Soheil Abedian: living on the Gold Coast but Iranian born, the CEO of listed property developer Sunland owns an 18% stake or 45.7m shares, which was worth more $200 million at its peak. Stock back to around 60c in early 2020. James Packer came and went as a Sunland shareholder and director after the Dubai expansion ran into trouble. His son Sahba Abedian also owns 6 million shares in his own right.
Sir Peter Abeles estate: the tycoon's two children shared in a fortune which included the $15.5 million reportedly fetched at the 2013 auction for his Bellevue Hill mansion. They also made tens of millions from their investment in Merricks Capital, which was sold to Regal Partners for $235m in July 2024.
Andrew Abercrombie: the founder chairman of leasing company FlexiGroup (now renamed Humm), which listed in late 2006. The stock plunged from more than $3 before the GFC to a low of 22c, recovered to almost $2 in early 2020 but was back below 50c in late 2023. A former Victorian Treasurer of the Liberal Party who hosted a tribute dinner for Peter Costello at his Melbourne mansion in late 2008 but then lost out to Kelly O'Dwyer in the 2009 Higgins preselection contest. The Australian valued at $512 million in 2019 but this has plunged. Fell out with John Wylie who bought into Humm and then tried to facilitate a post-COVID merger with Latitude which Abercrombie scuttled, resolving to go it alone.
Russell Aboud: former non-executive chairman of full-service broker Ord Minnett and a former director of ASX. He swapped his stake in Ord Minnett for 10.2 million Auswealth shares, which later merged with IOOF. Also owned
22,382 ASX shares, suggesting he's worth north of $20 million. Had a mixed run with hedge fund Manikay as
Joe Aston detailed in this
2020 Rear Window piece.
Dr Alex Abrahams: a dentist who was the founder and former CEO of the Pacific Smiles Group which operates 22 dental clinics and 6 eye clinics in NSW and Victoria. Also controls organisations in NSW and Victoria that train dental nurses and provides employment on completion of their training. Was ousted and then
attempted an EGM coup which failed in late 2022.
Steve Ackerie: the grandson of a hairdresser, he arrived from North Lebanon to ply the family trade. In 1964 he opened his first salon in Longreach which has expanded into 55 salons becoming Australia's largest chain. He also owns a restaurant that caters for over 1.5 million people a year which pushes his wealth north of $50 million. Also once dated Liz Hayes.
Mark Ackroyd: high school dropout who is based out of Brisbane and
reportedly sold his machine hire company to Japan's Mitsui for $150 million several years ago.
Chris Acret: sold his ocean-view property in Manly for $35m to Rich Lister Wes Mass in June, 2024,
according to The AFR. Chris was the co-founder of mortgage broker Smartline and his wife Justine helped oversee the build and design of the trophy home designed by award-winning Madeleine Blanchfield Architects.
Graham Acton:
controls the Acton Land & Cattle Company which shelled out $37 million to pick up the Carpentaria and Lyndhurst properties out of the break-up of AMP's old Stanbroke Pastoral empire in 2004.
BRW has claimed he's worth more than $200 million.
Katie Adamo: the former recruitment boss and her dentist husband Daniel sold their Mosman mansion to Ian Pagent, operator of the Bathers Pavillion restaurant at Balmoral Beach in Sydney, for
a reported $19 million in 2022. She worked for the recruitment firm Judd Farris which was founded in the UK in 1998 and was
sold in 2007.
Cameron Adams: Canva's chief product officer who celebrated
his 40th year by becoming a paper billionaire. Joined Canva in July 2012 and previously worked in the Google Maps team.
Graduated in law and computer science graduate from the University of
Melbourne. Has a
billionaire profile with Forbes.
David Adams: headed up Macquarie Group's investment services division in the 1990s. Along with his wife Elizabeth, they sold their historic Queen Anne style federation property in Mosman for a
reported $14m in September 2024.
William Adams: formerly the largest shareholder in
Tattersall's and direct descendant of founder George Adams' brother who sat on the board initially after the float. His stake was
worth about $80 million on listing, but made a wise decision to sell-down before John Brumby's Victorian pokies licence bombshell.
Brook Adcock: graduated from The Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986, was a RAAF Pilot until 1996, a Qantas Pilot until 2008, founded Pandora Jewellery Australia in 2004, and his own successful private investment company, Adcock Private Equity, in 2009, the same year he
paid $14.6 million for a waterfront property in Newport on Sydney's North Shore.
Ross Adler: the long time Santos CEO and CBA director ended up making his pile as a long-term director of Domino's Pizza who finally retired in November 2021 at the age of 77 after 16 years on the board as chair or deputy chair. He never sold any of his 200,000 shares which were worth $28.4m on the day he retired.
Adler family: Rodney Adler and his sisters inherited wealth from their father Larry, the founder of FAI Insurance. Rodney ended up blowing plenty on the HIH crash but the family overall still has well north of $20 million.
Terry Agnew: property investor in Sydney's commercial district, in 2008 he completed a swap with the
Stockland Group. He acquired his property for $121 million in 2002, and swapped it for property worth $225 million in one of the largest deals of its kind. Clearly quite a property player, even if little known. Check out this
fascinating long form interview. He's made a fortune in Byron Bay and owns Great Keppel Island.
Ahrens family: whilst the steel industry isn't booming quite like it was, this 100-year-old Adelaide-based family company soldiers on with its engineering and steel fabrication business that employs 200 staff. See this great
business history page. Also bought the McLeod's Daughters homestead off Kerry Packer and
sold it for $10m in 2023.
Len Ainsworth and sons:
in the 1950s, Len Ainsworth began the gaming machine maker Aristocrat. While no longer active within the company, the family still own more than $2 billion worth of Aristocrat shares, whilst Len controlled the separate
Ainsworth Game Technology until selling out for almost $500 million to an Austrian firm in 2017.
The Australian valued the family at $3.252 billion in 2019 and
The AFR said $5.22 billion in 2023 as Aristocrat shares boomed and Len's 7 sons remained ban from selling any stock as long as he was alive. Len became the first Australian billionaire to make it to 100 in August 2023.
Charlie Aitken and family: as former executive directors and large shareholders of Southern Cross Equities, Angus and Charlie Aitken benefited from the 2008 sale to Bell Financial Group for $150 million, albeit in stock not cash. Bell shares have never performed well and Charlie is now out running his own investment fund. Charlie's private life got very messy in 2022, which no doubt cost him a few million.
Bruce Ajani: successful manager of his Ferntree Gully tree removals business who has also built up a multi-million share portfolio.
Albert family: Jacques Albert founded the Albert music business in 1890 when he began importing violins to Australia. With large interests in property and investments, the Albert family also own a valuable library of music copyright including Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
BRW claimed $229 million in 2010. Interesting entry in
BRW's 1993 "under $100m" list if you're an
AFR subscriber. Alexis Albert was the main entry and 88 at the time.
Ernest Albers: a former director of Moby Oil & Gas and Bass Strait Oil Company. He used to be a director of MEO Australia until he clashed with CEO Chris Hart and sold all his stock for at least $30 million. His wealth is said to be north of $70 million and he went on to chair 3 other listed companies including Energex.
Andrew Alcock: the long-term CEO of booming independent platform and technology investment outfit HUB24 whose
702,000 ordinary shares were worth more than $40m when the stock hit a record high of $59 in September 2024. Came out of the KAZ/Telstra and AMP groups before making his name building an independent house after being appointed HUB24 CEO in 2013.
Dale Alcock: managing director of Alcock Brown-Neaves Group which operates a number of building companies in Perth including Dale Alcock Homes, which makes about $15 million in a good year and has paid plenty in dividends to Mr Alcock over the years.
The Australian valued at $330 million in 2019. Was President of the Fremantle Dockers in 2020.
John Alexander: the former PBL CEO was paid $6.6 million in 2006-07 and the demerger of the media and gaming interests saw his $15 million contract paid out. Finally finished up as executive chair of Crown before being deposed in January 2020 after total payment from Packer controlled public companies of almost $100 million.
Elizabeth Alexander: long-time CSL director and chair who retired in 2011 with
19,370 ordinary shares which, if retained today, would be worth almost $20 million. Also made plenty as a professional director at companies such as Boral, Amcor, Medibank Private and as a KPMG partner.
Tony Alford: former CEO and largest shareholder in Retail Food Group which owns the Donut King and Brumby's Bakeries franchises. When the share price peaked at more than $7 in 2015, his 22 million shares were worth more than $100 million but it has since plunged and has accumulated total losses for shareholders of around $500 million. Resigned in July 2017 and has sold down much of his holding.
Graham Allan: the former Shell executive was briefly John Elliott's Harlin Holdings offsider in the early 1990s, but then built a career at global restaurants giant Yum Brands where he became chief operating officer in 2003 and has made more than $20 million for his efforts, as this
Forbes profile suggests.
Patrick Allaway: the former investment banker and current Bank of Queensland chairman sold his Mosman property to former UBS colleague Matthew Grounds for $14 million in 2012 and made many millions working for various investment banks over the years before becoming a professional director, including at Fairfax and as chair of Bank of Queensland, where he later become CEO.
Allen family: paid $13 million to bus mogul Jim Bosnjak in 2009 and 2010 for two apartments at The Toaster overlooking the Sydney Opera House.
Terrence Allen: the former CEO and chairman of
Herald Resources who resigned in August 2008 still owning about 15 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $3 in July 2008 when he was worth more than $40 million, and bottomed at 10c in December 2008, but was taken over in 2009 at 93c.
Peter Allen: the former fighter pilot who was CEO of Scentre Group until 2022 and spent many years in senior well paid roles assisting the Lowy family at Westfield before that. Hasn't take on any high profile boards and initially said he wanted to spend more time on his farm.
Robert Allenby: one of Australia's most successful golfers who has earned more than $30 million over his long career.
Janine Allis: a former model who founded the booming Boost Juice chain and went on to write books detailing her success.
Mark Allison: has done a fabulous job turning around Elders. Joined the board in 2009 as a non-executive director then became executive chairman in a debt crisis and CEO from 2014. Has lifted the market cap from $50m to $1.6 billion by the end of 2022 and thoroughly deserved his $3.8 million pay packet in 2021-22. Appears in the top 20 shareholder list (see
p135 of annual report) with 955,000 shares worth about $9.5 million in December 2022 but with further LTI grants in play, is likely to retire in 2023 with a net wealth north of $20 million, although the shares did take a dive in early 2023.
Allison family: have been running the Victorian-focused John Allison Monkhouse funeral home out of its Richmond head office since 1851. See
family history.Dr Ori Allon: The Australian valued at $483 million in 2019. Founded real estate software firm Compass in 2022. Attended Monash Uni - see this
proud alumni profile.
Alstergren family: it all began with Edvaad Alstergren who emigrated to Tasmania from Norway, married an Australian, Marjorie, had seven children and made a fortune in timber. When he died, the company, which included Softwoods Holdings and Timber Holdings Tasmania was taken over by CSR.
Maurice Alter: migrated to Melbourne from Poland in the 1950s and is now a billionaire courtesy of a burgeoning property empire which started with two shops and a bank building in Kew and extended to shopping centres such as Forest Hill Chase (since sold), Werribee Plaza and Epping Plaza.
The Australian valued him at $2.851 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued him at $2.33 billion. Is a bit of a man of mystery as
Wikipedia doesn't have his date of birth and his
Forbes billionaire profile doesn't include a photo. Could become Australia's second billionaire to make it to 100 after Len Ainsworth. Empire is run by his son Sam Alter.
Spiros Alysandratos: arriving from Greece in 1959, at age 20 he opened his first travel agency which grew into Consolidated Travel - Australia's largest privately owned distributor of airline products. Now also owns 17% of Helloworld.
BRW claimed $217 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.02 billion in 2019.
Kenneth Ambrecht: former non-executive director of
Fortescue Metals who owned 750,000 shares and served for 9 years until 2012.
Marcus Ambrose: kicked goals in the lucrative California-based US NASCAR series over many years which led to substantial earnings, such as an estimated $5.4 million in 2009 alone. Was going to make a
return to Mt Panorama in 2022 but hit mechanical problems.
Sonia Amoroso & Peter Nicholas: founded Cat Media, a pharmaceutical and cosmetic company using natural products. The company was sold in 2006 and while Nicholas started a haircare company, Amoroso diversified into fashion and publishing.
Peter Anastasiou: the executive chairman of listed bio-tech company Ummuron in 2020
reportedly paid almost $10 million for a sprawling 33ha estate on Phillip Island in Victoria. A Lalor High boy made good. See
Linkedin profile.Anderson family: owning a bicycle repair shop in the 1950s, the Brisbane-based family have since built their wealth through property and manufacturing, in particular,
GWA international – makers of taps, sinks, and a range of household products. They own around 28 million shares. The
BRW claimed $420 million in 2010.
Brian Anderson: the 90yo grew up in Kalgoorlie and made his money in the Perth car trade. Came to prominence in February 2024 after
donating $1.025 million to the Advance 11 group which campaigned against The Voice.
Chris & Virginia Anderson:
celebrities in their home country of New Zealand, they run property company Javica and made the
BRW Young Rich list with an estimated wealth of more than $70 million.
Tim Anderson: founder and co-director of Madman, a DVD distribution business which was sold in 2006 for $34.5 million to Funtastic which has since struggled, wracking up accumulate losses of $260 million.
Peter Anderton: former executive chairman of the struggling
Australian Ethanol but did far better from his 2.25 million shares in African coal play
Riversdale Mining which was taken over for a hefty $16.50 a share by Rio Tinto in 2011, giving him a $37 million pay day. This turned into a complete disaster for Rio which spent $3.9 billion on Riversdale and
exited its Mozambique coal play for just $US50 million in 2014.
Andjos family: live in North Caulfield and have amassed a solid portfolio of shareholdings.
Andrews family: big players in the Sydney meat industry and now major exporters. Also have a large but little known Sydney property portfolio.
Duncan Andrews: made his name running the Australian Ratings credit assessment business in the 1980s but then made his second pile developing Victorian golf courses such as Thirteenth Beach near Barwon Heads and The Dunes on the Mornington Peninsula.
Bill Andrews: one of the three major shareholders who profited from the $57 million purchase of Brisbane-based plaintiff law firm Trilby Misso by Slater & Gordon for an eye-popping $57 million in 2010. He stopped working for the firm several years earlier. However, Slater and Gordon later went broke in 2017 so his wealth depends on whether he cashed out near the top or not.
Nick Andrianakos: founder of Milemaker Petroleum who worked hard to build a petrol station empire starting out in 1973 and then
sold 54 of them to Caltex for $95 million in 2016 whilst retaining the land underneath on 30 year leases.
Tony Antonopoulos: a big player in the nursing home business, first through Estia and later through Heritage Care which owns 9 centres including Epping Gardens which was hit hard by the COVID-19, as
this Fairfax piece explains.
Clive Appleton: the former managing director of Centro and Gandel thought he'd hit paydirt at APN Property Group when his 10 million shares peaked at $40 million, but the GFC almost sent the company under as Clive's paper wealth took a serious hit. Stock still wallowing around 40c in early 2019. Still serving on property boards in 2019.
Diane Arapidis: A Sydney-based investor with a solid portfolio of shareholdings.
Don Argus: made about $40 million from his time as CEO of NAB and a further $5-10 million from his tenure as chairman of BHP-Billiton which finally ended in February 2010.
Michael and George Argyrou: founded prolific Melbourne-based construction company Hickory Developments in 1991, which is now turning over close to $1 billion a year. George has retired.
Armanasco family: former owners of farmland in Pakenham Victoria, now known as Worthington estate, which was acquired in 2004 by Central Equity and on-sold in late 2008 for $24 million.
John Armati: collected $69 million when his Macquarie Publications business was sold to Rural Press in 1995 and is now part of the bigger Fairfax Media empire.
Josephine Armstrong: a former school teacher and substantial Liberal Party benefactor who in the 2007 Federal election donated $600,000 over two installments. She made more than $30 million from a 2006 sale of some land in Perth at the peak of the market.
Mark Armstrong: the CEO of ASX listed RateMyAgent who owned 66m in shares in early 2020 when the stock was at 39c, before later taking a dive to
start 2023 at 9c, capitalising the company at $47 million.
Sam Arnaout: CEO of development and hospitality group
Iris Capital. In 2019, his company bought a $56 million pokies pub in Sydney before snapping up several other properties paying top prices every time.
David Archer:
formerly the major shareholder in Savage Resources, a stake left to him by his stepfather. Also made a pile in technology companies, not to mention the sale of his stepfather's property at Point Piper for about $12 million. Divides his time between the town house in London, the magnificent chateau in France and the award-winning Archer House at Whale Beach.
Benni Aroni: ran his own Melbourne-based law firm for 16 years until 1998 and then made plenty as a small shareholder in the giant Eureka Tower at Southgate which should arguably have never got a permit to go so high. Also profited from a range of other property development deals in Melbourne.
Peter Arvanitis: the founder of aged care provider Estia Health who dumped his $55 million on resigning in 2016-17. A well timed exit given the mass COVID-19 outbreaks at two of its Melbourne nursing homes.
Sean Ashby: successful Sydney entrepreneur behind the Aussiebum apparel business and has also put together a solid portfolio of shareholdings in public companies. See
Linkedin profile.
Nick Atkins: was a successful corporate adviser for Macquarie in the Melbourne office who, like so many others, built up a solid equity position in the company. Was one of Macquarie's 3 nominees on the board of Boart Longyear when it was floated for $2.35 billion shortly before the 2007 GFC, delivering a $1 billion-plus profit for the Millionaires Factory.
Nora Atkinson: top 20 shareholder of Perth-based TFS Corporation which was into forestry and fragrances. Owned about 6 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.50 in September 2008 when the stake was worth more than $9 million. Changed its name to Quintis before going broke in 2017 after a campaign by short sellers.
Brian Austin: a co-founder and deputy chair of PSC Insurance who received $200m for his stake in the company after UK competitor Ardonagh
agreed to buy it for $2.3 billion in 2024.
Tania Austin:
Nigel started Cotton On, a low-priced fashion store, at 21 in Geelong and has since expanded with 240 stores across Australia. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
The Australian valued him at $1.773 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.77 billion in 2019. See
Forbes billionaire proffile.
Chris Aylward: the man who ran the Grollo construction empire for many years got rich on paper by founding
APN Property Group where his 49 million shares used to be worth more than $100 million before the GFC. Ended up selling his 20% stake into a $320 million
Dexus takeover bid in 2021.
