Actor Rebel Wilson will be left with less than 12% of the record $4.7m defamation payout she was originally awarded, after being ordered to hand back the majority of funds.
And the Hollywood star still needs to deduct some legal fees from what’s left.
Wilson was awarded a landmark payout in September 2017 after a defamation trial over a series of articles that made her out to be a liar.
But an appeal in early June found she was not entitled to $3.9m in economic damages relating to a loss of income, which made up a portion of the damages.
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered Wilson repay Bauer Media $4,183,071.45 – including $60,316.45 in interest – after the original judgment was set aside.
Bauer had been quick to handover the original $4,749,920.60 payout, making a transfer to Wilson within three weeks of the 13 September judgment.
The star said she planned to distribute the money to charity and the Australian film industry.
But on appeal Wilson did not dispute that the $4.1m should be repaid.
She argued, however, the interest should be charged at the prevailing Reserve Bank cash rate of 1.5%, rather than the 2% sought by Bauer.
The appeal court disagreed and ordered interest be paid at the higher rate.
Wilson was also ordered to pay 80% of Bauer’s appeal costs.
