VRT Presenter Ruben van Gucht’s Salary Sparks Debate

Veteran broadcaster’s earnings lag behind top earners at public broadcaster.

Long-serving VRT personality Ruben van Gucht, a familiar face on sports broadcasts, is reportedly earning significantly less than some of his colleagues at the public broadcaster.

Contract Discrepancy Revealed

While Ruben van Gucht is a consistent fixture, notably co-hosting the cycling program *Wattage* with Ine Beyen, new reports suggest his financial package does not match that of VRT’s highest-paid personalities.

Sources indicate that top VRT talent can command annual salaries reaching up to €300,000. However, van Gucht‘s compensation is said to be in the range of €50,000 to €75,000 gross per year, with an additional “stall bonus” of €25,000.

VRT’s Exclusive Contract Strategy

The VRT is reportedly planning to maintain fifteen exclusive contracts moving forward. Out of these, a substantial eight are believed to be valued at over €300,000 annually, a tier to which van Gucht is not currently assigned.

Personal Life Amidst Professional Scrutiny

In recent times, Ruben van Gucht has also been prominent in public discourse due to his personal life, including his relationship with Blanka Vlašić, with whom he has a child named Mondo, and a more recent relationship in Flanders. The impact of these personal developments on his professional standing and salary at VRT remains unspecified.

It is understood that van Gucht may need to navigate certain challenges to align with the compensation levels of VRT’s top-tier presenters.

The average salary in Belgium, for context, was reported as approximately €3,337 gross per month in 2023, according to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. This highlights the significant disparity for those at the highest earnings brackets within major institutions like the VRT.