In Europe and Australia, there is something called the Tall Poppy Syndrome: People like to cut the tall poppies. They don't want you to succeed, and they cut you down - especially people from your own social class.

After a year of working for the Jaegers he moved on to another family in Malibu taking care of two boys for $250 a week. He is a naturalized United States citizen. From 1978–82 he served with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) and saw action during the Falklands War.

His current series are The Bible Survivor Celebrity Apprentice The Voice and Shark Tank. Burnett is currently the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. In 2011 Burnett sold 50% of his company to the Hearst Corporation.