Hans Bachrach estate: last entry in
BRW was
way back in 1998 after he died with the estate valued then at $170 million. German-born Hans had a long partnership with Max Naumburger, starting in jewelery and finishing in a portfolio of shopping centres in Queensland and NSW and an office block in Melbourne following their migration from Germany in the 1930s. The inheritance
reportedly went to Hans' widow Regine and four daughters.
Philip Bacon: famous Brisbane-based art dealer for the past 40 years who has also been executor of many famous estates, including Barry Humphries. Has a very large personal collection and claims to have given millions away philanthropically. Has no children.
Baiada family: behind Baiada Poultry, which is Australia's third-largest chicken processor in Australia. The
BRW claimed $215 million in 2010. See
family profile.
David Baffsky: Westpac dropped plenty on his various hotel interests in the recession we had to have, but he has bounced back and is a big player in property who spent years chairing Accor Asia Pacific, the largest hotel manager in the Asia-Pacific. Was a profitable private property player with Wizard founder Mark Bouris in the early 1990s and a wizard tax lawyer with all sorts of interesting clients. Passed away aged 81 in December 2022, leaving the empire to his wife Helen and children Daniel and Catherine. See
Accor tribute. Matt & Stewart Bailey: after selling their sales and marketing company Bailey Group, Australia's largest diversified sales & marketing company, to Photon, the brothers remained in the business to maximise their profit share, so the company's debt and earn out crisis in 2010 can't have been much fun when Photon later collapsed. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Baillieu family: Melbourne property interests and large holdings in mutual trusts, established the wealth of this blue-blood family, which is best known for the Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu but dates its wealth back to the 1800s. Some of their property holdings include Melbourne's most prestigious postcodes. The
BRW claimed $387 million in 2010.
Rick Baker: co-founded successful Sydney-based venture capital fund Blackbird in 2012 with Rick Baker and Bill Bartee and it is still going strong today. The big pay day has been Canva, as
The AFR explained in
this 2024 piece.Theo Baker: founder of IT services company Powerlan which almost died with the dot com crash, but his profits rose sharply after the float of a software company, Clarity International, of which Powerlan owned a large stake.
Simon Baker: the former CEO of
www.realestate.com.au owned about 3.5 million shares when fired in 2009 which would be worth more than $300 million if retained today. Has also made a few private investments such as a $4 million play buying
www.artshub.com.au.
Nick Bain: the former head of infrastructure at Allco Finance Group owned 11.75 million that peaked in value at $150 million when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so residual wealth unknown.
Rodney and Linda Bain: have put together a tidy portfolio of public company shareholdings.
Jacqueline Bailey: as
The AFR wrote in 2022 when she was selling her $16.8m Paddington pad: "Bailey is a twice-divorced, north shore raised, SCEGGS Darlinghurst-educated daughter of Australia's first cane furniture importers. Her passion for travel, fashion and craftsmanship is on display across all four floors of what is arguably the suburb's finest residence."
Nick Balagiannis: starting out manufacturing pinball machines, he continued into manufacturing gaming machines, forming his company Olympic Amusements which was sold for $170 million to American company IGT in 1997.
John Balderstone: the former Australian boss of the world's biggest hedge fund, Tudor Investment Corp, is married to
Dirty Deeds filmmaker wife Deborah and together they've
reportedly just completed an enormous water front mansion up in Whale Beach territory on Sydney's northern beaches.
Ian Ball: a long term partner of the Knowles family in building up one of Australia's most successful retirement village and aged care businesses which Stockland bought for more than $300 million in 2007.
David Balkin: made his money
through Southern Steel and is now the largest shareholder and chair of ASX listed Bisalloy Steel with
7.78m shares worth $24.5m at the time of the 2024 AGM.
Ian Ballis: purchased the former Ford chassis component plant in North Geelong for $7.1 million, which was considered a bargain given that the previous owners, Queensland-based City Pacific, paid around $18 million for the site in 2007. However, was attempting to sell more than $20 million worth of commercial real estate a couple of year later, suggesting there may have been some balance sheet issues.
Kevin Bamford: part-owner of the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner, Americain, and chairman of Label Makers, Australia's largest label producer. Bought NZ firm Label and Litho in 2018 with
talk of a float at the time.
Eric Bana: beginning in comedy, he has branched out to become an accomplished actor with such roles as
Chopper and
The Incredible Hulk. He is one of Australia's most successful exports to Hollywood.
Brad Banducci: Before the shares tanked, the Woolworths CEO owned about $20 million worth of shares in Zip which dates
back to his time as the company's CFO. Throw in his multi million annual salary
at Woolworths and his
195,808
ordinary Woolworths shares worth $7.6 million (he also has incentive schemes with another 540,000
shares in play) and he doesn't need to work again. Asked about this at the 2019 Woolworths AGM, chairman Gordon Cairns said Banducci was the hardest
working CEO he'd come across and showed no signs of losing motivation despite his then Zip riches.
Andrew Banks: legendary recruiting industry pioneer who co-founded Morgan & Banks in the 1980s which was then sold. He is a large stakeholder in, and managing director of
Talent2 which was floated and has a market cap of more than $100 million before it was privatised in 2012. The
BRW claimed $282 million in 2010.
Anthony Barakat: this former Brisbane hairdresser turned property developer made a tidy $80 million profit on a group of four Sydney CBD commercial properties he sold in 2007-08 for $127 million. Sold his family mansion in the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton for $5 million in 2012 then bought it back for $250,000 more a few months later and then sold it again for $7.5 million in 2021.
Lindsay Barber: the chief operating officer of Johns Lyng Group
sold 4 million shares at $6.25 a share to raise $25 million on December 19, 2022. Barber's sale represents about 31 per cent of his holding and the
company said he wouldn't sell any of his remaining 8.8 million shares in the next 12 months. A Bayswater High boy made good who first joined Johns Lyng in 2005.
Alice Barbery: originally from the UK, now the CEO of youth-focused Brisbane-based retailer Universal Stores which floated in late 2020 and has seen its share price double to a high of $8.25. Owns 2.3 million shares. Previously worked for Colorado and Virgin Australia and has been CEO of Universal since 2017.
Ian and Don Barclay: reportedly sold a 74ha beach front site in Northern NSW to Rich Lister Harry Stamoulis for $22 million in 2001 after acquiring it in the early 1970s for potential sand mining. In 1999 the Barclays sold a 183ha southern portion of their aggregation to the Brisbane-based Consolidated Properties for $30 million.
Sugiyono Bari: according to this
speaker's profile, he has "broad depth of experience in multiple industries includes the hospitality, mortgage and pop culture games space. Chances are you have been to or eaten from one of his local restaurants near you." A migrant success story based in the Melbourne suburb of Ascot Value who has built up a solid share portfolio over time.
Andrew Barkla: the CEO of IDP
Education
received
statutory pay of $37.7 million in 2018-19 as overly generous long term
incentives initially agreed by Seek and the university sector paid out big
time. Owned around 250,000 ordinary shares worth about $7 million when IDP shares surged towards $30 in July 2021.
Fred Barlow: a large grain farmer from Mungindi in NSW who appeared prominently on the AWB share register as a considerable shareholder before the business was taken over. Also
faced controversy over water rights.
Scott Barlow: the Sydney property developer and chairman of Sydney FC is married to Alina Traktovenko, the daughter of Russian billionaire David Traktovenko. In 2021 they
sold their non-waterfront home in Point Piper on the quiet for about $40 million.
Jeremy Barlow: former chairman of Bandanna Energy who owned more than 100 million shares which were worth $60 million in early 2012 with the stock around 60c before a subsequent tumble. In 2010
BRW claimed he was worth $118 million. He
publicly slammed anti-coal campaigning in Queensland in 2011.
John Barnes: owns the Sorrento car ferry service which departs from Queenscliff Terminal. Also a one third shareholder in Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd, an entity which won a $20m tender in 2004 from the Victorian government and redeveloped the Queenscliff Harbour site, which was
put up for sale in early 2023 with an asking price of around $30 million.
Harry Barrett: Sydney bookie and car dealer who owns large tracts of Lennox Heads, just south of Byron Bay. His car dealerships have a big presence on Parramatta Road and got lots of cred when he took on Kerry Packer at the race track.
Barro family: a teenage David Barro arrived in Australia from Italy in 1936 and died in 2009 after amassing a concrete fortune.
The AFR valued the family at $1.65 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $916 million in 2019 but they've had a rough 3 years through COVID and a blowouts at their new plant in WA.
Barr Smith family: From
BRW's 1990
Rich List entry which valued the family at $30 million before they were
dropped in 1992: "Bob Barr Smith, 68, lives near Willaura Vic. He and his wife Elizabeth have four daughters. Barr Smith controls prime pastoral land in Victoria and Queensland and another Barr Smith, Tom, also has extensive interests. The family is descended from Robert Barr Smith, who was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, and was the son of a parish minister. He came to Australia in 1854 and two years later married the only daughter of Thomas Elder. The Elder and Barr Smith families helped build the pastoral empire that became Elder Smith & Company. Today's Bob Barr Smith is interested in polo and horse racing."
David Barry: former director of
GWA International who owned about 12 million shares when the stock peaked almost $5 in April 2007 before the GFC.
David and Peter Bartter: former owners of the Steggles brand, the brothers were once Australia's second largest poultry producers before selling out to private equity. The
BRW claimed $305 million in 2010.
Bill Barry-Cotter: former owner of Gold Coast boat building company Riviera.
Fred Bart: entrepreneur who spent more than $30 million on a Point Piper mansion in 2019 and owns a range of investments including
a stake in Audio Pixel Holdings worth more than $100 million in June 2020. Pops up on a wide range of share registers.
Bill Bartee: co-founded successful Sydney-based venture capital fund Blackbird in 2012 and it is still going strong today, although he left to set up another fund. The big pay day has been Canva, as
The AFR explained in
this 2024 piece.Peter Bartels: then Foster's chairman Nobby Clarke did himself no credit by agreeing to an $8 million payout when his departing CEO refused to sign the accounts in 1992. Outrageously, this was staggered over 5 years so it never showed up as a big lump sum and the market was never told. Also made about $10 million as CEO of Coles Myer but this ended badly as well.
Greg Bartlett:
former senior executive of
Westpac whose 840,000 shares were worth almost $30 million at the peak.
Steve Bartlett: the former Ernst & Young tax partner started his own development and hospitality company in 2013 called Turnkey Projects. He scored a mention in
this AFR article in 2022 after selling his Tourist Hotel in Queanbeyan for $15 million.
Charles Bass:
came to Perth from the US in 1978 and was
best known as the co-founder of Queensland coal miner
Aquila Resources who owned 13 million shares when the stock peaked at $17. The
BRW valued him at $342 million in 2010. A prominent political donor who has given millions over the years including
$78,000 to the WA Labor Party in 2020-21.
Andrew Bassat: co-founder and CEO of
Seek.com, Australia's leading online jobs site with a significant offshore business as well. Owns shares worth more than $100 million.
The Australian valued at $329 million in 2019.
Paul Bassat:
co-founder and former joint CEO of
Seek.com, Australia's leading online jobs site. Made more than $100 million from his Seek shares and now runs venture capital fund Square Peg.
Bruce Batchelor: Queensland-based founder of A-Mart All Sports, he
sold his 70 per cent stake for around $77 million to GS Private Equity in 2004.
Edmund Bateman family: the late founder and former major shareholder of the pathology, health technology and medical centre company,
Primary Health Care, who was valued by
BRW at $458 million at the peak.
Monika Batkin: widow of Corona group executive John Batkin who
sold their Albany Rd mansion in Toorak for more than $10 million in 2012. A successful sharemarket investor who pops up on the top 20 of Ingenia Communities with 516,667 shares (see
p172 of 2020-21 annual report) worth $3.4 million.
George Batsakis: an executive director and long time senior analyst at JB Were who owned more than 1% of the equity held through the Goldman Sach's Australian equity partnership before the Wall Street giant mopped up the minorities for a tidy sum after the GFC.
Peter Batten: former managing director of Bannerman Resources, an iron-ore wannabe in the Pilbara, who owned almost 10 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $4 in February 2008 when he was worth more than $30 million but then went into decline.
Douglas Battersby: former director of
Eastern Star Gas who owned around 30 million shares. Was taken over for $924 million or 90c per share, paid entirely with Santos shares in 2011.
Stephen Baxter:
co-founder and executive director of
PIPE Networks, a telecommunications provider, who owned about 8 million shares before the business was sold in 2009 for $375 million to TPG.
Bayfield family: sold the Light Brigade Hotel at the top of Sydney's Oxford Street for about $20 million to the Laundy family in mid-2024.
The AFR reported that they paid $9 million for it in 2017 and then spent another $5 million on renovations, including adding a new rooftop bar.
John and Felicity Beasley: farmers from Frankland River in WA who have also put together a solid share portfolio.
Julian Beale: former chairman of Adacel Techologies, a communications company. The former Liberal politician was also a director of Visy Industries and former father-in-law to Bill Shorten.
Bill Beament:
executive chairman of gold miner Northern Star who sold 6.6 million shares for $26
million in 2019 but in February 2020 still retained 3.66 million shares worth
around $50 million.
Tah-nee and Simon Beard: the co-founders of Culture King spent $15.25 million in 2021 buying the 70
th level penthouse at Soul on the Gold Coast.
Beaton family: owns
6 million shares in Cobram Estates and Sam Beaton is the co-CEO of the $800 million business which floated in August 2021 with an opening share price of $1.90.
Stuart Beattie: arguably Australia's most successful screenwriter in Hollywood who managed to produce the blockbuster
GI Joe in only seven weeks during the big writers strike a few years back.
Julian Beaumont: spent 24 years with Macquarie Bank, including as head of group operations from 1983 until 1996. The tell tale signs of wealth are the extensive contemporary art collection and various arts gigs. Represented Macquarie on the ConnectEast board.
Christian Beck: major stakes in Australian Technology Innovators.
The Australian valued at $708 million in 2019.
Max Beck: the former carpenter and largest shareholder in Melbourne-based property group
Becton which subsequently went broke. The
BRW claimed $330 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $692 million in 2019.
Max Begely: founder of Matrix Composites & Engineering.
Belgiorno-Nettis family: patriarch Franco was the son of an Italian train driver, who arrived in Australia in 1951, joining up with Carlo Salteri to form engineering giant Transfield. The two split after the disastrous Transurban construction contract, but Franco's family subsequently became billionaires on paper as shares in
Transfield Services soared but then later tumbled before being taken over by a Spanish company.
The 2010
BRW claimed $770 million.
Bell Family: founded Bell Securities almost 40 years ago and is now a leading Australian-based and owned provider of stockbroking, investment and financial advisory services. In 2007, Colin was executive chairman and Lewis and Andrew were executive directors who enjoyed combined salaries of more than $15 million. The salaries were slashed with the 2007-08
Bell Financial Group float but the family owns around 55 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $2.40 in January 2008.
Anthony Bell:
runs accounting firm Bell Partners under a corporate model rather than a partnership one, to make his company more flexible. Made
BRW Young Rich List and is famous for looking after sporting stars.
Tony Bell: the former managing director of Southern Cross Broadcasting walked out with almost $20 million when Fairfax and Macquarie Media bought the company in late 2007.
Richard Bell:
founded
Reverse Corp in 1998 after working both in Australia and the US. Reverse Corp's expansion to the UK initially expanded profits but the shares
tanked to just 3.8c in early 2012, well shy of the peak above $5 a few years earlier. The
BRW once claimed he was worth $137 million but much of that has evaporated. Went again with an investment in Guzman Y Gomez which paid off when his 2.87m shares were worth $86m when the stock debuted at $30 in June 2024. Is
profiled on this Federal government board.
Bruce Bellinge: co-founder of APM, Australia's biggest disability employments services provider, which in early 2020 was
sold by one private equity firm to another for a valuation of $1.5 billion. In 2017, a
partial stake was sold for a valuation of $400 million where the founder was reported to have retained a 40% stake.
The Australian valued him and partner Megan Wynne at a combined $500 million in 2021.
Jack Bendat estate: migrating to Australia in the 1960s with ambitions of being a farmer, he soon moved into shopping centres and then later television, radio and wine. Each time, skillfully knowing when to sell out and move on to the next challenge. He was Kerry Stokes' business partner for almost 20 years and later the charitable owner of the Perth Wildcats basketball team. The
BRW claimed $606 million in 2010 and
The Australian valued him at $672 million in 2019. He late son Paul Bendat was the co-founder of The Mayne Report. Jack passed away in February 2022 aged 96.
Brian Benjamin: successful Melbourne-based entrepreneur, former Macquarie Group corporate adviser and philanthropist who was pivotal to the establishment of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, as this
donor profile explains.
Larry Benke: former
executive director of
Worley Parsons who owned about 1.2 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $53 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million.
Angela Bennett: sister of Michael Wright, she is an heir to the huge Hancock-Wright Pilbara iron-ore royalty which now delivers more than $100 million a year. She sold her sprawling mansion in Mosman Park, WA, in December 2009 for a new Australian record price of $57.5 million. The 2010
BRW claimed $2.09 billion.
Forbes valued at $US980 million in March 2010.
The Australian valued her at $1.928 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.91 billion in 2019
Ian Bennett: previously made the
Beach Energy top 20 list with 6.88 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.80 in July 2006 when he was worth more than $12 million.
Tony Berg: did 19 years with Macquarie Bank, the last nine as managing director before he took the top job at Boral, but failed to deliver in the short term although Origin Energy's success shows a better long-term record. Pocketed about $30 million from the disastrous Grange Securities hospital pass to Lehman Brothers and also spent five years with venture capital firm Gresham Partners.
Clive Berghofer: the former Toowoomba mayor and vociferous opponent of water recycling owns a couple of shopping centres and a substantial land bank. The
BRW claimed $327 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $344 million in 2019, suggesting he didn't add much value over that decade.
Neville Bertalli: Melbourne-based car dealer. Was valued at $489 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $461 million in 2019.
Besen family: Marc Besen and John Gandel ran the Sportsgirl and Sussan retail business for 33 years. Now a billionaire famous for his sprawling retail property empire that includes a half share in Highpoint in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Formed the Besen foundation that has interests in health, art and culture.
The Australian valued them at $2.508 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued them at $2.34 billion.
The Australian valued at $2.51 billion in 2019
Bill Bessemer: owns 13.2m shares in ASX listed financial services company Generation Development Group (GDG) and with the stock at around $3.60 in November 2024, this parcel along was worth more than $40 million.
