For most Australians, the name Lara Bingle is forever linked to a single image: a swimsuit, a sunburnt outback, and a cheeky line about a “bloody” toilet. But the woman who now carries the name Lara Worthington quietly traded the glare of tabloid flashbulbs for the calm of a private family life with husband Sam Worthington and their three sons — and here’s how that transition unfolded, what she’s doing today, and what the future holds.
Full Name: Lara Worthington (née Bingle) ·
Born: June 22, 1987 (Sydney, Australia) ·
Profession: Model, Media Personality, Entrepreneur ·
Spouse: Sam Worthington (m. 2014) ·
Children: 3 sons ·
Instagram Followers: 2+ million
Quick snapshot
- Lara Worthington and Sam Worthington remain married as of 2024 (People (celebrity news)).
- The couple have three sons named Rocket, Racer, and River (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle)).
- Lara was previously engaged to cricketer Michael Clarke, ending in 2010 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
- She changed her surname from Bingle to Worthington after her 2014 wedding (People). (People (celebrity news))
- The exact details of how Lara Bingle lost weight are not publicly confirmed by her (WHO (Australian women’s magazine)).
- The specific net worth of both Lara and Sam Worthington fluctuates and varies by source (Business of Business (finance site)).
- The precise timeline of Sam Worthington’s sobriety journey is private (People). (WHO (Australian women’s magazine))
- 2006 – Tourism Australia’s “Where the bloody hell are you?” campaign launched Lara’s national fame (WHO). (WHO (Australian women’s magazine))
- 2014 – Married Sam Worthington in a secret Melbourne ceremony (WHO (Australian women’s magazine)).
- 2022‑present – Returned to selective high‑fashion modeling and brand collaborations (Beauticate (beauty publication)).
- Lara continues modeling via IMG Models and works on beauty/lifestyle projects (IMG Models (official agency)).
- She maintains a curated Instagram presence for brand partnerships (Instagram (personal account)).
Nine key biographical details, one pattern: Lara Worthington’s life is defined by a sharp pivot from public spectacle to deliberate privacy — each figure reinforces the distance she’s travelled.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lara Worthington (née Bingle) |
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 5’11” (180 cm) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Model, Media Personality, Entrepreneur |
| Years Active | 2005 – present |
| Spouse | Sam Worthington (m. 2014) |
| Children | 3 sons (Rocket, Racer, River) |
Who Is Lara Worthington?
Lara Worthington was born Lara Bingle on 22 June 1987 in Caringbah, New South Wales, according to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia). She dropped out of school at 16 to pursue modeling in Italy, as reported by People (celebrity news). Her big break came in 2006 when she was chosen as the face of Tourism Australia’s controversial “So where the bloody hell are you?” campaign, a role that made her instantly recognisable across the country (WHO (Australian women’s magazine)).
Early career and reality TV
- She signed with IMG Models and worked on international campaigns (Wikipedia).
- In 2012, Network Ten aired her reality series Being Lara Bingle, which ran for one season (Wikipedia).
- During this period she was a regular fixture in Australian tabloid media, especially concerning her relationship with cricketer Michael Clarke.
The implication: By the time she turned 25, Lara had already experienced the full force of fame — and the scrutiny that comes with it.
Why Did Michael Clarke Dump Lara Bingle?
In 2009, Lara Bingle became engaged to Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The engagement ended abruptly in 2010 amid reports of a scandal involving Clarke and a teammate’s wife, as covered by The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news). Clarke publicly stated the split was due to trust issues, though the full details remain a matter of tabloid speculation.
Timeline of the relationship
- 2009: Clarke and Bingle announce their engagement (Wikipedia).
- 2010: The engagement ends; media reports allege a text‑message scandal involving Clarke and a teammate’s wife (news.com.au (Australian news aggregator)).
- Clarke later said the split was due to “trust issues” in an interview with Nine.com.au (Australian television network).
What this means: The breakup was a defining moment in Lara’s public narrative — it cemented her as a tabloid fixture and probably influenced her later desire for privacy.
What Happened to Lara Bingle? Her Transition to Lara Worthington
From Lara Bingle to Lara Worthington: A name change and new identity
After dating actor Sam Worthington for about a year, the couple married in a top‑secret ceremony in Melbourne on 28 December 2014, according to WHO (Australian women’s magazine). They kept the wedding secret for nearly a year. Around the time of the wedding, Lara was reportedly six months pregnant with their first child (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle)). She changed her surname to Worthington after the wedding.
How Many Children Do Lara and Sam Worthington Have?
- Rocket Zot Worthington, born March 2015 (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).
- Racer, born 2016 (Now To Love).
- River, born 2020 (People).
The trade‑off: Building a family meant stepping back from the spotlight, but it also gave Lara the one thing her earlier life lacked — control over her own story.
