a year, save up, and then move on to something else.

“The plan was simple: save enough to buy a property, which I did within my first year,” Ms Hunter said.
“What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the work itself – seven-years later, I’m still here, thriving.

“With the funds I’ve earned, I’ve launched two businesses, including Ivy Société, and even purchased a second property.”

Ms Hunter said she is now fortunate enough to enjoy living in a beautiful rainforest, basking in summer-like weather year-round owning property in her home state of Victoria and a property just outside of Brisbane.

Belinda Gavin – AdultChoiceAwards 2024 host

Belinda Gavin, who hosted the 2024 Adult Choice Awards, is well-regarded for her advocacy within the industry, and has also successfully ventured into property investment.

Now predominantly residing in Melbourne, Ms Gavin recently made a strategic move by purchasing a home in Queensland, aimed at providing comfort for her father and grandmother.

“One was a lovely big house on the Gold Coast with four bedrooms, and we made a fantastic space for my Dad and Nan,” Ms Gavin said. “It took two years to get into the market again, but I now have a cute unit in Southport – it is perfect.”

The adult ambassador said that her father’s situation has been well looked after, as she spends most of her time working and living in Melbourne.

Her father has his own place now highlighting the secure building’s key features, which include two doors to buzz in, a swimming pool, deck chairs, a barbecue, and a huge entertaining area.

“It is close to shops and doctors for Dad, and it has beautiful views out to the Broadwater,” she said.

But, the property acquisition was not without its challenges.

“I felt so lucky to secure the property, and it was only through the help of a number of people that it happened,” Ms Gavin said.

“My Dad helped me with a 20 per cent deposit – If I had to save this, I would never have been able to do it, but thanks Dad.”

Faced with obstacles in obtaining a loan, Ms Gavin recounted her struggles, explaining that in 2022, the company to which she had paid her mortgage for five years denied her a loan due to her receiving government benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Determined to overcome these limitations, Ms Gavin spent two years tidying up her finances and worked tirelessly to secure another loan.

She embarked on a new business venture to boost her income, initially eyeing properties around the $450,000 mark.

However, prices soared beyond her reach.

A friend in finance advised her to lower her price range, leading her to purchase a unit for $350,000, sight unseen.

“I made a few changes to my requirements and went down to $350,000 and bought the unit without even looking at it,” she said.

Content with her decision, Gavin expressed her relief in maintaining a realistic financial outlook.

“I was so happy with the fact that I did not go too big and beyond my means,” she said.

As an ambassador for the adult industry, Gavin is comfortable with her current property repayments and is optimistic about the potential to pay it off faster and invest in future homes.

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