He nearly walked away from television completely. Now Arno Greeff is fronting one of South Africa’s most iconic lifestyle shows.
There’s something wonderfully full-circle about Arno Greeff stepping into the world of Top Billing.
As a kid, he watched the iconic lifestyle show, dreaming about beautiful homes, luxury travel and glossy magazine moments. Years later, just as he was quietly considering walking away from television altogether, life threw him the plot twist he never saw coming.
Now? He’s filming dream properties, travelling the country, interviewing fascinating people and finding his feet as one of the newest faces on one of South Africa’s most loved lifestyle shows.
And somehow, beneath the polished TV moments, Arno still feels refreshingly grounded. Equal parts ambitious and easygoing, he’s just as happy on a glamorous international trip as he is at home with a lamb curry bubbling on the stove, music playing in the background and a fire crackling nearby.
This season of his life feels exciting. Busy. Expansive. But also deeply personal. In his own words? The title of this chapter would simply be … Becoming.
“I thought I had left TV behind”
The timing of Top Billing entering Arno’s life almost feels cinematic.
“Funnily enough, I had stepped away from acting just a few days before auditioning for the show,” he says. “I genuinely thought I had left the entertainment side of my life behind.”
Then came the call.
“When I got it, I just laughed. I couldn’t believe that at the exact point where I was almost walking away from TV completely, I somehow ended up on the best show on local television. It’s honestly a dream come true.”
And unlike many opportunities that arrive unexpectedly, this one had actually lived quietly in the background for years. “Before I ever thought about becoming an actor, I dreamt of being on Top Billing. It always felt like the pinnacle of South African lifestyle television.”
Big shoes. Beautiful homes. A brand-new chapter.
Of course, joining a legendary show comes with pressure too.
“It’s incredibly exciting and slightly overwhelming,” he admits. “If you know the show, you know there are big shoes to fill.” But while the nerves are still there, so is the excitement.
“I’m settling in more with every shoot. I’m becoming more confident, but I’m also very aware of how big this moment is and trying to live up to the standard.”
One particular moment made everything suddenly feel very real. “There’s a shot in the second episode where I walk into frame and Ryle De Morny, Basetsana Kumalo and Dr Michael Mol are waiting for me. As the cameras started rolling and I joined them in the shot, it suddenly hit me … I’m a Top Billing presenter now.”
The real estate connection makes perfect sense
While many viewers know Arno from his acting career, especially his breakout role in Blood & Water and Mevrou Fourie & Kie most recently, there’s another side to him that makes this new role feel surprisingly natural.
He genuinely loves homes, interiors and architecture.
“In all honesty, the homes have always been my favourite part. “My love for design and beautiful spaces developed from watching Top Billing growing up.”
That passion has now extended into real life too, with Arno venturing into the property industry as a real estate agent.
And interestingly, property almost came before acting. “Before I landed my first big acting role, I actually interviewed to become an estate agent while I was still in matric,” he laughs. “Then I got the acting call a week later and paused the real estate dream.”
Now, years later, both worlds are colliding beautifully.
Presenting forces you to just be yourself
Although acting made him a household name, Arno says presenting has pushed him in entirely new ways.
“Acting and presenting are completely different skills,” he explains. “With acting, you have a script and a character to fall back on.”
Presenting, however, strips all of that away. “With Top Billing, I need to be myself and be confident in who I am. That’s definitely taken adjustment.”
He describes presenting as less performative and more connective. “You help tell someone else’s story. It forces you to really listen and create space for the other person to shine.”
A life that suddenly feels aligned
There’s a quiet confidence in the way Arno speaks about this current phase of his life … not in an arrogant way, but in the way someone sounds when things are finally beginning to click into place.
“It definitely feels like a reinvention season. New opportunities are opening up, while my real estate business is also growing alongside the show.”
After years of hustling, auditioning and trying to build momentum, he finally feels like he’s hitting his stride. “Things have fallen into place in ways I could never have imagined.”
The travel moments … glamorous and chaotic
Travel has always been a big part of Arno’s life long before Top Billing entered the picture, and some of his most memorable experiences happened while travelling with his wife through Europe.
One standout moment? Dining at chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice, France. “Absolutely unforgettable,” he says.
But in true travel fashion, the glamour was quickly followed by chaos. “The next day all our belongings were stolen from our rental car — including my passport.” Classic travel duality.
When it comes to travel style, Arno admits he’s very much a planner. “I’m quite pedantic about time. I like confirming trains, routes and schedules ahead of time. Mostly so there’s more freedom to properly explore once we get there.”
And his one non-negotiable travel essential? “A moonbag. Always.”
Home is still the happy place
Despite the exciting pace of television life, Arno’s happiest moments are surprisingly simple.
“A perfect slow day is making a lamb curry, enjoying a glass of red wine and maybe squeezing in a little bit of home renovation.”
He and his wife are currently renovating an older home together, carefully leaning into a timeless, classic aesthetic. “I love old-school design. Elegant, elevated spaces that still feel warm.”
And when life becomes overwhelming or very public? “I’m a man of faith,” he says quietly. “I find peace in prayer.”
Life feels on the right track
Right now, Arno isn’t chasing some wildly different future version of himself. Instead, he’s focused on growing what’s already unfolding. “Life feels pretty much on the right track,” he says. “I just want to keep improving at the things I’m currently busy with.”
And perhaps that’s exactly what makes this chapter so compelling to watch. Not a reinvention built on chaos. Not overnight success. Just someone slowly stepping into the life they always quietly hoped for. One beautiful home, one story and one new adventure at a time.
Catch new episodes of Top Billing every Thursday from at 7pm on S3 (formerly SABC 3) with a repeat every Sunday at 1pm on S3.
South African escapes:
Hoedspruit Bushveld bliss.
Franschhoek Red wine and mountain views.
Sun City Been there many times and still amazed at the scale and fun-factor of the entire resort.
Clarens Fireplace weather perfection.
Jacobsbaai Picturesque small coastal town, perfect for a weekend getaway besides the ocean.
Arno’s passport picks
Croatia Beautiful seaside towns and incredible food.
Italy Rome feels like an open-air museum.
Turkey An explosion of culture and surprisingly affordable.
France Travelling the canals through the countryside was unforgettable.
Germany Castles, mountains, little towns and traditions everywhere.
Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Image: SUPPLIED.
