Net Worth: c.$10 million
The Inspired Unemployed is a popular Australian comedy duo that was formed in 2019 by Jack Steele and Matt Ford. They are widely known around the world for their satirical Instagram account that pokes fun at Australian societal norms, which presently has a massive following of over two million people.
Due to their tremendous online success, the Inspired Unemployed launched a podcast with the same name, exclusively on Spotify, in September 2021. They also made their television debut in August 2023 with a show called The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers. Additionally, the duo has created their a range of alcoholic beers called Better Beer, released their own fragrance called Inspiré by No. Emploi, and been ambassadors for famous brands like Vogue Australia and GQ magazine.
Although the Inspired Unemployed is primarily run by Ford and Steele, they often collaborate with recurring housemates and friends for online videos and podcast episodes. The duo’s housemates, Liam Moore and Dom Littrich, also appeared in their TV series.
Background
Jack Steele and Matt ‘Falcon’ Ford developed a friendship in 2008 while living in their hometown of Kiama, New South Wales. They both attended Kiama High School together and after leaving high school in year 11, they pursued different trades. Steele was a plasterer for his father’s business, while Ford worked in various roles including as a carpenter, bricklayer and landscaper.
In 2016, the duo started creating content with their friends. Feeling unfulfilled with their jobs, they started to film short skits while they were residing for six months in Queenstown, New Zealand. They posted the videos on their individual Instagram accounts and created Instagram and Facebook accounts for the content, which they named ‘Pine Tree TV’. The accounts were active from June 2016 to May 2017.
The Beginning and Early Years
While travelling in Europe, the two friends filmed skits and launched a new Instagram page called ‘The Inspired Unemployed’. They created the page after quitting their jobs and seeking inspiration overseas.
The name of the page was intended to serve as a resume to get into the entertainment sector. Their aim was to create videos that would gain traction and help them break into the industry. In the first seven months, the page had around 9,000 followers. However, their big break came with a choreographed dance video that featured them and three friends, dressed in all black, dancing to La Bouche’s ‘Be My Lover’.
The video went viral and the page’s audience grew to 30,000 followers. Within 72 hours of the video being posted, the duo were signed by the management company, Born Bred Talent.
Full Time Gig
Shortly after New Years Day in January 2020, Steele and Ford had transformed Inspired Unemployed into their primary source of income, after reaching 100,000 followers on Instagram.
They worked with Italian fashion brand Fendi for a cover shoot for GQ Australia’s GQ Style online magazine, attended Vogue Australia’s 60th anniversary event, and produced a cricket skit at the Sydney Opera House to promote the streaming service Kayo Sports.
Furthermore, their popularity skyrocketed due to a series of successful comedic and dance inspired videos, which coincided with the COVID-19 lockdowns and people consuming more online content. They appeared in a parody music video in June 2020 for buy now, pay later provider Klarna, along with Aussie musicians Thandi Phoenix and Tuka, which was based around the concept of online shopping during the period of lockdown.
The duo also participated in several fashion shoots and collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Vogue Australia and The Iconic at various points throughout the year. Additionally, they partnered with Red Bull, Tradie, Canadian Club, and R. M. Williams.
Better Beer
In July 2021, Mighty Craft, an ASX-listed alcohol company, announced the launch of a zero-carb beer called Better Beer, which was produced in collaboration with both the Inspired Unemployed and the Torquay Beverage Company. Both Steele and Ford hold a 20% stake in the business and are responsible for ongoing promotion and social media marketing of it. However, Better Beer was involved in a much publicised legal dispute with Brick Lane, a Melbourne-based brewery, in December 2021. Brick Lane argued that the can design of Better Beer would create confusion with their own Sidewinder brand.
In February 2023, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed Brick Lane’s case, which alleged that deceptive or misleading conduct had taken place, and ordered Brick Lane to pay the legal costs of Better Beer. This decision was formulated just a week after Mighty Craft announced that the brand had generated an impressive $50 million in total retail sales during the last 12 months.
Social Media and TV
In September 2021, the Inspired Unemployed was ranked as the ninth most successful social media influencers in Australia by a media salary calculator. During the same month, they launched a podcast named The Inspired Unemployed exclusively on Spotify. Since its launch, the podcast has consistently ranked among the top five podcasts in Australia and was renewed for a third season in October 2023.
In August 2023, the Inspired Unemployed made their television debut with a spin-off of the Impractical Jokers format, titled The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers. The eight-part series was aired on Paramount+ and Network 10 Australia. At that time, the Inspired Unemployed had amassed over four million followers across their social media platforms.
Fragrance
In November 2023, in a partnership with Chemist Warehouse, the Inspired Unemployed launched a fragrance named ‘Inspiré by No. Emploi’.
The perfume was launched with a satirical ad campaign. All proceeds from the sales of the fragrance will be distributed among competition entrants who explain why they need a helping hand.