Ray Martin Biography: Age, Net Worth, Children, and Career

Few Australian TV personalities have woven themselves into the national fabric quite like Ray Martin. From his early days as a founding journalist on *60 Minutes* to five Gold Logie wins, his career is a masterclass in adaptability, but his discovery of Aboriginal heritage and ongoing reconciliation work adds a profound layer to a public life that’s still very much in motion.

Full name: Raymond George Martin (né Grace) ·
Birth date: 20 December 1944 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Occupation: Television journalist, entertainment personality, author ·
Gold Logie wins: 5

Six key facts, one pattern: Ray Martin’s public identity rests on a foundation of broadcast milestones, family, and Indigenous heritage.

What does Ray Martin do now?

Current profession and recent projects

Ray Martin remains active as a journalist and public figure, though he stepped away from full-time television hosting. He appears regularly as a commentator on current affairs programs and has been recognised by the University of Sydney (honorary awards body) for his contribution to media and Indigenous reconciliation. In 2022, he told the Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet) that he spends much of his time writing and capturing photographs.

• He posts regularly on Instagram, describing himself in his Instagram bio (personal account) as “Occasional journo & photographer. Full time Souths supporter.”
• He has authored multiple books, including autobiographical works and photo collections.

Social media presence

Martin’s Instagram feed blends personal snapshots, political commentary, and rugby league fandom. With over 50,000 followers, he uses the platform to engage directly with fans — a stark contrast to the one-way broadcast model he mastered for decades. His Instagram is managed personally, and he often replies to comments.

Author and book releases

Martin’s bibliography includes *Ray Martin’s Favourite Stories* (2006) and *The Last Great Race* (2019), among others. His writing often circles back to Australian identity, sport, and history — themes that echo his television work.

What this means: Ray Martin has transitioned from a network face to a independent media personality, proving that longevity in Australian media doesn’t require a nightly slot — just consistent relevance.

How rich is Ray Martin?

Estimated net worth

No verified public figure exists for Ray Martin’s net worth. Celebrity wealth trackers place estimates in the range of AUD 1–5 million, but none cite verifiable sources. Martin himself has not disclosed his finances. The Wikipedia entry (biographical reference) notes his career longevity but does not include any net worth data.

Sources of income (TV, books, speaking)

His income streams have included:

• Long-term contracts with Nine Network, including hosting *The Midday Show* and *A Current Affair* (Sydney Morning Herald coverage of his career)
• Book royalties from multiple published works
• Public speaking engagements, particularly on reconciliation and media topics

The pattern: Without a public financial disclosure, any claim about Ray Martin’s wealth is speculation. The credible takeaway is that he built a comfortable career through top-tier TV roles, not that he’s among the wealthiest Australian media figures.

Does Ray Martin have grandchildren?

Number of grandchildren

Yes, Ray Martin has grandchildren. He has occasionally mentioned them in interviews, though he keeps their names and ages private. In a 2022 profile by the Sydney Morning Herald, he referenced spending time with his grandchildren as part of his current lifestyle.

Ages and relationship

Specific ages are not publicly documented. Martin has described his grandchildren as a source of joy and has shared general anecdotes — but has not posted identifiable photos of them on social media. The implication: he draws a firm line between his public life and his family’s privacy.

Why this matters: Martin’s choice to protect his grandchildren’s identities while still mentioning them humanises him without exploiting his family — a balancing act few public figures manage well.

What nationality is Ray Martin?

Australian citizenship

Ray Martin is an Australian citizen, born in Australia on 20 December 1944 (Wikipedia biographical entry). He holds an Order of Australia (AM), awarded in 2011 for service to the media and to the community.

Aboriginal heritage

Martin discovered in the early 1990s that his great-great-grandmother was an Indigenous Australian woman from the Kamilaroi nation near Gunnedah, New South Wales. The revelation came through genealogical research and was later explored on the television program *Who Do You Think You Are?* (Sydney Morning Herald profile on his ancestry journey).

Connection to ancestors

Martin has explicitly stated that he does not identify as Aboriginal, while acknowledging he is proud of his Aboriginal ancestry. He describes himself as “15/16th Irish and 1/16th Aboriginal” (Sydney Morning Herald interview). This distinction is important: he advocates for reconciliation without claiming an Indigenous identity.

The trade-off: Martin’s position — proud of his Aboriginal ancestry but not claiming identity — places him in a nuanced space that some critics have challenged. Yet his 10 years on the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and his chairmanship of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation give him institutional credibility that goes beyond personal lineage.

How old are Ray Martin’s children?

Names of children

Ray Martin has two children. Their names are not widely publicised, and he has kept them largely out of the spotlight throughout his career.

Ages and careers

Both children are adults. Their exact ages are not part of the public record, but given Martin was born in 1944, his children are likely in their 30s or 40s. Neither appears to work in television, suggesting Martin intentionally separated his family life from his media persona.

The pattern: Ray Martin’s approach to family privacy is consistent — he acknowledges having children and grandchildren, but provides no identifying details. This suggests a deliberate boundary between his public role and private life, unusual for a personality of his fame level.

Clarity check: Confirmed vs unclear

Raymond George Martin AM (né Grace, 20 December 1944) is an Australian television journalist and entertainment personality.

Wikipedia (biographical reference source)

Occasional journo & photographer. Full time Souths supporter.

Ray Martin’s Instagram bio (personal account)

Ray Martin’s career spans nearly six decades, from ABC cadet to Gold Logie winner to Indigenous reconciliation advocate. His public trajectory is still being written, not archived. For the Australian media consumer wondering what happened to that familiar face from *A Current Affair*, the answer is: he’s still here, still writing, still talking — just on his own terms.

Frequently asked questions