They are saying Australia is the fortunate nation – and for one former British backpacker, more true phrases have by no means been spoken.
Pictured rising shirtless from his beachside Sydney residence final week, Lee Henderson appears like your typical cashed-up japanese suburbs DILF. However dig beneath the floor of his charmed life and you will find a person who really defines the Aussie dream.
Lee is a photographer. However you most likely know him finest because the ex-husband of Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, the highest-paid girl in radio. They cut up in October 2018 after 15 years of marriage, and finalised their divorce in 2021. They share a daughter, 13-year-old Kitty.
To say Lee hit the jackpot when he wooed a younger Jackie in a Sydney pub greater than 20 years in the past can be an understatement.
Nonetheless years away from reaching the height of her broadcasting success, and recent from the breakdown of her first marriage to shock jock ‘Ugly Phil’ O’Neil, Jackie did not appear to thoughts that Lee was an English vacationer with out a lot going for him.
It was March 2000 when their eyes locked throughout the dancefloor at Blue Room.
Lee went all the way down to the seashore for a shirtless stroll on the sand and a fast dip
Lee was backpacking round Australia within the 12 months 2000 when he first laid eyes on the budding radio presenter, who was newly divorced from her first husband, Ugly Phil O’Neil
Jackie, then 25 and out with a girlfriend, would later muse in her diary that Lee, who was a 12 months youthful than her, took his time coming over – ‘about an hour’ – however being a ‘sluggish mover’ was enigmatic in a method.
The actual fact the ‘prim and correct’ Brit reminded her ‘of a sizzling Hugh Grant’ did not harm both.
Earlier than she left, he requested for her quantity, which she punched into his Nokia. He known as just a few days later. Jackie wrote in her diary on the time – and would recount on air years later – that she wasn’t certain about him at first, however there was instant bodily attraction.
‘Lee’s actually sizzling, however I simply don’t find out about us being collectively. I don’t know if I see it or not,’ she wrote.
It seems they’d have a future collectively. It would not final a lifetime, however they’d make it virtually 20 years and develop into dad and mom of a daughter, conceived through IVF in 2010.
Within the years that adopted, Jackie would pair up with one other essential man in her life – her on-air associate Kyle Sandilands – and collectively they’d develop into Sydney’s hottest breakfast radio group. In 2019, they signed probably the most profitable deal within the historical past of Australian media. They inked one other staggering contract, value $200million, in late 2023.
Lee performed the function of devoted, quiet husband as his spouse’s skilled life soared, and likewise supported her throughout the controversies that punctuated her profession.
When, in 2018, Jackie introduced on air she and Lee had been separating, few noticed it coming.
Lee has effectively and really moved on from his failed marriage and continues his romance with tattooed jujitsu teacher Gabriella Motta. Pictured in 2021
They’re believed to be dwelling collectively, in line with sources, and even keep their enviable seashore our bodies on the similar fitness center Gabriella is a coach at
‘After 18 years collectively, we’ve got made the choice to separate. We accomplish that amicably, sharing many unimaginable reminiscences and remaining finest mates,’ she mentioned.
‘Our focus for this subsequent chapter is in fact our fantastic daughter and persevering with to supply her love and happiness, collectively.’
Whereas issues typically go downhill for males after divorce, Lee’s life right this moment could not be higher.
The mild-mannered Englishman walked away with thousands and thousands following their cut up. It was cash Jackie was pleased to half with, given how rather more she earned than Lee and the very fact their daughter, Kitty, can be staying with him half the time.
In the present day, Lee appears to be dwelling a dream life. Bodily, he has by no means appeared higher. As our newest shirtless photographs reveal, he has a toned, athletic physique. He has additionally coupled up with a shocking Brazilian he met on the fitness center.
He used to look relatively dorky in comparison with his well-known spouse after they had been pictured collectively at occasions, however now Lee is the embodiment of the japanese suburbs ‘Peter Pan’ – a person in his late 40s who appears to defy the ageing course of.
In 2018, the couple issued a bombshell assertion saying their separation after 15 years of marriage. They promised to stay ‘finest mates’ and co-parent their daughter Kitty
Lee’s physique has by no means appeared higher, as seen in latest shirtless photographs. The photographer is the image of ‘wholesome dwelling’ as he left his japanese suburbs residence in Sydney final month
As for his new relationship, Lee hasn’t mentioned a lot, however we all know he is relationship Gabriella Motta, a tattooed jujitsu teacher with whom he shares a ardour for martial arts.
They had been first noticed collectively in 2019, a 12 months after he separated from Jackie. They’re believed to be dwelling collectively in Sydney’s east and, sources say, Lee continues to work out on the similar fitness center the place Gabriella is a coach.
The low-profile relationship marks a big shift for Lee, whose marriage to Jackie wasn’t simply high-profile however apparently fraught behind the scenes for years.
In her newly printed memoir The Entire Reality, Jackie admitted that it was clear their relationship was heading down the unsuitable path lengthy earlier than they known as it quits.
She struggled for years with fluctuating weight and remarks her health-conscious husband would make about her measurement in ‘weak’ moments have caught together with her to this present day.
‘I bear in mind getting modified within the walk-in wardrobe, standing there bare and weak, and Lee walked previous and I caught him me within the mirror with an expression of disdain or disgust. I am going to always remember that look. Typically he would wrap an arm round me and seize a spare tyre. “Take a look at that!” he’d say as a joke, however I questioned if it actually was.’
It acquired to the purpose the place Lee steered she bear a full-body scan ‘as a result of he thought I used to be overweight’.
‘I went and acquired one… and I wasn’t overweight,’ she continued. ‘I used to be chubby, although. Most likely simply consuming my emotions, and my palette wasn’t discerning.’
Throughout their marriage, Jackie accrued important wealth due to her radio and TV profession. Years after splitting from Lee, she admitted on air it was no secret she wasn’t getting any cash from her ex within the settlement as a result of she was the richer of the 2.
‘I needed to share my wealth. And he mentioned, “Sure, I am going to take it!”‘ she mentioned in 2021. However she hastened so as to add there was no bitterness as a result of he was the daddy of her daughter.
‘I’ve to say, when you might have youngsters, it’s very completely different,’ she mentioned.
Jackie was reportedly $10million out of pocket within the divorce, with Lee being transferred the $6.7million marital residence. However in comparison with her internet value, it was a drop within the ocean.
A supply instructed to New Concept in 2018: ‘Jac is and has all the time been the breadwinner… so there isn’t a doubt Lee will wrestle with out her.
‘When she fell pregnant with Kitty, the plan was all the time to return to work and make the cash and Lee would keep at residence and take care of Kitty, despite the fact that they may have simply afforded a nanny.’
Years after her marriage ended, Jackie admitted stay on air that it was no secret she wasn’t getting any cash from Lee within the settlement as a result of she’s the richer of the 2
The previous couple owned a lavish residence in Vaucluse, which they purchased in 2012. Jackie moved out not lengthy after their divorce, and allowed her ex to maintain it.
‘It is undoubtedly simpler for everybody for him to maintain [the house] and Kitty can be extra settled this fashion,’ an insider mentioned on the time.
‘She’s acquired the cash to simply purchase someplace new and it is not actually an issue.’
Quick ahead to 2024, and Jackie – who’s locked right into a 10-year, $200million radio contract – actually has the cash to purchase wherever she’d like.