Mark Bethwaite: a former Liberal Party federal treasurer and Australian Olympic Sailing Team member at three Olympics. He competed at Munich in 1972, Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. In 2007 he sold his Mosman mansion to Primary Healthcare founder, Ed Bateman, for a reported $13.5 million. This wealth was largely assembled from his time as an executive director of the old North Broken Hill.
John Beville: a major player in the Sydney retail property market. His family's fortune was based on a chain of jewelery shops developed by his father, Neville, in the 1970s. The
BRW claimed $397 million in 2010.
Bianco family: the founder Nick Bianco started out with Adelaide-based Bianco Structural Steel which
went into receivership in 2011. His son Russell Bianco
bought the hardware division off the receiver and built it up for the next 13 years before selling Bianco Construction Supplies to Metcash for
$82.2 million in February 2024. Russell lives in Port Lincoln and
enjoys relaxing in his $2 million boat.
Mario Biasin family: the late founder of Metricon Homes owned a 49 acre holiday home at Flinders on the Mornington Peninsular which
sold for $20.5m to the Barlow family of 7-11 fame in early 2024.
Geoffrey Bible: after running Philip Morris Australia, he went on to become the CEO and chairman of their global operations. Was also a director of News Corporation for a decade until the 2004 move to Delaware in the US.
This article suggests he's worth plenty.
Robert Biddle: popped up on the top 20 shareholder list of
Skilled Group, a national workforce services company, with 5% or 5 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $6.20 when the stake was worth more than $30 million but then fell away before a merger with Programmed and a subsequent Japanese takeover of the combined group.
Andre Biet: co-founder and former managing director of the
Charter Hall Properties Group who owned about 5.6 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $3.20 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $17 million before it fell away with the GFC.
Graeme Bignell: been a director of an Adelaide-based car dealer for 20 years but also owned 956,299 shares in Brisbane-based car dealer
AP Eagers. The stock peaked at almost $17.50 in January 2008 when this stake alone was worth $17 million.
Huang Bingwen
and family: owners of manufacturing and printing businesses including
Shantou Dongfern Printing,
The AFR valued them at $2 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.02 billion in 2019, so a bit of a discepancy there.
Alan Birchmore:
former director of
Mermaid Marine Australia who made more than $10 million from his stake in the company.
Bishop family: Brisbane-based owners of the Hardy Bros and Wallace Bishop jewelers, plus owns property in spades and plenty of other assets.
Bob Bishop: studied mathematical physics at the University of Adelaide and did his Masters in Science at New York University. Rose to be CEO of Silicon Graphics, before coming back to Australia.
Robin Bishop: a long-time Macquarie investment banker in Melbourne who went on to co-found private equity shop BGH with Ben Gray and Simon Harle. Was one of Macquarie's 3 nominees on the board of Boart Longyear when it was floated for $2.35 billion shortly before the 2007 GFC, delivering a $1 billion-plus profit for the Millionaires Factory. Also sits on the AFL commission.
Tim Bishop: long-time senior Macquarie Group banker whose total pay was $12 million in 2018-19 and he also made many millions on his shareholding.
Stephen Bizzell: owned about 4.8 million shares in coal seam gas company
Arrow Energy which Shell and Petrochina bought for $4.70 a share in 2010.
Norm Black: a Byron Bay local who co-founded Tripadeal in 2011 with his best mate Richard Johnston. They sold a minority stake to private equity firm BGH in 2020 after COVID hit, then took on Qantas as a 51% controlling shareholder in 2022. Both deals were undisclosed. They then completely sold out and exited the business when Qantas agreed to pay $211 for the 49% in didn't own in June 2024.
Paul Blackburne: owner, founder and Managing Director of Perth luxury apartment developer
Blackburne. Was valued at $567 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $553 million in 2019.
Graeme Blackman: former chairman of Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company IDT Australia who owned about 6 million shares when the stock peaked at $2.60 in December 2007 before taking a tumble.
Marcus Blackmore: family founded the Blackmores pharmacy chain and retains a stake worth more than $500 million.
The Australian valued at $545 million in 2019.
Ross Blair-Holt: billionaire Bruce Mathieson's most loyal pokies off-sider for the past 30 years who has accumulated a quiet pile from the billions of dollars that gamblers have lost engaging with Mathieson managed addictive devices.
Cate Blanchett:
actress and co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company who owns property in Australia and the UK. The
BRW claimed $48 million in 2010.
Vaughan Blank: after four years in South Africa, the long term Glencore executive moved to Switzerland and then Hong Kong before coming to Australia in January 2002 as a senior trader in Glencore's coal division. He exited in 2006 having made his fortune (which led to a
battle with the ATO) and has been a Sydney-based property player ever since, featuring in this September 2024
AFR feature about hidden property investments.
Wolf Blass: Adelaide entrepreneur who made his fortune in wine and enjoyed a serious payday in the 1990s on selling out to Foster's.
Len Bleasel: after starting out as a humble plumber, the retired AGL CEO collected a very handy $11 million in 2001 when he departed before spending a few years as a professional director, including as the long-term chair of APA Group.
John Blewitt:
along with partner Tony Muston,
collected $38 million in cash when they sold Retire Invest to ING in 1995. Blewitt has a house in Mosman and a home in Belgravia, London.
Barry and Norman Bloom: with their parents beginning retailing in Melbourne in 1946, the Bloom brothers continued the hard work, building and eventually selling Australia's most successful women's clothing chains, Portmans.
Natalie Bloom:
runs international company Bloom Cosmetics. It has standalone stores in Asia, to which Bloom Cosmetics exports 70% of products. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Adam Bloomer: founder and CEO of listed to waste to energy company LGI Ltd which was capitalised at around $260m in mid 2024. Recently sold off $3 million worth of shares but
retains a stake worth around $50 million.
Adam Blumenthal: Sydney-based investment banker, entrepreneur, director and political donor, with his
own Wikipedia entry.
Brett Blundy: the founder of the music and lingerie retailer, Brazin, which owned Sanity, Virgin and HMV music stores. He also controls the discount jewelery chain Lovissa, which has boomed.
The AFR valued him at $1.42 billion in 2019. Up there with Solly Lew competing for the title of best retail entrepreneur across a range of brands and chains over the years.
Brian Blythe's family: after years as the executive chairman of the diversified services company,
Spotless Group, this Melbourne businessman sold his 13 million shares to private equity firm PEP in 2012 at $2.71 a pop, netting around $35 million. As this January 2022
obituary in The Australian explains, he also profited nicely from Healthscope, Ted's Camera stores and various wily high end property plays. One of his four children is married to out-going AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.
Andrew Bogut: professional basketballer in the NBA. Originally from Melbourne, he moved to the US to play for the University of Utah as a teenager. In 2009 he signed a $60 million five-year contract extension before returning to Melbourne where he got into
pointless planning disputes with City of Bayside.
Anthony Bohnenn: former chairman of Perth-based Grange Resources, who owned about 13 million shares worth $35 million when the stock peaked at $2.80 before the GFC.
Nicholas Bolton: this Melbourne-based internet entrepreneur and university dropout, who made his first million by his 21st birthday, has gained a name for himself as 'greenmailer' after the Brisconnections debacle, yet he continues to grow his wealth through various corporate plays in the listed investment company space.
Sam Bombardier: an Italian Australian who by the 1980s had amassed a property portfolio of 135 commercial buildings and about 150 residential homes in Melbourne and Sydney, all of which he owned outright. These days he owns a large part of Brookvale, one of the main secondary industrial areas of Sydney. He lives in Beacon Hill.
Damien Bombell: former JP Morgan commodities trader turned hedge fund manager who in 2020
The AFR reported was trying to sell his Manly “holiday house” for $17 million.
Sebastian Bonaccorso: one of Sydney's leading real estate agents and auctioneers who has made plenty clipping the ticket and playing the property game himself.
Alan Bond's family: infamous WA businessman who
died in 2015. After a stint in jail, he again grew his wealth substantially, through property and African mining interests.
BRW claimed $265 million before the GFC and his son John Bond is involved in the listed Prime West business.
Eileen Bond:
known as 'big red', the former wife of disgraced Alan Bond is living in an 108 year-old mansion in Perth's exclusive Peppermint Grove. With a couple of cottages in England and a property in Sydney, combined with an impressive private art collection that would not be out of place in any gallery, her wealth is well above $20 million, much to the chagrin of former Bond Corp shareholders.
Peter Bond: former managing director of Linc Energy had a share wealth of more than $500 million at the top but many critics doubted the slick marketing and spruiking around its coal and gas operations which eventually flopped. The BRW claimed $352 million at one point.
Shaun Bonett:
owns a variety of sites Australia-wide with his property development company, Precision Group. While most of his fortune comes from here, Bonett also co-owns Lenders Direct and invests in the information technology and biotechnology sectors. The
BRW claimed $340 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.17 billion in 2019.
John Bongiorno: prominent Melbourne real estate agent and head of agency Marshall White who in
2020 sold his Brighton home for $19.8 million through a rival agency, independent Jonathan Dixon.
Bongiorno family:
According to BRW, three brothers - Emanuele, Joseph and Tony formed the Melbourne-based accounting firm Bongiorno Group in 1964, specialising in tax and real estate advice to professionals. After 24 years of operation, the business was sold in two parcels in 1988 and 1990 to National Mutual.
BRW ditched them from their 1992 Rich List due to uncertainty about their investments after valuing them at $25 million in 1991. Fast forward to 2023 and Bongiorno Group is
alive and kicking, specialising in financial advice to medical professionals.
Chris Bonwick: geologist and former managing director of gold and nickel miner
Independence Group who owned about 3.3 million shares when the stock peaked at $9.20 before the GFC.
Martyn Booth: the former operations boss of
MAP Group (now Sydney Airport) who owned about 3.6 million shares in the company on top of his huge salary from the old Macquarie Group before MAP went independent. Sydney Airport shares were at almost $9 in early 2020.
Booth family: used to be loyal servants of pokies billionaire Bruce Mathieson then got independently wealthy running a couple of large pokies venues in Victoria for themselves.
Angelo del Borrello: former managing director of the
Aspen Group, a national property investment and management group who owned 26 million shares when the stock peaked at $2.90 before taking a tumble during the GFC.
John Borshoff: the
Paladin Energy CEO was worth more than $200 million on paper when the stock peaked at $10.80 prior to the GFC but it then crashed badly. However, by March 2024, the company had been renamed Deep Yellow (DYL) and revealed a $250 million raising at $1.225, a 3.9% discount to the previous close. Borshoff owns 18 million shares which are worth around $20 million. The uranium miner was capped at $970 million going into the raising which is underpinned by its Namibian uranium operation and another prospect in WA.
Luke Bortoli: spent two years as CFO of Afterpay after coming across from Aristocrat Leisure and made about $60 million on his options, as
The AFR's Rear Window columnist Joe Aston
reported when he resigned in September 2020.
Wayne Bos: the former Telstra executive considered a guru of the internet economy and in particular, Sausage Software, although has largely disappeared these days. Sold enough before the dot com bust to remain a wealthy man.
Tim Bosher: of Palm Beach in Sydney was the largest shareholder and director of CITECT which was sold to Schneider Electrics Australia. He was also on the board of Pan Bio, Crescent Capital, Surfing Hardware and SHI Holdings and is worth more than $20 million.
Jim Bosnjak: made his fortune through private bus company Westbus and then set a record when he sold two apartments at The Toaster overlooking the Sydney Opera House for $13 million.
Peter Botten: the Sydney-based former CEO of PNG-registered
Oilsearch has been earning good dollars for 26 years since taking the top job in 1993. His shareholding exceeded $10 million and his salary has topped $20 million over the years.
Mark Bouris: Sydney based, the founder of Wizard Home Loans has expanded this company into Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, and sold his founding stake to GE Money, which ended up losing almost $400 million selling out to Aussie Home Loans. The
BRW claimed $269 million in 2010.
Grant Bourke: long time Domino's Pizza executive and director whose 1.6 million shares were worth more than $200 million in late 2021.
Steve Bowden: a former Newtown rugby league player who ventured into the hotel business has performed extremely well. He sold the Hurtzville Ritz Hotel in January 2007 at the height of boom of pub values for a then-record $52 million to Melbourne-based Aussie Leisure Group.
Nick Bowen: ousted managing director of mining contractor MacMahon Holdings who owned 14m shares when the stock peaked at almost $1.90 when he was worth more than $25 million but the stock then tanked back below 50c after a profit warning in 2012.
Terry Bowen: former finance director of
Wesfarmers who made more than $20 million from his long stint at the company and now sits on various boards.
Vaughan Bowen: co-founder and former managing director of
M2 Telecommunications who was also chair of Vocus for a period before handing over to Bob Mansfield. Beat an
ASIC insider trading charge in late 2022 after being accused of selling 5 million Vocus shares on June 4 2019 before the
market was told a potential takeover deal with EQT had fallen through.
Bowness family: committed up to $5 million to a campaign to raise $150 million for art acquisitions for the National Gallery of Victoria to help celebrate 150 years in 2011.
Brian Boyd: managing director of Sydney property developer
Payce Consolidated who owned 14m shares worth almost $50 million when the stock peaked at $3.45 in July 2007 before taking a tumble.
Michael Boyd: founder of
Sonic Healthcare, he has turned his $4 million investment into a shareholding worth more than $300 million. The
BRW claimed $360 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $669 million in 2019.
James Boyle: has a Bachelor of Business degree from Australian Catholic University and an MBA from INSEAD in France. Has spent 15 years with Liberty Financial Group and is the current CEO who owned 4.03m shares when the business floated in 2020. The stock was at $7.26 in September 2021.
Gavin Bradley: made many millions working over many years out of Macquarie Group's Sydney office, occasionally popping up in the press such as during
this 2012 battle involving CoalWorks and Whitehaven Coal and
this 2007 defamation battle involving AllState..
Rhys Bradley: a non-executive director of Perth-based flier WA1 Resources since February 2021. It floated in February 2022 after
raising $6m at 20c, then saw the stock soar to a peak of
around $21 in April 2024. It then raised $50m in a placement at $17 in July 2024 to help fund its drilling program for 3 potential energy transition deposits across WA. Bradley owned 3.51 shares worth more than $50 million on paper at the peak. He is a chartered accountant with experience in Perth and London and is chief commercial officer of Agrimin Ltd, which is developing the Mackay Potash Project through feasibility and has a farm-in agreement with Rio Tinto. He has a Commerce degree from UWA and Grad Dip in Mineral Exploration Geoscience from Curtin.
Geoff Brady: one of Australia's 10 richest car dealers. The veteran Holden man owned about 3.6m shares in Carsales at one point in addition to the value of his network of dealerships. Later went into the hotel business with
daughter Rachel.
Tony Brady: Irish migrant and founder of
the Brady Group, a prolific Melbourne-based high-rise property developer who has built a cluster of towers in the Little Lonsdale St precinct.
Robert Branchi: former director of the delisted Advanced Healthcare Group who owned 17.6m shares which were worth $77m when the stock peaked at around $4.40. Made his name as
chair and former CEO of Perth-based Automotive Holdings.
John Brand: established by his father, he runs Brisbane-based Rocklea Spinning Mills which is the largest spinner of cotton in Australia. He also owns a substantial property portfolio which was partly inherited. Rocklea
famously went broke in 2003 but has clearly bounced back. He was on the
BRW Rich List in 2001 valued at $150 million.
Phillip Brass: the former Pacific Dunlop chief made a tidy profit from the sale of his Toorak mansion in Melbourne. The sale makes the mansion, named Miegunyah, Melbourne's most expensive house. He purchased the property for a reported $2 million in 1991 from Robert Holmes à Court and sold for $20 million to an undisclosed buyer in November 2009.
Ben Brazil: long time
investment banker for Macquarie and former Crown Resorts director who led the unsuccessful takeover in 2005 of the London Stock Exchange and purchased a $16.5 million mansion in Sydney's exclusive Vaucluse.
Lyn Brazil: a well-known rural investor in Queensland whose biggest pay day was backing
wotif.com. Sold 16.6 million shares for $33.2 million into the 2005 float and retained about 10 million shares which were later sold given the business was taken over.
Charlotte Breen (and Dion Morrison): the sister of prominent art collector and benefactor Sally Breen
reportedly sold her Mosman home for $19 million in August 2022. Might have inherited from
sand mogul Tom Breen.
Sally Breen: prominent in
debates about arts funding in Sydney but not sure where the family money originally came from. Might have inherited from
sand mogul Tom Breen.
Howard Brenchley: the property trust researcher and commentator became a player when he joined the board of Melbourne-based APN Property Group in 1998. He owns about 12.6m shares. The stock peaked at almost $3.90 when he was worth more than $50 million, but then later crashed.Joe and Gerda Brender: the co-founders of retail chain Katies with Sam Moss who
agreed to sell their half share in a $95 million Point Piper residential complex in 2020.
Peter Brennan: the former finance director of
Fantastic Furniture who owned 10.5m shares. The stock peaked at around $4.60 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $45 million.
Andrew Brice: an original investor in
wotif.com, who made so much that he once generously pledged $12 million worth of shares to the University of Queensland.
Robert Brice:
one of the original backers of
wotif.com who sold 6.8 million shares into the 2005 float for $13.6 million. He owned about 40m shares after the float worth more than $200 million.
Daniel Brickman: a former Babcock & Brown executive who owned shares worth more than $10 million and pocketed big cash bonuses over the years before the business collapsed.
Paul Bridgwood: former director of Perth-based Liquefied Natural Gas, who owned 13m shares when the stock peaked at $1.25 in June 2008 when the stake was worth more than $15 million.
Paul Bridgeford: the Hawthorn-based boss of a business called PAMCO and a successful investor on the ASX.
Ron Brierley: veteran corporate raider who in 2019 was arrested for possessing child pornography.
Alan Brierty: the founder and former managing director of WA-based contractor Brierty, w
ho owned 19m shares worth $28 million when the stock peaked at $1.80. He started the business in 1981 and retired in 2016.
Tom Brinkworth: Rural land owner including Watervalley Station. Was valued at $362 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $367 million in 2019.
Judith Brinsmead: The Australian valued at $544 million in 2019 and $459 million in 2021.
The AFR said $594 million in 2020. She's a former Minter Ellison partner based in Brisbane who in 2018 bought her former husband Bob Hill out of the construction business Adco, which had revenues of $946 million in 2019-20.
Amanda & David Briskin:
started accessories business Mimco, which was sold to Gresham Private Equity for $45 million. The company grew by creating a high quality brand, sold in boutiques and in David Jones stores nationwide. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Symon Drake-Brockman: former director of Nexus who owned 70m shares or 7.3%. Was formerly CEO of RBS Global Banking and Markets in the Americas before the business was nationalised after the GFC.
