Samantha Armytage has moved into a luxury apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs following her shocking split from husband Richard Lavender.
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday that the TV presenter, 48, and her equestrian businessman husband, 61, had gone their separate ways.
Following their split, Samantha has already moved out of Richard’s sprawling 100-acre home in the Southern Highlands, where they married on New Year’s Eve 2020.
He moved back to Sydney and now lives in his apartment in the eastern suburbs, while he also has a host of other luxury properties among his multimillion-dollar portfolio.
The incoming Golden Bachelor host, 48, is quite the real estate expert and has amassed an impressive property portfolio worth $10 million, according to wellbeing.com.au.
Samantha owns several eye-catching properties in New South Wales and her most recent purchase was made in May this year.
Samantha Armytage has moved into a luxury apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs following her shocking split from husband Richard Lavender.
He also has a host of other lavish properties among his multimillion-dollar portfolio, including a $2.2 million luxury property in the Southern Highlands (pictured).
The television veteran paid $1.3 million for a renovation project in Moss Vale, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, the first time the property has changed hands since 1962.
Located on a spacious 1922 square meter block, the impressive house has three bedrooms and picturesque views of nature.
It is also just a 12-minute drive from the Berrima property she shared with Richard until their separation.
Samantha also purchased a stylish investment property for $1.58 million in 2021 in the trendy Sydney suburb of Rushcutters Bay.
It is an exquisitely designed two-bedroom beachfront property located in the exclusive Marina One complex.
The modern two-bedroom apartment features sea views, a sun-drenched living room, a modern kitchen and connects to a garden terrace.
The complex, a resort-style development, also has two swimming pools and is just steps from the port.
Samantha also owns a holiday rental in Hyams Beach on the New South Wales south coast, which she bought for $1.76 million in 2018.
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday that the TV presenter, 48, and her equestrian businessman husband, 61, had split and she has now moved out of their home in the Southern Highlands.
The incoming Golden Bachelor host, 48, is quite the real estate expert and has amassed an impressive property portfolio worth $10 million, including a $1.3 million renovation project in Moss Vale.
Samantha also purchased a stylish investment property for $1.575 million in 2021 in the trendy Sydney suburb of Rushcutters Bay.
She put the three-bedroom beachfront property up for sale last year but it languished unsold and she withdrew the sale just hours before news of her split with Richard hit the headlines.
Samantha was forced to cut the property’s initial $3 million asking price in September and relist it with a guide of between $2.5 million and $3 million.
However, on Thursday morning, the Mercury Illawarra reported that the house was removed from the agent’s listing and was no longer for sale.
The former Sunrise star had the gorgeous property on the market as a short-term vacation rental, charging a staggering $1,200 per night, with a three-night minimum stay.
Located just a few meters from the beach, the house has an entertainment terrace, study and games room.
Meanwhile, Samantha also made a handsome profit selling part of her property portfolio, after parting with her exquisite North Bondi home in July 2020, raising $3.15 million on the sale.
The veteran anchor had purchased the house in 2014 for $2.15 million, meaning she made a significant profit once the sale was completed.
Samantha had listed the property just days after she first revealed her engagement to Richard.
It is an exquisitely designed two-bedroom beachfront property located in the exclusive Marina One complex.
Samantha also owns a holiday rental in Hyams Beach on the New South Wales south coast, which she bought for $1.76 million in 2018.
She put the three-bedroom beachfront property up for sale last year but it languished unsold and she withdrew the sale just hours before news of her split with Richard hit the headlines.
He also offloaded his Pear Tree Cottage property in the Southern Highlands, before moving to Richard’s Berrima farm, in August 2020 for $3.1 million.
However, in a rare missed opportunity for Samantha, the property sold again in March last year for almost double the price: $6 million, setting a record price for acreage in the town.
The announcement of Samantha and Richard’s separation sent shock waves through Australia’s television industry this week.
The couple’s split was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper on Friday, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance.
‘Yes, Richard and I have separated. “All breakups are difficult, but it is alleviated a little by the fact that they are amicable and we wish each other the best,” Samantha told the media on Thursday night.
‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. “I will not comment further.”
While the news has only just emerged publicly, it is understood that Samantha’s TV presenting friends have been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time.
Samantha is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard’s two daughters, Sascha and Grace, on Instagram following the split, although the former couple still follow each other.
Samantha began dating Richard in April 2019 and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at their property in rural New South Wales six months later.
Samantha began dating Richard in April 2019 and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at their property in rural New South Wales six months later.
In one wedding photo, Samantha was seen holding hands with her new husband as they strolled around their Southern Highlands estate on New Year’s Eve, shortly after saying “I do.”
She captioned the touching image, which was taken after their wedding ceremony but before the reception, at 11:58 a.m. on a Thursday. How lucky are we?
The intimate ceremony only had a small number of guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Richard’s daughters are believed to have attended.
Samantha also posted a photo from later that night, which showed the pair hugging alongside the words: ‘HNY from the Lav’s’.
Amid the breakdown of her marriage, Samantha also experienced a big career change after leaving Channel Seven after 21 years at the network.
She moved to rival network Nine and signed up to host new reality dating show The Golden Bachelor.
The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of the series The Bachelor, but it differs in that the contestants of the reality dating show are singles between 50 and 60 years old.
In her new role at Nine, she will also become a substitute presenter on Today, while regular presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo will take leave over the summer.
Samantha, who once hosted Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise, will co-host with Weekend Today star Clint Stanaway.
The journalist will ‘wake up with Today’ for a week and a half, drawing on her eight-year experience as a presenter on Sunrise from 2013 to 2021 on the rival bench.