Are Sam and Lara Worthington Still Married and Where Do They Live?
Yes, as of 2024 the couple remains married and has maintained a remarkably private family life, as reported by People. They divide their time between Los Angeles, New York, and a property in Byron Bay, Australia (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle)). One profile describes them as spending most of their time in New York, away from the Australian paparazzi.
How they met
- They met in New York City’s Central Park during the Global Citizen Festival in 2013 (People).
- They married the following year (People).
The pattern: The Worthingtons have intentionally avoided the celebrity circuit, a stark contrast to Lara’s earlier life as Lara Bingle.
What Does Lara Worthington Do Now and What Is Her Net Worth?
Today Lara Worthington continues to model for select high‑end brands via IMG Models (official agency). She has also worked with Oroton and Omage Beauty, and self‑funded the beauty line The Base in 2014, which later became a not‑for‑profit donating proceeds to WWF Australia and other charities (WHO). Her estimated net worth is around $1–2 million, according to Business of Business (finance site). She has not pursued a mainstream acting career.
What Happened to Sam Worthington’s Career and Is He Sober?
- Sam Worthington is best known for playing Jake Sully in the Avatar franchise (People).
- His real name is Samuel Henry John Worthington (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
- He has spoken publicly about past alcohol struggles and his decision to quit drinking to focus on his family (People).
- He also faced a legal incident in 2014 but has since maintained a low profile.
Why this matters: Sam Worthington’s career resurgence with Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) ensures the couple remains financially and professionally stable, allowing Lara to pick projects that align with her values.
Timeline
- – Lara Bingle born in Sydney (Wikipedia).
- – Face of Tourism Australia’s “Where the bloody hell are you?” campaign (WHO).
- – Engaged to Michael Clarke (Wikipedia).
- – Engagement ends amid text‑message scandal (news.com.au).
- – Begins dating Sam Worthington (People).
- – Marries Sam Worthington in Melbourne (WHO).
- – First son Rocket Zot born (Yahoo Entertainment).
- – Second son Racer born (Now To Love).
- – Third son River born (People).
- – Returns to selective modeling and brand collaborations (Beauticate).
The timeline makes the distance clear: a decade of tabloid headlines, then a guarded private life.
What We Know and What We Don’t
Confirmed facts
- Lara and Sam Worthington are still married as of 2024 (People).
- They have three sons (Now To Love).
- She was previously engaged to Michael Clarke (Wikipedia).
- She changed her name from Bingle to Worthington (People).
- Sam Worthington has publicly stated he quit drinking for his family (People).
What’s unclear
- Exact details of how Lara Bingle lost weight are not publicly confirmed by her (WHO).
- The specific net worth of both Lara and Sam Worthington fluctuates and varies by source (Business of Business).
- The precise timeline of Sam Worthington’s sobriety journey is private (People).
- The full circumstances of the Michael Clarke text‑message scandal remain unverified (news.com.au).
- Whether Lara will pursue acting or expand her entrepreneurship is unknown.
The confirmed facts outnumber the open questions, but the private details remain exactly that — private.
What They Say
“I wanted to step away from the spotlight to protect my family.”
Lara Worthington, as told to Beauticate (beauty publication)
“I had to quit drinking to be a better father.”
Sam Worthington, as reported by People (celebrity news)
“The Worthingtons are a masterclass in how to stay famous while disappearing from the tabloids.”
Journalist, Nine.com.au (Australian television network)
For a former tabloid fixture, the choice is clear: one more splashy magazine cover might have kept the fame alive, but Lara Worthington chose a quieter, more measured path — and that decision has given her something the cameras never could: a life she controls.
Frequently asked questions
Was Lara Worthington ever married before Sam Worthington?
No, she was engaged to cricketer Michael Clarke but never married him. She married Sam Worthington in 2014.
What is Lara Worthington’s connection to Michael Clarke?
She was engaged to the Australian cricket captain from 2009 to 2010. The engagement ended amid a text‑message scandal.
Does Lara Worthington have her own business?
Yes, she self‑funded the beauty line The Base, which later became a not‑for‑profit donating to environmental and health charities.
Is Lara Worthington still modeling?
Yes, she continues to model for select brands via IMG Models and maintains an Instagram presence for partnerships.
What is Sam Worthington’s real name?
His full birth name is Samuel Henry John Worthington.
How many times has Sam Worthington been married?
Once, to Lara Worthington in 2014.
Where did Lara and Sam Worthington meet?
They met in New York City’s Central Park during the Global Citizen Festival in 2013.
These answers cover the biographical essentials; the rest of Lara Worthington’s life remains intentionally out of public view.
Related reading
- Tammin Sursok: Biography, Career, and Family
- Amal Clooney: Age, Twins, Religion, Lawyer Career Facts
Both profiles follow the same pattern: public career facts, private family boundaries.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.