Michael Brogan: has made plenty as a senior executive of the FirstRand Group and chairman of RMB Private Equity. Attended the
famous $1000 a head 1999 Victorian ALP fundraiser.
Bernie Brookes: the former Woolworths supermarkets boss turned Myer CEO has made more than $20 million out of these two retail plays, although Myer ended badly.
Mike Cannon-Brookes: co-founder of software development company Atlassian who is now worth close to $10 billion.
The Australian valued at $9.01 billion in 2019 although the stock more than halved in 2022.
Peter Brooks: a beverage entrepreneur who sold his drinks company to Japanese giant Asahi Breweries in 2010 and then
fetched $20 million for his new six-bedroom Darling Point mansion in September 2024.
Malcolm Broomhead: the former Orica CEO picked up 2 million shares at $4.50 a pop when he joined but has made plenty during other gigs as CEO of North and chairman of Asciano. Is now back chairing Orica.
Dr Andrew Brostek: successful WA dentist who has put together a solid share portfolio.
Todd Brown: founder of property developer
Urban Construction, who did all that foreshore development at Glenelg in Adelaide, before moving on to Brisbane. Lives next door to Gina Rinehart in a $15m+ house on the Brisbane River.
Brown family: one of the biggest family-owned wineries remains Brown Brothers in Victoria, which industry experts estimate is worth more than $50 million.
Alex Brown: former managing director of
Astron, a producer of zirconium chemicals and advanced materials, who owned 41.4m shares worth around $160 million when the stock peaked at $4.10 in January 2006.
Andrew and Roger Brown: of Melbourne-based
ARB Corporation, Australia's largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories, who owned about 21m shares going into the GFC. The stock bottomed at $2.70 in December 2008 but had soared to around $25 by the end of 2022.
Fiona Brown: Co-founded Dicker Data with her former husband Dave Dicker in 1978 and was general manager for 26 years. Remains both a large shareholder and on the board. After a booming 2020,
The Australian valued her on debut at $569 million in 2021.
Karl Brown: co-founder of Instyle Solar in Brisbane back in 2013. It is now generating more than $150 million a year in sales from installing solar systems.
Bruce and Lyndon Brown: sold a parcel of Wagyu cattle properties in the Eneabba region between Perth and Geraldton for more than $50 million a few years ago. Also made plenty from their Cygnet Bay pearling operations.
David Browne: former executive chairman of embattled stockbroker Tolhurst which was taken over by the unlisted Patersons Securities. He made plenty from his membership of the ASX and is the major shareholder in the Scotchman Hill winery.
Toby Browne: owns Pharmacare.
The Australian valued at $635 million in 2019.
Garry Brown-Neaves: director and shareholder of Alcock Brown-Neaves Group (ABN Group) which operates a number of building companies in Perth and in 2008 purchased a majority stake in Victoria's Boutique Homes. Mr Brown-Neaves and his partner Dale Alcock amassed a fortune from WA's property market.
Peter Brown: former CEO and 25% shareholder in WA-based ISP provider Westnet, he and his father Colin Brown and his uncle Bernard Brown shared in the spoils of a recent sale to iiNet which raised $81 million in cash.
Robert Brown: former deputy-chairman of Perth-based
Cedar Woods Properties, who owned 10m shares when the stock peaked at $6 before the GFC.
Nick Brumley: the Avionics managing director
reportedly put his Longueville waterfront mansion in Sydney's lower north shore on the market in 2023 guiding about $20 million.
Paul Brunner: former president and CEO of drilling services company
Boart Longyear who made about $80 million from the Macquarie-led private equity play and then float on the ASX, which ended up costing investors several billion dollars. Probably shouldn't be on this list as don't think he ever lived in Australia but have left it up given he made so much from his 20 years at the company and public investors lost billions.
Robert Bryan: the former chair of Queensland Gas owned 22.8m shares worth more than $120 million in the BG takeover, plus a further 28m shares in
PanAust . In 2010 the
BRW claimed $221 million.
Bruce Buchanan: the former Jetstar CEO first got seriously rich through his booming start up ROKT but he's also made a few bob having served on the board of Guzman Y Gomez since 2016.
Len Buckeridge's family: the deceased billionaire began in architecture designing low-cost housing across Perth with blocks of Buckeridge flats. He moved into manufacturing nearly 50 years ago, building up the BGC Group which makes everything it uses for building projects, excluding ceramic tiles and clay bricks. The 2010
BRW claimed $2.24 billion. Forbes valued at $US970m in March 2010.
The AFR valued him at $1.88 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued the inheritors of the fortune, Andrew and Sam Buckeridge at $1.54 billion in 2019
David Buckland: former executive director of
Hunter Hall International who owned 930,000 shares or 3.64 %. The stock peaked at almost $18.50 in November 2007 and later merged with Pengana in 2017. Subsequently went on to be
long term CEO of Roger Montgomery's funds management outfit.
Pat Buckler: Gold Coast resident with significant holdings in residential and industrial property in south-east Queensland, plus a sizable share portfolio.
Reportedly developed the Gold Coast Country Club facility at Gaven in the early 1990s.
Andrew Buckley: former managing director of Brisbane-based integrated professional services provider Cardno, who owned 2.4m shares. The stock peaked at almost $8 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $15 million, but then went badly south.
Ian Buddery: former executive chairman of eServGlobal, inventor of smart communication and payment solutions for telecommunications service providers, who owned about 15m shares when the stock peaked at $1.35 before the GFC.
Andrew Budzinski: founded derivatives
trading serving provider IC Markets in 2007 and pocketed an after tax profit of
$167 million in 2017-18. Valued on debut at $1.67 billion by
The AFR in 2020 and lives on a marina in
Cyprus after graduating in finance and marketing from UWA in the 1990s.
Vaughan Bullivant: collected $135 million when his Nature's Own vitamin empire was sold to FH Faulding in 1999, but then ploughed $72 million into Daydream Island which has proved a difficult investment.
Greg Bundy: former head of Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific sold his Mosman House for $8 million in 2004.
Stirling Buntine: owner of large cattle properties in NT and WA worth upward of $300 million. The
BRW claimed $338 million in 2010.
Burger family: arriving from Hungary in 1951, David Burger's family owns a substantial portfolio of commercial property in Sydney's CBD worth upwards of $300 million. The
BRW claimed $342 million in 2010. The 1996
BRW Rich List said he "followed a path to wealth familiar to many of the Rich 200 post-war migrant members: rag trade, retailing and property." David Burger was a key backer of The Burger Centre, a Jewish Care Centre in Woollahra, as
this profile notes.
Tony Burgess: former managing director and global co-head of mergers and acquisitions at Deutsche Bank. The Melbourne University graduate and Harvard MBA was in charge of 300 people in 25 offices, after first going to London in 2004. Now back in Melbourne running the boutique Flagstaff Partners.
David Burgess: Sorrento resident who has put together a solid share portfolio.
Graham Burke: the long-serving and recently retired managing director of
Village Roadshow owns about 14% of the company which was bought by private equity firm BGH in 2020.
Kim Burke: former head of equity markets at Macquarie Bank who pocketed a big salary for many years, plus made tens of millions on his shares.
Andrew Burnes: the CEO of travel company Helloworld was able to write out a $5 million cheque to partially participate in the company's $50 million capital raising in 2020, although his stake was diluted by 3.2 per cent to 28.15 per cent but he remains the largest shareholder.
Burnett family: Queensland cattle family which owned 5% of the original consortium which bought Stanbroke Pastoral from AMP on the cheap for just $490 million and then parlayed some of those profits back into the purchase of the Frankfield property for $40 million.
Alexander Burns: managing director of Sphere Minerals who owned 7 million shares worth about $15 million as Xstrata and the Chinese battled it out for control of the emerging African iron-ore producer a few years back.
Burgess sisters: the furniture maker and businessman Ernest Henry Leonard Burgess bought the bulk of an 1121-hectare property north of Melbourne in 1979 for about $920,000 and his two daughters stand to collect up to $300 million out of a long term progressive sale to developer Stockland struck in late 2010. See
The Age's coverage.Tim Burroughs: veteran investment banker who has advised on more than 100 public company acquisitions and chaired investment banking operations at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch in Australia, as well as being a principle in the boutique adviser Centaurus Corporate Finance in the 1990s.
Mark Burrows: a prominent investment banker and professional director for more than 20 years whose $10 million-plus personal fee when selling Fairfax in 1991 got him well up the rankings. Was kicked off the Fairfax board in 2008 after advising Lachlan Murdoch on his aborted bid for James Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings.
Matthew Burrows: former CEO of the Denison Group.
Peter Burrows: career stockbroker who made plenty as an executive director of
Bell Financial Group, plus through his membership of the ASX when it demutualised in 1998.
Craig Burton: former executive director
Mirabela Nickel who owned 6m shares worth $45 million when the stock peaked at $7.90 before heading south.
Robert Buruma: sold his property at 7 Noosa Pde for a tasty $15.5 million in 2022,
according to this story in
The Courier Mail. In 1962, Henk Buruma commenced Warrandale Industries, undertaking high quality domestic landscapes. In 2023 the company continues to be owned by the Buruma Family and operated by Robert and Tim Buruma as Directors. It
claims to be "Victoria's largest industry leader in commercial landscape construction and greenlife maintenance", providing many detailed, varied and specialised services throughout Victoria.
Joseph Butta: of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009 when he owned 9m shares. He benefited greatly from the sale and in 2010 the
BRW valued him at
$153 million.
Otto Buttula: made his fortune selling Investorweb to the Commonwealth Bank. He also co-founded Investors Mutual and Lonsdale Securities, according to this
BusinessNews profile. Had a hand in the launch of platform company Hub24 which has boomed in recent years.
Andrew Buxton: established the property development company MAB Corporation that has annual sales of over $300 million, of which he is managing director. Since its formation in 1995, the group has built more than $11 billion worth of property.
The Australian valued at $870 million in 2019, along with his brother Michael Buxton.
Michael Buxton: co-founded property developer Becton and has also established the property development company MAB Corporation. A big collector of contemporary art. Since its formation in 1995, the group has built more than $11 billion worth of property.
The Australian valued at $870 million in 2019, along with his brother Andrew Buxton
Rhonda Byrne: producer of the hugely successful book and CD
The Secret which generated sales of more than $300 million.
Terence Byrt: former non-executive chairman of Perth-based East Energy Resources,
who owned 30m shares worth $23 million when the stock peaked at 78c in January 2008.
Nerida Caesar: the former CEO of credit bureau VEDA Group which was bought for $2.5 billion by US giant Equifax in 2016. VEDA's final annual report disclosed she owned 6.65 million shares and 25 million options (see
page 61) so the $2.825 per share offer paid out nicely. Some of her direct reports also did very well. Now on the board of Westpac and NBN.
Tim Cahill: one of Australia's best football exports who has amassed a pile worth more than $30 million over the journey.
Alberto Calderon: CEO of Orica since 2015 and also made plenty from his earlier long stint with BHP. Bought
$3.5 million worth of Orica shares shortly after releasing the 2018-19 results.
Mark Calderwood: former CEO of Perseus Mining whose stake was worth more than $10 million in late 2010.Hugh Callaghan: the former Rio Tinto and Xstrata executive is best known as the founder of
Riversdale Mining who quit to pursue other interests before the African coal miner really took off but still pocketed almost $10 million from the sale of his 4.5m shares. Later took on
Tamaya Resources which was expanding its Chilean nickel interests before collapsing in 2008 when the resources bubble burst.
Peter Calligeros: a Sydney-based pubs mogul who, like many others, made his fortune with the assistance of addictive high intensity NSW poker machines. Paid $8.5 million for the Trinity Bar in Surry Hills and also
reportedly owned the Rag and Famish Hotel and the Mount Street Terrace Hotel in North Sydney.
Joe Catalfamo: founder and former owner of
Tasman Market Fresh Meats. Was valued at $415 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $393 million in 2019.
Calvert-Jones family: John Calvert-Jones was a stockbroker with Prudential Bache who became honourary Treasurer of the Federal Liberal Party. He married Janet, one of Rupert Murdoch's three sisters, whose wealth grew from the $600 million Rupert paid out to his sisters in the 1990s. They hold an extensive share and property portfolio. The
BRW claimed $355 million in 2010.
Jan Cameron: the founder of adventure retail chain, Kathmandu, which grew from an apartment to 46 stores in three countries which was eventually sold earning her a figure north of $400 million. She also holds a large stake in NZ-based children's clothing company, Pumpkin Patch, plus made plenty out of Bellamy's. The
BRW claimed $505 million in 2010.
Glen Cameron: agreed to sell his Cameron national freight empire to Deutsche Post in June 2022. Here is the
company's announcement. With 1000 trucks and trailers and 820 staff, it would have fetched hundreds of millions. Well played, Glen.
Robert Cameron: former managing director of
Centennial Coal who owned about 6.7m shares worth $40 million when the stock peaked at almost $6.30 in July 2008.
Wallace Cameron:
Bruce Mathieson's former controversial offsider made a fortune through the Gribbles pathology business, such that he was able to splash out about $8 million buying the Foster's executive retreat at Mt Macedon. Had a brush with ASIC over his share structuring.
Hugh and Heather Cameron: own
The Yanko merino property near Jerilderie and have also build up a solid share portfolio.
Allan Campbell: former chairman and CEO of
AJ Lucas Group, an infrastructure specialist, who owned about 10m shares. The stock peaked at almost $7 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $70 million, but it has struggled ever since.
Denise Campbell: sold her property at 22 Noosa Pde for $16.5 million in 2022, according to
this piece in
The Courier Mail. She was a supporter of the Noosa theatre scene and is
pictured here.
Grahame Campbell: former engineering executive who was a non-executive director of
Worley Parsons who owned 504,579 shares. The stock peaked at almost $53 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $26 million.
Peter Campbell: founder of the house building company Clarendon Homes, which later changed to CPG Australia. Sold for shares in the Investa Property Group, which he quickly converted into cash on the market.
Peter Campbell: education industry veteran who was a non-executive director of listed education provider
Navitas, formerly known as IBT Education. He owned about 20m shares at the peak and in 2019 the stock was taken over over in a
bid worth $5.82 a share.
Terry Campbell: the retired JB Were chief executive is worth more than $50 million after many years on a big package and then the lucrative Goldman Sachs takeover.
Troy Campbell: part of Australia's largest privately-owned oil and gas services company, Easternwell Group which his father established. As an example of its size, it secured a $100 million contract with Santos to build and operate drilling rigs in 2007.
Dr Rodney Campaign: A successful doctor
based in Hawthorn who has also built up a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Mike Cannon-Brookes: The Australian valued the Atlassian co-founder at $9.010 billion in 2019.
Kim Cannon: founded one of Australia's leading alternative lenders of home mortgages to traditional financial institutions, FirstMac, as a mortgage manager. For over 40 years the business grew substantially and he even made news with his bid to become a one man bank - see
AFR story from 2017.
Matt Cantelo: the medical cannabis pioneer shelled out $19.5m for a Queens Avenue home in Vaucluse in 2018.
Capezio family: first connection was when Don Capezio was brought to Australia as an Italian POW. He loved it and moved here after the war sponsoring many other family members. See
ABC profile. The successful Canberra construction company,
CapCorp, he started remains in business to this day and the family also have other investments.
Peter Capp: appeared in the Pilbara Metals 2023 annual report as a top 20 holder with 5.2m shares which were worth around $20m in early 2024.
Bill Caralis: owner and operator of the 2SM Supernetwork, spanning 40 stations which is the largest independently owned commercial radio network in NSW and South East Queensland. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $110 million.
Michael Carapiet: former head of corporate finance at Macquarie Bank who made more than $15 million a year and succeeded Nicholas Moore as head of Macquarie Capital. Invests privately with Moore in lots of ventures. He owned shares with Macquarie that were worth more than $30 million in March 2010. If retained, these would be worth more than $100 million today.
Michael Caratti: former chairman of listed company
Lycopodium whose shares were worth more than $30 million in March 2010.
James Carnegie: younger brother of Mark (see below) and son of Sir Roderick Carnegie who has spent 15 successful years in private equity with Macquarie, Archer Capital and now Blackstone. See
website profile at Blackstone.
Mark Carnegie: reportedly pocketed $88 million from the sale of boutique corporate adviser and private equity firm Carnegie Wylie to Lazard but has also made plenty investing where John Singleton plays around over the years, including in various pubs and Macquarie Radio. Always coming up with various schemes. Liked his partnership, albeit unsuccessful, with Perpetual a few years back to unscramble the disgraceful Brickworks-Soul Patts cross-shareholding arrangement, but less impressed with his 2022 move into crypto before the crash.
Declan Carnes: former owner-manager of one of the top performing branches of the Bank of Queensland who went on $10 million buying spree racking up luxury real estate, industrial land and residential property for development. Was tied up in the Storm Financial business and in 2022 was working for the soccer sector in North Queensland.
Carney family: owned The Block Arcade in Collins Street along with other property interests. John Carney was a lawyer who died shortly before The Block was sold for more than $100 million to the Cohen family in 2015, who made their money in the vacuum cleaner game and proved to be pretty aggressive landlords.
Judith and Gillian Carpenter: pop up in the top 20 of 4 wheel drive parts company ARB Corp with 653,831 shares (see
p49 of 2021-22 annual report) which they inherited from a "P Carpenter" and were worth $16.6 million in late 2022.
Carpenter family: spent around $70,000 on a Cranbourne South property in the City of Casey in the 1970s and sold it for $55 million after rezoning assistance from controversial developer/consultant John Woodman. See
this feature in
The Age.
Frank Carr estate: former founder and executive chairman of
Carrick Gold who owned 54m shares when the stock peaked at more than $2 in December 2007 before the GFC hit. Carr died in 2010 when he still owned a 37% stake in Carrick Gold, which changed its name to Kalnorth Gold Mines in 2012 and was then
delisted in August 2022. Carr was earlier in digital audio and waste collection businesses,
according to The West Australian.
Craig Carracher: president of Volleyball Australia and co-founder of the Scape Australia rental accommodation operator. He was renting Prudence Macleod's (eldest daughter of Rupert Murdoch) Woollahra mansion and then bought it for $17.5m in 2023,
according to The SMH.
James Carver: founder of
Mermaid Marine Australia who owned 7m shares in 2010 when the stock was trading around $2.60. Hasn't done as well since.
Casella family: focussed mainly on exporting wines to the American market, the family business was founded by Fillipo and Maria Casella with the aim of producing cheap bulk wine. The growth of Casella wine has been a great export success story. The
BRW claimed $652 million in 2010.
The Australian valued them at $1.694 billion in 2019 whilst
The AFR said $1.57 billion.
The Australian valued at $1.69 billion in 2019.
Clinton Casey: the property developer and former Richmond Football Club president sold trophy Hawthorn home Avon House in 2009 for $20.25 million.
Cassegrain family: according to BRW, Gerard and Francoise Cassegrain arrived in Australia from France in 1952 and began cultivating land along the Hastings River in NSW. They built a variety of businesses ranging from machinery, machinery parts and small goods to the Cassegrain winery and real estate. Gerard died in 1993 and then the six children turned on itself, with a series of legal actions for control of the empire. A valuation for court purposes was $40 million, which saw them
booted from the 1998 Rich List after they'd previously been valued at $60 million in 1997.
Salim Cassim: pops up on a range of WA mining company top 20 shareholder lists such as Grange Resources and
Riversdale Mining, which alone delivered him more than $10 million when Rio Tinto took it over for $16.50 a share in 2011.
Tony Castagna: former chair of listed software company Nuix whose stake was
reported by The AFR to be worth $75 million. Also spent time in jail on tax fraud charges before winning on appeal.
Sam Castello: former tow-truck driver who is now worth more than $200 million thanks to being one of the largest pokies pub operators in Victoria.
Castricum family: Jack and his brothers are large and successful meat exporters.
Antony Catalano: made his fortune competing against Fairfax in glossy weekly suburban newspapers and then selling it back to them before later becoming CEO of Domain and now joint proprietor of Australian Community Newspapers after teaming up with Alex Waislitz to buy Fairfax's regional newspapers.
Giuseppe Catalfamo: the controversial owner of Tasman Meats, the biggest meat supplier to Coles, flogged control of his empire to a big Brazilian company in 2008 after the controversy of kick-backs to the retailer's former supermarkets boss Peter Scott. The
BRW claimed $230 million in 2010.
Catelan family: Ray, Dennis, Leanne and Michelle all made plenty when the property stats business RP Data
went public in 2006. Ray was the pioneer and daughter Leanne
pocketed $34m selling a Sydney property in 2019.
Chris Catlow:
the former
Fortescue Metals finance director who owned about 8m shares which, if retained, would be worth more than $100 million.
Andrew Catsoulis: a Brisbane solicitor who founded National Storage in 1996 when it had 1 centre and remains managing director of the $3 billion REIT with more than 200 centres across the country. The 2022 annual report stated that he owns 14.7m ordinary share which were worth $34 million with the stock trading at around $2.30.
Lyndsey Cattermole: the co-founder of Aspect Computing which finished up in the belly of Telstra through Kaz Computing but delivered more than $50 million to the entrepreneur who has spent the past 15 years as a professional director at the likes of Foster's, Treasury Wine Estates and Myer.
Oliver and Jane Cay: successful woolgrowers near Monaro in NSW who own a large share portfolio.
Rob Chaloner: founded Stratton Finance which serviced the auto industry and was briefly owned by Carsales. Along with his wife Melita, they sold their lavish home on Brighton's so-called golden mile for $16 million in June 2024,
according to The AFR.
Bruce Chalmers: wine-maker and former owner of Chalmers Vineyards in NSW, his winery expanded from 8ha to 650ha, leading to the circa $50m sale to Macquarie Group a few years ago.
Andrew Chambers: an executive director at Pinnacle Asset Management whose 4.25m shares were worth $76 million in October 2024.
Sidney Hamilton Chambers: according to
BRW's 1990 Rich List Sidney was born in 1930 and " invested $120,000 in 1963 to buy a former small factory site in Crows Nest, where he established the first Whale Car Wash, which he built up and ran for more than 3 decades, using the the profits to invest in Sydney residential property and resources. Was born in country NSW and worked as a drover in Queensland before working at the Mount Isa mine. He studied accountancy in his spare time and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1972 for services to industry."
BRW valued him at $50 million in 1990, $40 million in 1991 but
dropped him in 1992. Not sure how his 3 children were involved.
Alistair and Kate Champion: shared in the $650m sale of their Laser Clinics Australia business to KKR in 2017 and then
spent $69 million buying a Point Piper mansion in 2023.
Chan family: focused on property in Sydney, the Chans own some of Sydney's busiest shopping centres. Interests in Sydney hotels and other property developments add to the family's fortune estimated to be more than $200 million. The
BRW claimed $220 million in 2010. The family patriarch Bernard Chan died in 1997. He was born in Rabaul and
reportedly made his fortune initially through merchandising and plantations in the Islands region of PNG. He and wife Anna and their four sons moved to Sydney in the late 1960s.
Kar Wai Chan and Thomas Tiong: making their name with the turn around of the Brisbane Myer Centre, but also as frustrated mango farmers who have since sold out.
John Chan: managing director of the Perth-based property developer
Finbar Group, who owned about 19m shares. The stock bottomed at 45c in December 2008 before recovering back above $1.
Michael Chaney: the former CEO of Wesfarmers amassed a fortune in excess of $30 million from his long stint running the company before becoming a professional director earning more than $1 million a year as chair of the likes of NAB and Woodside and, in more recent years, Wesfarmers.
George Chapman: owner of the Skyrail rain forest cable way and the Harbour Lights apartment building in Sydney, who subsequently acquired a stake in the Greyhound bus company.
Jeff Chapman: owner of the property development group the Bennelong Group, which sold a majority stake in the listed healthclub business, Crown Sports. The
BRW claimed $500 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $839 million in 2019.
Paul Chapman: former chairman of ASX300 gold producing and exploration company Silver Lake Resources which operates in Western Australia's Mount Monger and Murchison regions. Held a stake worth more than $10 million in late 2010.
Andrew Charlton: the former Kevin Rudd adviser whose firm AlphaBeta was acquired in March 2020 by Accenture for an undisclosed sum. It must have been tasty given that in November 2020 Charlton
paid $16.1 million for a Bellevue Hill mansion.Neil Chatfield: former finance director of
Toll Holdings who pocketed more than $20 million from his time with the business before becoming a professional director earning more than $1 million a year from the likes of Transurban, Costa, Virgin Australia and Aristocrat.
Daniel Chen: heavily involved in the textile industry, his property development has been just as successful.
Jina Chen and Alex Wu: The couple are the founders and precious owners of vitamin company, Nature Care and still maintain a small share of the group.
The Australian valued at $899 million in 2019
Bob Cheng:
owned 60% of his company EmailCash, an email marketing business. He has branched out internationally to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. Cheng was also the second largest shareholder in Tel.Pacific. Made
BRW Young Rich List in 2010.
Russell Chenu: respected Sydney-based executive and director who helped clean up James Hardie, served on the CIMIC board and has built up a solid share portfolio in retirement.
Christopher Cheung: has owned Sydney's Coogee Bay Hotel for 20 years and those 12,000 visitors every weekend have generated enough cash for a major retail and residential development on the site.
Dr Patrick Chong: a well-regarded orthapedic surgeon in Melbourne's eastern suburbs who has built up a large share portfolio.
Sam Chong: Quietly become one of the Australian coal super powers.
The Australian valued at $1.22 billion in 2019 and
The AFR lifted this $1.9 billion in 2023.
Lucy Christian: popped up on the Elders top 20 shareholder list with around 7.2m shares after the GFC. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in June 2007 when she was worth more than $20 million but then struggled for a few years before coming back nicely in recent years.
Ray Christie: a large grain farmer from Toobeah in Queensland who had a solid holding of AWB shares before it was taken over.
Sam Chisholm's family: the late media executive made his serious money as CEO of BSkyB but still enjoyed $2 million from PBL in 2005-06 and a termination benefit of $1 million in 2006-07. Daughter Caroline Jumpertz moved to sell the family's
$20m-plus Palm Beach mansion in early 2020.
Max Christmas estate: the controversial Gold Coast real estate player and councillor spent 34 years in the game and passed away aged 81 in 2021. A key member of the white shoe brigade through multiple chaotic cycles in Australia's wildest anything goes coastal region. See
this tribute.Phillip Chronican: former executive director of
Westpac who made more than $20 million from his shares in the company and is now chairman of NAB.
Edward Chung: appointed CEO of booming Brisbane-based IT company Technology One in June 2022 after co-founder Adrian Di Marco retired as executive chair. Owns around 900,000 shares which were worth about $12 million in early 2023 and has sold plenty of shares in earlier periods. Annual salary also pushing $2 million, which is fair enough with a company capitalised at more than $4 billion..
Church family: Fred Church was the founder of listed investment company Milton who passed away in 1995 after serving 57 years on the board. The family had a large shareholding in the company and the last connection was John Church who retired from the board in 2017. Milton publishes this very helpful
full history of director service since the 1938 IPO.
Tony Cipa: was involved in the 1994 float of CSL and didn't retire as finance director until 2010 when he'd amassed a holding of more than 100,000 shares. Subsequently served on boards such as Navitas and Healthscope but now retired.
Reg Clairs: the former Woolworths CEO was replaced by Roger Corbett in 1998, but if he retained his shareholding it would be worth north of $20 million today. Spent a few years as a professional director including boards such as CBA and David Jones.
Mark Clark: former CEO of Regis Resources whose stake was worth more than $10 million in late 2010. Finally retired as a Regis executive in 2018 with
3.9 million shares which would be worth $8 million if retained in late 2022. Later became
executive chairman of Capricorn Metals.
Chris Clarke: based in the US and a former advertising industry guru, he founded and sold his Australian advertising agency, Pure Creative in 2000. He then began a global advertising agency called Nitro which was bought out by Sapient, and from this sale he pocketed a handy $US42.5 million.
David Clarke: former largest shareholder and director in
Stuart Petroleum who owned around 14.6m shares in 2010. The stock peaked at almost $2 in May 2006 when he was worth more than $20 million.
Douglas Clarke: co-founder of Melbourne-based Blackmagic Design which supplies software and equipment to film-makers.
Clarke family: the Macquaire Bank co-founder David Clarke died in 2010 after a stellar career with the millionaire's factory which left his family with net assets of more than $50 million.
Simon Clausen: an information technology entrepreneur his company PC Tools, which manufactures anti-spyware software, was sold in August 2008 to US-based Symantec for $US262 million. The
BRW claimed $391 million in 2015.
David Cleary: left Brisbane-based stockbroker Wilson HTM in 2006, a month before it floated, but remained loyal and still held 2.8m shares in successor outfit Pinnacle Asset Management in August 2021 which were worth $46 million.
Keith Cleeve: an IT boffin from Bendigo who persuaded his brother, the late Adrian
Cleeve, a corporate lawyer, to back him in what ultimately led to a significant
shareholding in Afterpay. Adrian died suddenly in 2016 and his six siblings
ended up sharing in more than $600 million worth of Afterpay shares following a
two year court battle with Adrian Cleeve's widow, Wendy Ng. See this
AFR
feature.
Terence, Damien, Laurence, Linley and Audrey
Cleeve: the five siblings of Adrian
and Keith Cleeve, two brothers from Bendigo who together helped build the
technology which powered Afterpay to global success. When Adrian Cleeve died
suddenly in 2016, he was CEO of listed tech stock Touchcorp, which subsequently
completed a $500 million merger with Afterpay that left the Cleeves with a 6.8%
stake. Adrian's widow retained around half of this stake after a two year court
battle but the 6 remaining Cleeve siblings share in around $600 million worth
of Afterpay. It is not clear how these were divided up. See this
AFR
feature.
Peter Clemenger: the advertising guru donated up to $5 million to a campaign to raise $150 million for art acquisitions for the National Gallery of Victoria to help celebrate 150 years in 2011, so is clearly worth plenty.
Andrew Clifford: co-founder of
Platinum Asset Management, who owned about 32.8m shares after the float which were worth close to $200 million.
Leigh Clifford: the former CEO of Rio Tinto collected $4 million in 2006 and $7.5 million in 2007, when he retired from the mining giant, plus has made more than $10 million on his shareholding. Also served on boards such as Barclays and chaired Qantas for several years,
Robert Clifford: founder and chairman of Incat, manufacturer of high speed catamaran ferries in Tasmania, who began building boats for his fisherman father.
William Clinton: made a lot of money from coal mines in the Hunter region many years ago. "Old Bill" Clinton handed over to his son "Young Bill" who ran the family farm near Grafton. The Clinton family's business interests also extend to the Clinton Toyota Group based in Lakemba.
Paul Clitheroe: the former Channel Nine finance guy made his fortune when AXA paid a big price for his IPAC advisory business, which boomed during Channel Nine's
Money show in the 1990s. These days is chair of Investsmart, owner of
Eureka Report.
John Cloney: was the long-serving
QBE chairman who formed a mighty partnership with CEO Frank O'Halloran over a 30 year period. He owned about 635,000 shares, so when the stock peaked at almost $35 in October 2007, these were worth about $20 million, although it has struggled in recent years.
Bill Clough: former non-executive chairman of
Mirabela Nickel which developed the Santa Rita nickel mine in Brazil that commenced production in 2009. He owned about 8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $7.90 in June 2008 when this stake was worth around $63 million.
Harold Clough: founder of the Perth construction and engineering company,
Clough Limited. A prominent donor to conservative causes in WA and beyond.
Peter Coates: a mining industry lifer who has surfed in and out of executive and board roles but is best known for serving at Glencore-Xstrata for many years and remains the only
Australian-based non-executive director of Glencore at the beginning of 2023.
Paul Cochineas: the then chief operating officer of precious metal group Pallion paid $17.6 million for a Vaucluse property in Carrara Rd in 2024, according
to The AFR.
Pierce Cody: the man who ran Cody Outdoor advertising before it was sold to APN News & Media has all the trappings with a Point Piper mansion and a lovely farm, although one of his more recent businesses, Macro Foods, struggled to make an impact and was eventually sold to Woolworths.
Coe Family: inherited from the late David Coe, co-founder of the Allco Finance Group which collapsed in late 2008. He owned 21.25 million Allco shares that peaked in value at $327.6m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Vaucluse home was valued at $40 million.
Greg Coffey: with earnings of $US600 million in 2007, he managed to generate a 50% return on investment for the $5 billion hedge fund he controlled for London-based GLG Partners, before leaving to set up his own fund. Beginning his career at the Macquarie Group after leaving university, he left Macquarie to rise to the top of his game and become Australia's youngest billionaire. Later joined hedge fund, Moore Capital, where he reportedly earned between $100-$150 million a year. The
BRW claimed $335 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $457 million in 2019.
Phil Coffey: spent
15 years on Westpac's executive committee including stints as CFO and deputy CEO before retiring to board land in 2017. Currently serving on the Macquarie and Lendlease boards and, along with wife Kerry, sold their Longueville estate, Wigram, for what
The AFR reported was almost $20 million in 2023.
Gary Cohen: former CEO of healthcare software provider iSOFT which was acquired by IBA Health Group in October 2007. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $139 million.
Cohen family: made their fortune in vacuum cleaners and later bought the Block Arcade in Melbourne for more than $100 million in 2014 from the Carney family.
Julius Coleman: the Melbourne lawyer who founded property syndicate manager MCS which Centro bought for $193.5 million in 2003.
Toni Collette: Academy Award-nominated actress best known her for role in
The Sixth Sense.
Anthony Collick: the successful Sydney-based currency trader
paid $16.5 million for Michael Kirby's former Rose Bay home in early 2020 and then
spent another $4.9 million a few months later buying two neighbouring apartments.
Matt Comyn: the current Commonwealth Bank CEO enjoyed a pay rise from $3.9 million to $5.2 million in 2020-21 and owns almost 62,000 shares worth $6.5 million, with plenty more free bonus shares to come given the rocketing share price. Has spent 22 years with CBA and been CEO since 2018.
Brandt Comyns: a fully qualified heavy diesel mechanic and owner of Perth-based trucker Australia Wide Haulage. The business is obviously growing nicely after it
signed new leases for additional space at Centuria's industrial precinct in Bibra Lake, Perth. It has 94,241sqm, for which it pays around 500k a year.
Spero Conias: built up the Conias Residential real estate agency in Brisbane but also owns a property portfolio which includes some nightclubs,
pubs and retail stores in central Brisbane.
Paul Connolly: a successful sharemarket investor from Gardenvale in Melbourne.
Gary Connell: successful Kalgoorlie businessman who owned a major fuel distribution business affiliated with BP and sat on the board of mining services company Ausdrill where he owned about 8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $2.90 in June 2007 when this stake alone was worth more than $25 million.
David Constable estate: well connected Sydney stockbroker who passed away in June 2023, generating
this tribute piece in
The AFR. Founded broker Pembroke Securities and financial adviser Godrey Pembroke and pioneered some early shareholder activism through Hancock & Gore.
Ian Constable: the co-founder of Perth-based Q-V is professor of ophthalmology at the University of WA and amassed a fortune worth about $50 million developing products for use in eye-surgery.
Francis and Christine Cook: founded their aged car provider Cook Care in 1987 and built an empire with more than 800 beds in NSW and Queensland which they sold to private equity firm Quadrant for
about $200 million in June 2014 as part of the roll-up which created Estia Health, a disaster for public investors when it was floated at $5.25 a share in 2014 and then privatised again by private equity firm Bain at $3.20 a share in 2023. When they sold, the Cooks were
quoted by The AFR saying: “We are proud of what we have achieved over 30 years in the industry and believe the coming together of Estia and the Cook Care Group will ensure our residents continue to receive exceptional care as part of a national group."
Murray Cook: founding member of the world famous The Wiggles, most of the wealth is generated from touring and dancing with children globally, which regularly earned the group almost $50 million a year in revenue.
Noel Cook: a large grain farmer from Meandarra in Queensland who had a solid holding of AWB shares before the company was taken over. Turns out he's the largest grain grower in Queensland, according to
this profile.Alasdair Cooke: former executive director of Albidon, an Africa-focussed exploration and development company with an emphasis on nickel, who owns about 5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $5.10 in June 2007 when he was worth more than $27 million before later tumbling.Peter Cook: former executive director of Metals X, a diversified group exploring and developing minerals and metals, owns about 67m shares or 6.01%. The stock peaked at almost 47c in June 2007 when he was worth more than $33 million. Robert Cooke: the former Symbion Health CEO reportedly pocketed $14 million when Affinity Health was traded by a private equity consortium and would have pocketed another $10 million from the Healthscope merger before it was blocked by Primary Healthcare, which sent him packing with a much smaller payout.
Michael and Simon Cooke: investors from Dianella in Perth who have put together a large share portfolio.
Robert Coombe: the chair of Generation Development (GDG) owns 8.9m shares which worth around $30 million in November 2024 when the company's market cap had topped $1 billion for the first time.
Michael Coombes: former divisional director at Macquarie Group who owned oceanfront land at Mona Vale in Sydney, but was then reportedly bankrupted in 2011. Here are two rare example of this Rich List scoring a mention elsewhere in Rear Window and this Jonathan Chancellor snippet. His Linkedin profile suggests he's been a Macquarie Equities director for 38 years but this doesn't appear likely.Jim Cooney: sold his wireless telecommunications business TCI to
Service Stream for $45 million in 2006. The Sydney yachtie also paid $22.5 million for a vacant block of land in Point Piper in 2019 – details
here.
David Cooper: now enjoying semi-retirement after a 30-plus year stint as a leading real estate salesperson in the Illawara region of NSW through his business Dougmal Property Management which his daughters now independently manage.
Peter Cooper: Chairman and founder of
Cooper Investors in 2001. Was valued at $496 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $515 million in 2019.
Michael Coote: founder and managing director of Coote Industrial, providers of multi-discipline engineering, maintenance, fabrication, personnel and logistical services, who owned 42m shares in August 2007 when the stock peaked at more than $3 before later crashing.
Michael Coppel: a successful music promoter for the past 30 years.
Richard Coppleson: well known Bell Potter stockbroker and commentator who lives in $6 million Bellevue Hill mansion and also
reportedly owned 64,000 Afterpay shares in April 2019. His wife Jade Coppelson also has a tidy share portfolio.
Stephen Copulos: was the second largest KFC franchisee in Australia with approximately 50 stores when he
publicly took on the largest, Collins Foods, back in 2014 when it owned 170 stores and he built a 17% stake in the business from his Shepparton base. However, he quit the Collins Foods board after a failed campaign of agitation in late 2014 and then
progressively started selling down. These days, he pops up as a share trader and director at the small end of the mining sector.
Jeremy Cordeaux: veteran radio presenter and owner who sold his two Adelaide stations to APN around $30 million in 1994 and was still on air with 5AA at the age of 76 until a
rather bizarre Murdoch sacking in early 2021.
Mark Cormack: joined Pinnacle Asset Management in 2011 and by 2021 had risen to director of distribution who owned 1.585m shares worth about $25m.
Mitch Corn: leader of the development company Beville Corp which in 2010 re-opened the huge Top Ryde shopping centre complex in John Howard's old seat of Bennelong.
John (Strop) Cornell: famous for his role as 'Strop' on
The Paul Hogan Show, made a fortune out of
Crocodile Dundee and also became a successful hotelier. Married to Delvene Delaney, they sold the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay in 2007 for a reported $65 million. Passed away in 2021.
Philip Cornish: after selling his telecommunications company Mobile Communications to Vodafone these days he manages a large share and property portfolio. The
BRW claimed $205 million in 2010.
Chris Corrigan: the union-buster made about $100 million building Patrick Stevedores before selling out at the top of the market to Toll Holdings after a hostile takeover battle shortly before the GFC.
Frank Costa and family: former president of the Geelong Football Club and fruit and vegetable wholesaling mogul through the now listed Costa Exchange Group. The
BRW claimed $283 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $688 million in 2019. Passed away in 2021.
Richard Cottee: former managing director of Queensland Gas who sold his 6.1m shares to Britain's BG Group in 2008 for $35 million. Formerly helped run Enron's European business and has been involved with a range of smaller Australian resource plays in recent years.
Ben Cottle: co-founder of FDC with his brother Blake, this property investor, builder and developer built up a 13% stake in listed affordable accommodation provider Eureka in March 2024 as a
takeover battle unfolded.
Blake Cottle: a Sydney builder who co-owns the business FDC and
reportedly purchased Alan Jones' Fitzroy Falls property for about $15 million in early 2023.
Paddy Coughlan: featured as a
Young Rich Lister by BRW/AFR and made his first fortune as CEO and 10% shareholder in the Riversdale pubs group controlled by John Singleton, Mark Carnegie and Geoff Dixon. The later went back into the pub game in 2021 leading a fund
which paid $20.7m for the Five Islands Hotel in Wollongong.
Norris Coughlan: was a co-founder and 30% shareholder in Amart All Sports when the business was
sold to GS Private Equity for about $100 million in 2004. Immediately bought
a $5.6 million mansion in Brisbane's New Farm with his share of the proceeds later that year.
Steve Coughlan: is Executive Chairman and co-founder of the Byrnecut Group, a private suite of companies headquartered in Perth which was established in Kalgoorlie in 1987 and now
claims to have annual turnover of $1.5 billion and a global footprint in the mining services industry.
Alan Cowen: donated up to $5 million to a campaign to raise $150 million for art acquisitions for the National Gallery of Victoria to help celebrate 150 years in 2011, so must be worth plenty.
Jack Cowin: his company, Competitive Foods, own 245 Hungry Jack's stores, 46 franchises and over 50 KFC stores in WA and the Northern Territory. He also brought the Domino's Pizza franchise to Australia, which he floated in 2007.
The Australian valued him at $2.901 billion in 2019.
Derek Cowlan: a former director of
Aquila Resources who owned 9m shares or 4%. The stock peaked at almost $17 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $150 million. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $115 million.
David Cox: a former senior executive of Mincom, he pocketed $16.3 million when the mining IT firm was bought out by US private equity house Francisco Partners in 2007.
Laurie Cox estate: the former ASX chairman and senior Macquarie Bank executive in Melbourne was built a circa $100 million fortune courtesy of profitable investments in everything from the Millionaires Factory, to Transurban and Smorgon Steel, the latter two which he also chaired. Passed away in May 2023 at the age of 84. Stephen Mayne enjoyed a 90 minute catch up with him at The Botanical Hotel in South Yarra in June 2022.
Philip and Rick Crabb: the two brothers were born 17 years apart and had seven children between them. They were successful gold miners in WA's Eastern Goldfields and
reportedly made their fortune in 1996 with the sale of their 21% stake in Gasgoyne Gold Mines. They were
booted off the 1998 BRW Rich List for not having a big enough pile but were valued at $60 million the previous year.
Tim Crakanthorp's family: the former NSW Labor Minister's extended family owns at least 50 properties collectively worth more than $67 million. He got the boot from the Minns Cabinet and came under ICAC scrutiny in August 2023 after he kept his family's holdings quiet while he advocated for a $3.7 billion redevelopment in his electorate.
Rowan Craigie: former Victorian public servant turned CEO of Crown Resorts who was paid more than $20 million during his 10 years running the company.
Ed Craven: a crypto king who
reportedly bought a Toorak mansion for $80 million in August 2022.
Crawford family: old Adelaide family who started the CMV Group in 1934, which is now a successful truck and car retailer across several states with brands including Toyota, Volvo, Lexus and Chrysler Jeep in the stable. In recent years it has diversified into various agricultural ventures. Annual turnover is more than $500 million.
Mark Creasy: known as Australia's most active private gold prospector and investor, he continues to ride the gold market after the original Bronzewing bonanza. The
BRW claimed $284 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $791 million in 2019.
Carolyn Creswell: founder of Carmen's Fine Foods which she bought for $1000 dollars and grew to having revenues of almost $20 million a year.
Ross Cribb: the former NSW TAB chairman and TNT general manager sold Jay-R Thoroughbred Stud in NSW, which he established in 1970, to the Sunland Group for more than $14 million in 2004.
Neville Crichton: a Kiwi who was born in 1945 and migrated to Australia in the early 1980s to start former racing car driver, he added the Australian distribution rights of Korean car manufacturer KIA in 2000 to his company Ateco Holdings which already distributed Citroen and Alfa Romeo.
The Australian valued at $396 million in 2019.
Anthony Crichton-Brown: the former chairman of insurance group Edward Lumley paid $9 million in 2010 for Toronga station near Hay.
Dennis Criddle: the founder and former chairman of Decmil Group, formally Paladio Group, who owned 24m shares worth more than $30 million at the peak, although it subsequently almost went broke.
Cripps family: has the worldwide franchise for Velcro and is known to be exceedingly generous to Australian and international charities, donating most of its annual corporate earnings. The family owns about 90% of the stock, plus has numerous other investments.
Stephen Cook: former head of cross-border leasing and asset finance at Macquarie Bank who amassed a pile north of $30 million from his time with the Millionaires Factory.
Richard Crookes: executive chairman of Sydney-based Richard Crookes Construction which was listed in this
News Corp piece as one of Australia's 10 biggest private owned builders with 2021 revenues of $1.34 billion.
George Crouch and family: founders of Angus beef company
Waverly Station. The family was valued at $373 million by
The AFR in 2019.
Russell Crowe: when you're getting $20-$30 million per movie, it doesn't take long to be worth plenty.
Chris Cuffe: collected that notorious $33 million farewell payout when he left the Commonwealth Bank in 2002 but did create a lot of value over the years for Colonial.
Geoff Culbert: has made plenty as CEO of Sydney Airport since 2018 and in 2021
reportedly sold his home in Sydney's upmarket Paddington for $12 million. Educated at Melbourne University and spent the largest chunk of his career at GE across Asia.
John Cunningham: listed in the top 20 after the GFC as owning 960,000 shares in
Fortescue Metals which if retained today are worth close to $15 million.
Neil Cunningham and Paola Toppi: the couple own a $6 million apartment in Potts Point and also run the legendary Machiavelli's restaurant in Sydney.
Charles Curran: he established his fortune by purchasing several television stations in the 1980s. His Capital Investment Group has interests in a television production house Screentime, sheep and horse studs, plus a winery. The
BRW claimed $264 million in 2010.
David Curran: a former top CBA executive in the IT area who held a stake worth more than $5 million in the bank and also made plenty as a former partner in Accenture.
Nicholas Curtis: former executive chairman of "rare earth' miner
Lynas Corporation who owned 30m shares worth $50 million when the stock peaked at around $1.60 in March 2008. Stock subsequently dived but has bounced back in recent years.
Stuart Cuthbert: former director of the VDM Group who owned 4m shares when the stock peaked at more than $3.10 in August 2007 before taking a tumble.
Andrew Cuthbertson: amazing research boss at CSL who owns
89,182 ordinary shares in early 2020 which were worth more than $20 million.
Suzi Dafnis:
co-founder of Pow Wow Events International, a publishing and events management company, which was sold in 2006. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Doug Daft: once an Australian school teacher, he began working at the Sydney office of Coca-Cola in 1969 and rose to be global CEO out of Atlanta. Also used to sit on the Wal-Mart board.
Dahlsen family: originally owned about 20% of Southern Cross Broadcasting and, unlike the other founders, didn't sell until the Macquarie Media/Fairfax takeover in 2007. The $30 million-plus stake was spread across several family members, but chairman John Dahlsen was in the top 20 shareholders. Then you have the family's growing hardware and roof truss business across Victoria and NSW.
John Dalley: a share market investor, he sold a property at Point Piper in Sydney, in 2008 for a reported $18.45 million.
Tony D'Aloisi and Ilana Atlas: a husband and wife power couple. He was CEO of law firm Mallesons and then became ASX CEO who was booted out with a $7.8 million payout and then went on to become chairman of ASIC and then chairman of Perpetual. She is a former Mallesons partners who was chair of Coca Cola Amatil until the 2021 takeover and has sat on other boards including Westfield and ANZ.
Blanche D'Alpuget: inherited most of Bob Hawke's considerable fortune, much of it accumulated doing business in China, after the former PM passed away last year. Hawke's 3 children were each given $750,000 which became the
subject of litigation from his daughter Rosslyn Dillon who was seeking a larger slice of what is thought to be a $20 million-plus pile before the case settled.
Danks family: they owned about 3m shares in Danks Holdings Limited a leading hardware distributor in Australia in charge of the retail brands Home Timber & Hardware, Thrifty Link Hardware and Plants Plus Garden Centres. Reaped nearly $43 million from the takeover by Woolworths as part of its disastrous Masters joint venture.
Evelyn Danos: executive director of duty free company James Richardson Corporation which was founded by her wealthy father, David Mandie, who
died in 2011.
Michael Danziger: along with his sister,
reportedly inherited five Sydney properties from their clothing manufacturer parents more than 15 years ago which were valued at $4.4 million at the time.
Complained to the press in 2007 about rising land taxes. Has also build up a solid share portfolio.
Darling family: Scottish migrant John Darling made his fortune as a wheat grower in the 1850s who then invested heavily in BHP. This family has a history of sound investing, including owning 28% of boutique investment manager, the Caledonia Group. The
BRW claimed $575 million in 2010.
Paul Darrouzet: a wealthy entrepreneur, Liberal Party donor and superyacht enthusiast (he owns the Abell Point Marina on the Whitsundays) who
reportedly made his considerable fortune selling a stake in the Foxleigh coal mine to Anglo American in 2007.
Donated $62,000 to the Liberals in 2020-21.
Mat and Sue Daubney: the long term WA dairy farmers own 50% of Bannister Downs Farm which Gina Rinehart
bought 50% of in December 2014.
Matt Davey: a serial entrepreneur who
The Australian believes is worth more than $400 million, which has primarily come from various plays in the gaming industry. Is currently the largest shareholder in ASX listed Betmakers which is struggling.
Scott Davidson: managing director and majority shareholder in QMC Logistics which
claims to have a national network of depots through which it distributes perishable goods across the country. Also sits on the Melbourne Racing Club board where
his profile talks about investments in agriculture, along with breeding and racing horses all over the world. .
David family: starting in food wholesaling out of Sydney, John David spent 60 years building his business, and then selling to South Africa's Metro Cash and Carry. Davids Holding and Davids distribution changed names to Metcash and IGA Distribution in May 2000. The
BRW claimed $279 million in 2010.
Nicholas Davies: owned 4.8 million shares in
Arrow Energy, one of Australia's leading producers of coal seam methane gas, before it was taken over by Shell and PetroChina for $3.3 billion in 2010 at a valuation of more than $4 a share. The UK national later went on to chair OneNorth Energy, where he
gave this interview.
Roger Davies: the richest man in the Australian music industry who has managed the likes of Cher, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Sade and Pink. His first big earner was Sherbert but Cher's never-ending farewell tour alone would have made him a wealthy man based on the usual 20% management fee.
Geoffrey Davis: former managing director of WA-based Medusa Mining, who owned 3.8m shares when the stock peaked at $8 in 2011 before taking a dive.
Leon Davis: former CEO of CRA in Australia who rose to lead the whole combined Rio Tinto show out of London. Now back in Australia where he had a successful five years as chairman of Westpac and enjoys a handsome Rio Tinto pension.
Les Davis: former CEO of ASX 300 gold producing and exploration company Silver Lake Resources which operates in Western Australia's Mount Monger and Murchison regions. Held a stake worth almost $15 million in 2012 and the stock has
performed well lately.
Richard Davis: the former CEO of death services company
Invocare owned 1.3m shares. The stock peaked at $17.50 in 2018 but then crashed to around $11 in early 2019 after a profit warning.
Terry Davis: former highly decorated and successful CEO of
Coca Cola Amatil who made more than $20 million from the company. Also made more than $10 million from his stake in the Cellarmaster business which Foster's bought.
Tony Davis: having acquired the Limbunya cattle station for $1 million in 1996, he has since added 20,000 cattle. Tony and his wife Pam also sold their large Northern Territory land holdings for more than $30 million a few years ago.
Trent Davis: founder of Queensland-based IT company NetBox Blue, it has steadily grown since inception which has pushed his wealth to more than $50 million.
Justin Davis-Rice: chief of lingerie company Naked Brand who, along with his wife Katharine,
reportedly spent about $14 million buying a Sydney equestrian centre in 2021.
Seumas Dawes: investment banker and Chairman of financial house
Pepper. Owns plenty of property in Bronte. Was valued at $520 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $582 million in 2019.
Ray Dawson: a successful property developer over many years in Melbourne's eastern suburbs who started out in the Doncaster area.
Dawson family: run the third generation Oakdale Meats which services many of the major meat sellers and users from their Dandenong processing plant including McDonalds and Coles, as they
explain on their website. CEO Brooke Dawson also serves on the Melbourne Racing Club board.
Colin Day: former director and substantial shareholder in the debt chasing outfit Collection House.
Malcolm Day: this Perth-based playboy who fronted Adultshop.com, the first adult company to be listed on the ASX, was once worth more than $100 million. Since the spectacular crash of Adultshop.com - during the dot com boom it was worth around $600 million, he has turned property developer and is said to be still worth plenty.
David Deague: Melbourne property developer who came a cropper in the mid-1990s but has bounced back and in 2010 owned the Kings Business Park in Southgate which is thought to be worth about $100 million.
De Angelis Family: Sydney based hotelier. In 2019, the family bought the Ingleburn Hotel for $30 million.
Pam Dearmer: owner of Western Grazing who
The AFR valued at $323 million when she came in at number 42 on their March 2022 list of Australia's 50 wealthiest women. Inherited from
her father Brian Oxenford.
De Bortoli family: founded by Italian immigrant, Vittorio, in 1928 near Griffith in NSW. The wine empire has steadily grown expanding into nearly 2500 hectares in the Yarra Valley and King Valley in Victoria.
Adrian de Bruin: founder of forestry company Auspine who collected $114 million from the sale of his 30.3 per cent stake to Gunns in 2007-08.
Fabio de Castro: Sydney real estate agent and mortgage broker who has successfully built up a large share portfolio.
Robert De Crespigny: made about $100 million building and then selling Normandy Mining. Now lives in London.
Deegan family: led by
Frank Deegan, the family own a number of venues in Victoria and
sold the 5ha Cardinia Park Hotel in Beaconsfield into the Mathieson family empire for $25.4 million in November 2022.
Francesco De Ferrari: the US born AMP CEO clearly made plenty during his previous career at Credit Suisse given that he was
reportedly able to buy his 6 bedroom Woolahra mansion for $7.5 million in cash in 2020, without requiring a mortgage.
David Deitz: former CFO of Allegiance Mining who sold his shares into the massively overpriced $860 million Zinifex takeover shortly before the GFC for a tidy $14.9 million in cash. Is now CFO of Central Iron Ore where his profile
gloats about the Allegiance exit.
John Delano: former chief executive of leasing company
FlexiGroup, which listed in late 2006. He owned shares worth more than $14 million in March 2010 and the share price peaked at more than $4 in 2014 before taking a dive. He resigned in 2012 after 9 years with the company and
previously worked at Avis in the US.
Gerald Delany: real estate agent to the rich, this prominent Toorak agent has been the managing director of Kay & Burton Real Estate since 1992, and has presided over thousands of multimillion dollar sales in both commercial and residential properties. He has grown the company from property management and home unit sales to becoming a major prestige residential real estate company.
Nic De Luca: founder and
Managing Director of Queensland property development specialists, De Luca Corporation.
Colin De Lutis: the Westco Jeans founder who owns CBD properties, is great mates with Eddie McGuire, bought the Bradmill denim mill in Melbourne and even tried to become a director of the Carlton Football Club.
Joe Demase: the CEO of ASX listed 5G Networks who sold 15% of his stake for $5.5 million in conjunction with a
$30 million placement at $1.85 launched in September 2020.
Dempsey family: build up the
Bed, Bath N' Table retail chain and was also
part of the consortium which rescued Laura Ashley when its UK parent exited in 1995.
Robyn Denholm: the non executive chair of Tesla has got seriously rich on her share options in the soaring EV maker. As
The AFR reported, luckily for the former Telstra chief operating officer, she has taken a lot of money off the table during her eight years on the board, including a $27 million profit in 2022 alone from exercising 25,000 options at $US52.38 a pop, and immediately selling the new shares for an average around $US750 each. Probably not coincidentally, $27 million is almost exactly what
Denholm paid for a penthouse in Sydney's harbourside Cremorne in October, with garaging for six Teslas.
Matt Dennis: co-founder of fast growing dairy business Made which in 2021
reportedly sold 60% of the business to private equity firm TPG Capital, giving it an enterprise value of more than $300 million.
Tony Denny: founder of
AAA Auto. Was valued at $415 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $415 million in 2019 and lifted this to $453 million in 2021. The qualified horticulturist later
moved into farming and was a major backer of ASX-listed crop nutrient play RLF Agtech.
Peter de Rauch: an entrepreneur who sold Eagle Lighting to a Swedish company for a reported $50 million in 2006 and in 2011 made a hostile tilt for the board of the North Melbourne AFL club. Seems to be an active Liberal Party member in Boroondara as he paid for attack flyers against Green and independent candidates in the 2020 council elections despite Boroondara being controlled by Liberal councillors.
Rob Deutsch: founder of one of the fastest growing fitness service businesses in the world,
F45, who was valued at $305 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $406 million in 2019.
David Devine: the founder and former managing director of Brisbane-based property developer
Devine Ltd who built a fortune of around $30 million, even though engineering behemoth Leighton (now CIMIC) unhappily took it over.
Ron Dewhurst: the former managing director of ANZ McCaughan made some serious millions running money in New York, then bought a Steve Vizard mansion in Toorak for more than $5 million in cash and then made another pile running IOOF for three years before taking up a global gig with Legg Mason and then returning to Australia as a professional director.
Caren DeWitt: co-founder of software company Webmethods which provides managerial support to non-profit organisations in the US.
Peter Diamond: former executive chairman of Perth-based stockbroker
Euroz, who owned about 9 million shares worth more than $25 million when the stock peaked at $2.75 in November 2007 before taking a dive.
Larry Diamond: Co-founded buy now pay later outfit Zip Co with Peter Gray in 2013, floated it in 2015 and the former Macquarie analyst remains the biggest shareholder with more than 10% stake.
The Australian valued him at $486 million on debut in 2021 but the Zip share price has subsequently tanked.
John Dib and family: The 64 year old debuted on
The Australian's 2021 Rich List with a valuation of $548 million, courtesy of his Metro Petroleum business which started as a Caltex franchise in Punchbowl 40 years ago and now comprises 61 petrol stations which reportedly generated a profit of $39 million on sales of $1.47 billion in 2020. Also owns a lot of property, including most of the petrol stations.
Phillip Di Bella: founder of Di Bella coffee, which supplies machines and maintains them in over 800 cafes Australia wide. Additionally he also sells retail coffee and is looking to expand into China.
David Dicker: co-founder of Dicker Data whose first wife Fiona Brown remains on the board and whose second wife, Delwyn Dicker,
picked up a solid slice of a
$200m sell-down in March 2024.
Delwyn Dicker: the divorced second wife of Dicker Data co-founder David Dicker who picked up a solid slice of the
$200m sell down that Dave did in March 2024,
citing his second divorce.
Gordon Dickinson: successful UBS investment banker turned rural investor who even bought Malcolm Fraser's old property Raheen.
Martin Dickson estate:
received a gong in 2006 "for service to the community as a benefactor and adviser to performing arts organisations" and passed away in late 2021. His estate
reportedly sold his whole floor harbourfront Kirribilli apartment in late 2022 for $9.8 million.
Scott Didier: founder and CEO of ASX-listed building group Johns Lyng who has now moved into the pub business after joining with another Rich Lister in 2021 to pay
almost $80 million for the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay, plus a neighbouring motel. Raised $25 million selling 4 million of his Johns Lyng shares at $6.25 a pop
in October 2022. Gave
this interesting interview to Alan Kohler in September 2020.
Di Giorgo family: Steve and Rita Di Giorgio purchased a 160ha bush block at Luncindale in South Australia when they arrived from Italy in the 1950s. Working on other farms during the day and then their own at night, this hard work ethos allowed Steve to begin a land-clearing business which has allowed their property to expand to around 9000h. The run a commercial sheep and cattle business and have a strong interest in wine with their Di Giorgio Family Wines winery in the Coonawarra region.
Shaun Di Gregorio: CEO of Frontier Digital Ventures (FDV) who owned around $50 million worth of shares in 2020. Once worked as an executive at REA Group and then set up IProperty, a Malaysian property portal formerly listed on the ASX which was sold to REA in 2015. He then set up FDV.
Jason Di Iulio: founded Finance Mutual Australia which is one of South Australia's biggest non-bank lenders and was responsible for co-ordinating the syndicate behind the funding for the highly successful
Wolf Creek.
Dr Andrew Dillon: A Toorak prosthodontist who has also successfully built up a large share portfolio.
Adrian Di Marco: founder of booming Brisbane-based
Technology One, providers of business software solutions, who owned about 55m shares at the peak. The stock has soared in recent years and
started 2023 above $13. Disappointed that he led a silly campaign against proxy advisers in 2021-22 because shareholders voted against his remuneration arrangements.
Nick Dimauro: owner of the Angaet Property Group he purchased Parabanks shopping centre for $87.5 million to add to the stable of other commercial properties across Australia.
The Australian valued at $656 million in 2019.
Collette Dinnigan: her distinctive garments and designs has catapulted her to be one of the world's most recognised fashion labels.
Naush Dinshaw: a senior investment banker and corporate strategy adviser with deep experience in natural resources, infrastructure, mining and energy. Spent 13 years at Macquarie until 2010, then did 6 years at ANZ and has been CEO of the boutique Melbourne-based advisory firm Androk Global since 2016.
Steve Di Petta: a Shepparton-based flamboyant account with a substantial private and commercial property portfolio. His accounting firm has over 4500 clients and is behind discount supermarket brand Pantry direct.
Anthony Di Pietro: A Frankston boy who made his fortune in food and venues, then became a big wheel in soccer through Melbourne Victoria - see
Wikipedia profile.
Robert Disbrow: owned about 5m shares in Perth-based Albidon, The stock peaked at almost $5.20 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $25 million, and bottomed to a lowly 3.9c.
Pamela Ditchfield: appeared in the 2019 Qantas top 20 shareholder list as the largest
individual retail shareholder after Alan Joyce with a holding of 1.69 million
shares. Google produces no more information but presume she has a wider
portfolio of holdings.
David Dix: former executive chairman of
AED Oil, whose 48 million shares peaked at $11.50 in October 2007, valuing them at more than $500 million. Subsequently left the board in 2012 and the company later went broke.
Dixson family: own a large property portfolio and a valuable stake in the Soul Pattinson Group.
BRW claimed $126 million a few years back.
Bruce Dixon: the long-time Healthscope CEO who also made made plenty running Spotless and then set up his own hospitality business which is majority owned by KKR and bought the Coles pokies business in 2019.
Daryl and Alan Dixon: founded Dixon Advisory which merged with Evans & Partners and then floated in 2018, although this has been a disaster for investors, largely due to the Dixon side of the business, especially its New Jersey property fund. Alan Dixon quit the board in 2020.
Geoff Dixon: former CEO of Qantas whose pay topped $12 million in 2007-08, despite his regular moaning about union wage demands.
Hugh Dixson: this Sydney businessman's wealth is largely focused on shares. His family, after migrating from Scotland in the 1830s, built their wealth through tobacco farms which were later sold to Rothmans.
John Dickson: inherited over $40 million from his mother Jean and formed the Jean & Alfred Dickson Charitable foundation on behalf of his parents. His interests include large land holdings such as Brewarrina Station at Narrandera in rural NSW, and the family beach house at Mt Eliza sold for over $10 million.
Ross Dobinson: the former executive chairman of pharmaceutical company Acrux Ltd owned about 10 million shares when the stock peaked at more than $4 in 2012 but in early 2019 was back below 20c.
Ronald Dodge: sold his home in Toorak for $10 million and owns distributor of airport luggage Samsonite. Moreover, he owns Point Property Group, a chain of car washes, interests in theatre and extensive collection of modern art.
Jure and Ivan Domazet: The Australian valued at $560 million in 2019.
Cameron Donald: beginning as a teenager selling used cars he had worked on, he now owns the Donald Property Group.
Ken Done: one of Australia's foremost painters who fought the Commonwealth bank claiming his net worth would be $61.5 million but for their mismanagement.
Michael Doohan: the former motorcycle great manages the 500cc Honda motorcycle racing team and owns property in Queensland and Monaco.
Bryan Dorman: Founder of healthcare and age-care service
Regis and investment company
Dorman Capital. Was valued at $391 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $410 million in 2019.
Ken Douglass: hails from Warrnambool but now retired in Trinity Beach in Queensland and owns a significant share portfolio.
Hamish Douglass:
made plenty as the former boss of Deutsche Bank in Australia but then got seriously rich founding and building
Magellan Financial Group.
The Australian valued at $786 million in 2019.
Garry Dowd: associated with the successful Choice Home Loans mortgage broking business in Melbourne and has built up a large share portfolio.
Andrew Downe: former
head of treasury and commodities at Macquarie Bank who earned more than $10 million in multiple years.
Siobhan Downe: the former wife of long time Macquarie heavyweight Andrew Downe sold her Balmoral Slopes residence in Sydney for $18 million to VGI chairman Rob Luciano in 2019-20, according to
press reports.
Craig Doyle: managing director of the Doyle Group. Residential and industrial property development grew his wealth after selling out of the livestock trucking business he initially established. The
BRW claimed $270 million in 2010.
Stephen Doyle: the sacked CFO of Nuix spent more than a decade with the company and arranged for a $17 million insider trading share sale in early 2021, if you
believe ASIC.Kevin Doyle: former Vivendi Water chairman sold his two-hectare resort-style mansion at Terrey Hills, in early 2010, for $9 million to Westpac CEO Gail Kelly. He purchased the property for $3.65 million in 2005.
Roger Drake: founder of online grocer
Drakes Supermarkets. Was valued at $454 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $407 million in 2019.
Peter Draney: the co-founder of Aspect Computing who collected more than $50 million when the business was sold to Kaz Computing in 2002.
Lenka Dransfield: emerged in 2024 as the $25 million buyer of Rich Lister garbo
Ian Malouf's seven-bedroom, four-bathroom luxury waterfront on the Pittwater side of the exclusive holiday peninsula.
The AFR reported she is behind snack food wholesaler CAL Marketing, which offers a range of snack brands across products spanning dried Shiitake mushrooms, jelly shots and ready-to-eat wild abalone.
Craig Drummond: rose from banking analyst to research director to managing director of JB Were and was still running the show after the merger with Goldman Sachs, earning at least $5 million a year whilst also being the largest individual Australian shareholder in the partnership following the departure of Terry Campbell. Then worked at NAB and later spent 6 years as CEO of Medibank Private where he pocketed pre-tax payments and share gains of almost $25 million. Is now chairman of Transurban and President of Geelong FC.
Rob and Maree Drury: reportedly sold their Lucretia Avenue deep waterfront in Sydney's Longueville for $18.1 million in 2023.
Chong Qing Du: was looking to sell his family's trophy Hawthorn estate Avon House for as much as $50 million in 2021. See
The OZ.Dr James Duan: A Kellyville doctor in Sydney who has built up a large share portfolio.
“Alex” Chao Duan: the director of Chinese smartphone Oppo's Australian distributor, OMC Electronics, who
The AFR reported paid $20.5 million for a mansion in the Sydney suburb of Warrawee in 2023.
David and Paul Duchen: this father and son team have ridden the generic pharmaceuticals boom with the establishment of Arrow Pharmaceuticals, which later merged with Sigma.
Chris Duff: co-founded Delta Agribusiness in 2006 and was an executive director when it was
sold to Elders for $475m in late 2024. See page 15 of
the slide pack.
Rod Duke: The Australian valued at $628 million in 2019 but
The AFR had lifted this to $1.12 billion in its 2024 Rich List. He made his fortune in Briscoe, an Auckland based public company which is a combination of Rebel Sport and Harvey Norman in New Zealand. Engaged with him at
Briscoe's 2024 AGM.
Garry Dumbrell: the co-founder of Auto Bahn paid $20.25 million for the trophy Hawthorn home Avon House in 2009. See
The OZ.Travers Duncan: former chairman of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company which was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009. He benefited greatly from the sale and in 2010 the
BRW claimed he was worth $153 million. Also tied up with Eddie Obeid coal scandals in NSW.
The Australian valued at $700 million in 2019.
Bob Dunnet: a Sydney property veteran who in August 2023
pocketed a reported $51 million from woolworths for his Lakeside Shopping Centre on the NSW Central Coast, largely because it wanted to evict existing tenant Coles.
John Dunnicliff family: pastoralists who teamed up with billionaire Brett Blundy and were
reportedly headed for a circa $300 million exit from the Beetaloo Aggregation in the Northern Territory which had around 72,000 head of cattle.
Dunsdon family: collected $17m from the Federal Government from one of those controversial Murray Darling water buybacks.
Ian Dunstan: former CEO of
Bravura Solutions, a leading global supplier of financial software, who made tens of millions from his stake in the company.
Tony Duthie: made
The AFR's top 25 deal makers list in 2022 for his work at private equity giant PEP which claimed to sell 7 portfolio companies in 2022 averaging 380% on the money invested. First joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2006 and before that was a Partner of Bain & Company with over 12 years of consulting experience in Australia, Asia and Europe. Tony received an MBA from INSEAD (Dean's List) and a BCom from the University of New South Wales.
Rod Dux: was involved in the early days at Carsales as the long term finance director of Pentana Solutions, who held
Carsales shares worth $16.4 million in the early days after the float in 2010. Later
reportedly paid the Smorgon family $5.6 million for a Toorak property in 2016.
Paul Dwyer: was a former senior executive with OAMPS Insurance Brokers who went on to found PSC in 2006 and after 18 years, it agreed to a $2.3 billion takeover from UK firm Ardonagh.
According to The AFR, Mr Dwyer's share will be $354 million, with $106 million of that pledged to be rolled into new Ardonagh shares.
John Dwyer: the brother of Paul Dwyer (see above) stood to reap $214 million when the Ardonagh bid for PSC, where he was a long serving director,
came through in 2024.
Dyer family: the descendants of Nick and Tony Dyer have collectively owned the licence to manufacturer Sealy mattresses and house brand bedding in Australia for more than 60 years. The family owns all Sealy manufacturing plant and equipment and buildings in most Australian states as well as extensive property holdings in Brisbane. Now also have the licence in China.
Arthur Earle: died in February 1998, aged 84 and was valued by
BRW at $85 million when he
exited their Rich List. His Earle Enterprise group was
reportedly trimmed to eight Queensland pastoral holdings and a Gold Coast retirement village, run by an independent board of trustees that he selected. His estate went to the families of two sons from his first marriage, Colin and Ron, and to relatives of his second wife Lorna, who predeceased him.
Trevor Eastwood: joined Wesfarmers in 1963 and rose to be managing director for eight years until 1992. Rejoined the board in 1994 and was chairman from 2002 until 2007, when he retired with 878,694 shares worth more than $30 million if retained today. Was particularly grumpy when interviewed by Stephen Mayne as a young journalist more than 30 years ago.
Steven Eckowitz: an investor in
Everest Babcock & Brown, he sold his home in the ritzy eastern suburbs of Sydney for a reported $20 million.
Rod Eddington: former CEO of Cathay Pacific and Ansett who then spent five successful years as CEO of British Airways. Returned to Australia as a professional director at the end of 2005 sitting on boards such as News Corp, Rio Tinto and Allco Finance Group boards, chairing JP Morgan's Australasian operation. Still on the Murdoch payroll as chairman of HWT in Melbourne.
Tim Eddy: a long and successful career at Ernst & Young and now a director of Racing Victoria with solid racing and share market investments.
Kim Edwards estate: spent 14 years as managing director of
Transurban which delivered more than $30 million. Was paid $16.5 million in his final year and left with shares worth more than $10 million, which has significantly gone up in value if retained. Died of prostate cancer in 2021 when former Transurban colleague Mike Roberts wrote
this excellent obituary in
The Age. Survived by his wife Jan who presumably inherited the largely Transurban generated assets.
Alan Eggers: appears on the
Silex Systems register with a handy 10.86m shares. The stock peaked at almost $13 in June 2007 when he was worth more than $100 million, bottomed at $2.90 in November 2008 and then recovered.
Anthony Eisen: CEO of Afterpay who had a stake worth more than $1 billion in mid-2020 before the Square takeover and also took out around $235 million in cash from earlier share sales.
Bilal El-Cheikh: Sydney-based owned of the Piety Group who teamed up with Fridcorp's Paul Fridman to pay $178 million for the Double Bay InterContinental during COVID before the partners fell out and Fridman was
declared bankrupt in August 2023.
Bob Ell: Sydney property developer. The 2010
BRW claimed $1.1 billion.
The Australian valued him at $1.864 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued him at $1.84 billion.
Tracey Ellery: co-founder of internet search engine LookSmart who, along with former husband Evan Thornley, were briefly paper billionaires before the dotcom crash.
Herb Elliott: the Olympic champion made about $30 million on his shares that came with the chairmanship of emerging iron-ore powerhouse
Fortescue Metals, although the Opes Prime collapse cost him part of this.
John Ellice-Flint: at the peak, the ousted
Santos CEO owned shares worth more than $50 million courtesy of a lucrative options play which was not originally put to shareholders.
Stewart Elliot: long time executive chairman of
Energy World Corporation who in late 2022 under-wrote a company-saving capital raising at 2c. The stock peaked at $1.40 in May 2008.
Tim Elliott: a key player at listed fund manager Regal who spent $23 million on a Rose Bay mansion in October 2022,
according to The AFR.
Chris Ellis: a career coal man, he and his partner Tony Haggarty drove Excel Coal from obscurity into the $2 billion Peabody takeover. The
BRW claimed $221 million in 2010.
Sam Ellis: lives in the exclusive Wolseley Rd Point Piper and has a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Chris Ellison: Perth-based major shareholder in Mineral Resources which has boomed from its dual play in iron ore and lithium. Also profited from the now taken over Excel Coal. The
BRW claimed $251 million in 2010,
The Australian valued at $691 million in 2019 but he's now a billionaire given that Mineral Resource finished 2022 with a
market cap of about $15 billion and he owns 22.52 million shares worth $1.75 billion.
Richard Elmslie: made his name at ABN Amro and founded fund manager Rare Infrastructure in 2006 which was sold to Legg Mason in 2015 in a
$200 million deal when it had
$7.6 billion under management. Dale Elphinstone: owns the Tasmanian and Victorian Caterpillar franchise, plus a very tidy 77m shares in Queensland Gas before it was taken over by BG Group. The
BRW claimed $565 million in 2010. Thought to possibly be Tasmania's only billionaire.
The Australian valued at $682 million in 2019.
Josef El-Raghy: former managing director of mining company
Centamin Egypt, he owned about 78m shares, so when the stock was trading above $2 after the GFC, he was worth around $150 million.
Rob Elstone: the former CEO of the
ASX, his wealth has grown significantly largely due to the lucrative monopoly that is the ASX and the $10 million-plus he collected through the SFE Corp takeover. Also served on the NAB board.
Derek and Christine Elwin: owned 1m shares in mining engineering company Ausenco. The stock peaked at almost $17 in June 2008 but then fell away to $2 in December 2008 before recovering.
Didier Elzinga: the CEO and co-founder of Culture AMP, a startup tech company in the HR space with a presence in Australia and the US. Was previously CEO of Rising Sun Pictures, a major special effects company operating in Hollywood.
Scott Emery: founder of ASX-listed online lender Money Me who has now moved into the pub business after joining with another Rich Lister in 2021 to pay
almost $80 million for the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay.
Ron Englehart: successful home builder and property developer in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
Erdi Family: inherited from the late Les Erdi, Erdigroup owns and operates nine hotels in Australia. Les is fondly remembered by City of Melbourne design guru Rob Adams for all his innovative developments and philanthropy in the 1990s.
Margaret Erskine: owns about 1m shares in listed investment company Djerriwarrh which are worth $5.3 million so presume there is probably a bigger portfolio and plenty of other assets.
Laurence Escalante: Perth-based founder of Virtual Gaming Worlds which sails close to the wind offering online sweepstakes in the US so gamblers can get around bans on internet casinos.
The AFR values him at $2.68 billion.
Ed Eshuys: Joe Gutnick's former top geologist who was then CEO of St Barbara Mines with about 5m shares. Stock close to $3 in early 2020 so if shares retained, is worth plenty.
Paul Espie: the prominent investment banker and his wife, Roslyn,
reportedly sold their Darling Point trophy home for around $25 million in 2020. He
disclosed donations of $32,000 to the Liberals in 2020-21 and received an AO in 2018. A broad career including running Bank of America's Australian operations, chairing Oxiana and running a private equity fund focused on the resources sector. A good profile
here in BusinessNews.
Mark Etherington:
after starting a career as a carpenter, Etherington moved into the property developing business with hotels in Canberra, a wide portfolio of residential and commercial sites, and runs ECS Group, a building and maintenance company. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Andrea Evans and family: her husband Ron Evans, the former AFL President and
Spotless CEO, passed away in 2007. His legacy lives on and her wealth is estimated at a figure upwards of $100 million. The family assets are managed by son David Evans, who is also chair of the listed Evans Dixon, which was the result of an ill-fated merger between Evans and Partners and Dixon Advisory. Also a former Essendon FC President and long serving Seven West Media director.
David Evans: the former managing director of Channel Nine in Melbourne who went to Hollywood to successfully run the Hallmark Channel and then served on boards like Fairfax, Village Roadshow and BSkyB.
Paul Evans:
ran Ironbridge Capital, which made plenty through its investment in Riviera Group, a leisure craft builder. Also has an extensive property portfolio. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Nick Fahey: a co-founder of Pointsbet who at the peak jointly owned 11.5 million shares in the company with his brother Andrew Fahey which were worth more than $100 million before plummeting.
Andrew Fahey: a co-founder of Pointsbet who at the peak jointly owned 11.5 million shares in the company with his brother Nick Fahey which were worth more than $100 million before plummeting.
Peter Fahey: the CEO of Clarence Property Group which by 2021 had built up a property funds management portfolio worth around $500 million. Check out this interesting
long form 2021 interview.
Ahmed Fahour: has enjoyed big pay days from a variety of employers including Citi, NAB, Australia Post and Latitude Financial Group, plus made a range of astute property investments over the years.
Fairfax family: lost control of the family media empire when Warwick Fairfax privatised it in 1987, but then built up Rural Press before merging with Fairfax and then later selling out completely. The
BRW claimed $1.32 billion in 2010 but would be much less now.
George Falkiner: still owns about 60,000 acres of land, much carrying valuable cotton crops, in the Warren-Nyngan area of NSW. Inherited the Haddon Rig Merino Stud at Warren in NSW when his father died.
Nick Falloon: the former Ten and Fairfax chair made more than $30 million out of PBL and Ten courtesy of his fat salary and lucrative options scheme. Retired as deputy chair of Nine in 2022 but remains chair of Domain.
James Fantaci: the long-time Babcock & Brown executive director had owned about 4.6m shares as of the end of 2007 following a downsizing of almost half of his holding during that year. The stock peaked at almost $35 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $140 million, but collapsed in late 2008.
Steve Farley: he once part-owned the Cambridge Tavern in the pokies ravaged local government areas of Fairfield, NSW, for more than 10 years, but sold out to ALH/Woolworths for a reported $45 million. Also
reportedly made plenty trading in the Acacia Ridge Hotel on Beaudesert Rd in Queensland, plus various other pub ventures.
Scott Farquhar: co-founder of software development company Atlassian.
The Australian valued him at $9.012 billion in 2019.
Andrew Farrell: Member of Macquarie Group management committee. Total 2018-19 pay of $10 million and also made many millions on his shareholding.
Farrell family: taking over the Federal Group hotel chain in 1969, Greg Farrell senior renamed it Federal Hotels & Resorts. Since, the business has grown into the largest private sector employer in Tasmania and has a monopoly over the gaming industry there.
The Australian valued them at $2.064 billion in 2019.
Peter Farrell: the driving force behind
ResMed, a listed company that sell devices for sleeping disorders. Additionally, he own an impressive collection of Australian art.
Richard Farleigh: an ex-pat Aussie living in London, he is chairman of Oxonica and a major shareholder with a 20 per cent holding. He also is well known in the UK for his appearances on the
Dragons' Den, a TV program on which a panel of investors berate would-be entrepreneurs. The son of a farmer, he started out working at the Reserve Bank and then Bankers Trust for ten years. Was then headhunted by a Bermuda Hedge fund which is where he made enough money after three years to retire.
Jeff Fatt: the oldest member of
The Wiggles, he was once member of 1980s rock band
The Cockroaches.
Dr Richard Favero: founder, CEO and former majority shareholder of software mass messaging company Soprano Design which was backed by HT&E and then was going to be sold to a Norweigian company for $560 million in 2021 before that largely scrip deal fell over. Was launched in 1996 and Dr Favero gave
this interview at the time. In early 2023, HT&E then
sold its 25% for $66 million to private equity firm Potentia.
Paul Favretto: a finance guy with Citibank and BT who then profited nicely when Boart Longyear overpaid $134 million to purchase Drillcorp from Avatar Industries ahead of its 2007 float, delivering
this big capital return to Favretto and Ian Trahar. Avatar came out of the ashes of Dennis Horgan's collapsed Perth-based Barrack Mines group.
Simon Fenwick: Brisbane boy who for worked for EY, did a stint in investment banking and then made his fortune as the co-founder of US-based fund manager International Value Investors.
Donated $1 million to the right wing lobby group Advance Australia after being politicised by the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Rob Ferguson: the former Bankers Trust Australia boss walked out with $23 million when the business was sold in 1999. Has chaired companies such as IMF and GPT and also made plenty as a shareholder in the Magic Millions, alongside Gerry Harvey and John Singleton.
Terrence Fern: former CEO of Petsec Energy who owned 25m shares when the stock peaked at $3.40 in May 2006 when he was worth more than $80 million. However, the stock tumbled to 15c in December 2008 before recovering.
George Fernandes:
worth more than $200 million thanks to a large portfolio of industrial land in Sydney's western suburbs and a very expensive house overlooking the naval dockyards around Potts Point. Was also
reportedly a development partner with fellow Rich Lister Pat Sergi.
Chris and Nick Feros: the brothers sold their Sydney pub, the Terrey Hills Tavern, to Charter Hall and Endeavour Group after 16 years of operation for about $40 million in 2021. By 2024 they were back buying the leasehold to the Ocean Beach Hotel in Shellharbour, adding to other NSW pubs including the Prince Hotel, Engadine Tavern and the Taren Point Hotel.
Peter Ferrari: sold his business and shares in the Extra Transport Group of Companies to Toll Transport in 2010 for an undisclosed sum after 17 years of operation. Then started a business called Roll Call Safety Solutions.
Paul Fiani: following a stint at UBS as a fund manager, he founded Integrity Investment Management that peaked with more than $1 billion under management which has contributed the bulk of his wealth.
Anthony Field: founding member of
The Wiggles, most of the wealth from touring has delivered regular earnings of $45 million.
Michael Figg: Sydney-based private investor who paid $20.85 million for 55 Swanston St in 2003. He then sub-divided and sold the three ground-floor shops for $15 million and has continued to divide the 10 levels of office space above.
Tony Fini: long-time WA property developer going all the way back to 1956 who sold his Perth-focused business to
Mirvac in 2010 and then ran the Perth division of the company for a few years whilst owning 8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $6 in December 2008 when he was worth more than $50 million. He then ventured into the retirement villages spaces and negotiated
a $180 million deal to sell his retirement village portfolio to investment bank Babcock & Brown and prominent retirement village player Primelife Corporation, before both empires later collapsed.
Vivian Findlow estate: listed in the top 20 shareholders for REA Group a few years back with 292,239 shares worth around $30 million.
Passed away in August 2022 and survived by daughter
Jen Findlow.
Alan and Elizabeth Finkel: biotech entrepreneurs who made plenty building companies like
Axon Instruments, and purchased a Bourke St office tower in Melbourne for $34 million a few years ago. Was the Monash University chancellor and Australian chief scientist.
James Finney: a Sydney property investor who paid $5.9 million for the Darling Point mansion Linden in 2016 and was offering it for sale for $20 million in August 2024,
according to The AFR. Built in 1905, the five-bedroom home is on a 727-square-metre block on Etham Avenue.
Barrie Finnin: a Monash university academic who is co-inventor of the technology behind the success of listed Melbourne-based pharmaceutical play Acrux Ltd. Has been
running Amaero International in conjuction with Monash in recent years.
Millissa Fischer: former president of Altona Magic Soccer Club in Victoria, her company, Kendalle Pty Ltd ran several aged-care facilities around Melbourne's suburbs. Made the news when she voluntarily liquidated some homes with debts of around $9 million, but is said to be worth more than $20 million.
Richard Fish: made his name and wealth as a fund manager at Bennelong and profiled
here as one of Australia's best share traders. Pops up on the share register of Pointsbet with 1.87 million shares worth more than $20 million in September 2020 before the stock tanked.
Isla Fisher: actress and author most famous for her role in
Now You See Me. Estimated net worth of $25 million.
Fisken family: Archibald Fisken, a Scottish immigrant, first acquired some property with his uncle near Ballarat. He built a homestead in 1858 and was a great horseman. He tended cattle there and regularly mustered them 20km to market, selling them to hungry gold miners. Since,
'Lal Lal Estate' has been operated by 4 generations of Fiskens producing high quality wool. Higher rainfall and location has helped the Fisken family expand their dynasty into around 12,500 Merinos. Eventually
sold their large wool property to Chinese interests in 2014.
David Fitch and family: this Adelaide-based family purchased the Golden Grove Village shopping centre in South Australia from the listed CFS Retail Property Trust for a reported $100 million a few years back and also
sold 2 Adelaide pubs to Charter Hall for $57 million in 2023.
David Fite and Danita Lowes: the power couple were
reportedly attempting to sell Longueville's (near Woolwich in Sydney) finest property, Otahki, for $50 million in 2023. Fite is a Tyro director and Lowes was once Telstra's mobiles CEO.
Fitzgibbon family: sold two Brisbane hotels in January 2006 for $65 million to Cairns plumber-turned pubs mogul Tom Hedley. Big winners from the introduction of pokies into Queensland.
Mark Fitzgibbon: the long term CEO of health insurer
NIB owns $17 million worth of ordinary shares and has been pocketing more than
$1 million a year in salary for more than a decade. His brother Joel is Labor's
most prominent coal industry supporter.
Barry Fitzpatrick: served as CEO of Adelaide Bank for 21 years and received an $8.3 million retirement payout on top of his salary and share profits when he finally bailed in 2006.
Kevin Fitzpatrick: one of the original backers of
wotif.com who sold 36.8m shares into the 2005 float for $73 million and retained about 10 million shares. The stock recovered to around $6.60 after it bottomed at $2.70 in July 2008 but was later taken over.
Mike Fitzpatrick: the Rhodes Scholar, former AFL President, Rio Tinto director and Carlton Premiership captain collected about $75 million for the second half of his stake in infrastructure group Hastings Funds Management on 1 July, 2005. The first half was sold for $36 million in 2002. Also made more than $10 million from the Pacific Hydro takeover.
Rod Fitzroy: retired from Fitzroys, the prominent Melbourne commercial real estate consultancy he founded in 1973, but still acted as a consultant for many years hence. He was also chairman of the failed Timbercorp and prominent in the Victorian racing industry.
Brian Flannery: of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009 when he was a large stakeholder.
The AFR valued him at $1.4 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.02 billion in 2019
Fleming family: Jim Fleming built the family fortune through his supermarket chain but the interests now extend to retail property in Queensland and the massive Eliza Stud in Victoria, which feeds his passion for thoroughbreds. The
BRW claimed $350 million a few years back.
John Fletcher: despite doing an awful job as Coles CEO, the former army man profited to the turn of more than $20 million from his 6 years in charge and that came after enjoying a $7 million final payout from Brambles after new chairman Don Argus forced him out.
Roger Fletcher: he owns Australia's biggest sheep-meat processor, Fletchers International out of Dubbo, NSW. The
BRW claimed $218 million a few years back.
The Australian valued at $405 million in 2019 and $474 million in 2021.
Zac Fletcher: the co-head of investment banking at Goldman Sachs in Australia is quite the Sydney property player. In September 2024 he sold his Point Piper apartment for $13m, two years after buying it for $9.4m. Fletcher had earlier spent $25m in 2023 buying a Wolseley Rd property which they're planning to demolish and rebuild after selling their Rose Bay home for $23m in October 2022, all of which was
covered by The AFR.Doug Flynn: a Newcastle boy who climbed the ranks at News Ltd and then ran the London-listed media and marketing services company, Aegis Group, before moving to Rentokil as CEO in 2005 after almost signing on the dotted line to take over at Fairfax. Now back in Australia and has served on a few boards such as WA News, Seven West Media, APN Outdoor and NextDC.
Paul Flynn: long term CEO of booming coal miner Whitehaven who
sold a chunky parcel of shares in December 2022, his first sale since March 2021, reaping $7.9 million in the sale of 900,000 shares at $8.75 apiece. The stock finished 2022 at $9.42.
Nathan Berkley & Jim Flynn:
owners of Derwent Howard, a publishing company, which moved into the online games market with their website, gameplayer.com.au. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Brett Fogarty: this Perth-based entrepreneur built his initial fortune in gold before expanding into rubbish, construction and engineering.
Jabob Fong: a former CBRE research analyst who paid $48 million for a Brisbane office tower in May 2024,
according to The AFR.Adrian Fonseca: a former Singapore-based banker who sold his home in Vaucluse, Sydney, for $7 million in April 2009 before going on to make his fortune in child care, as
this profile on the GWS website explains. He finished 2022 as GWS deputy chair.
Richard Footner: runs a successful plumbing and civil works contractor in Port Augusta and also owns a large share portfolio.
Joan Ford: wealthy Queensland family which is realising a substantial fortune from land holdings on the Sunshine Coast such as Pelican Waters.
Victoria Ford: has long run a successful
cosmetic medicine business in Sydney and lives in a North Shore property worth an estimated $10 million.
Michael Ford: appeared in t
he top 20 of Site Minder when it floated on November 8, 2021, with his 12.45 million shares worth around $100 million. Well played by one of the two co-founders.
Andrew Forrest: the Perth entrepreneur is one of Australia's richest through his 30% stake in
Fortescue Metals Group, although the 2023 separation from his wife halved his net value to about $15 billion as the assets were broadly split 50-50.
Nicola Forrest: the separated wife of Andrew Forrest is now one of Australia's richest people after their division of assets in 2023 which was close to 50-50.
Rodney and Tim Forrester: was managing director of Queensland developer
FKP (later called Aveo) from 1987 until 2003. Remained a non-executive director after retiring as CEO given he owned about 7m shares. The stock peaked at almost $7.50 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $45 million. Has a private development company, Aria, with his son Tim Forrester, which has
developed $1.3 billion worth of property since launch in 2003. Tim was a
director of The Brisbane Lions when they won the 2024 flag.
David Forsyth: the former Oxiana Resources company secretary owned 3.4m shares which were worth more than $13 million when the stock peaked at around $4 in mid-2007, before his wealth plunged after the ill-fated merger with Zinifex to create Oz Minerals just as the resources bubble was bursting.
John Forsyth: his franchise book selling business, Dymocks, was founded by his great uncle in 1881. Valuable real estate holdings drive his wealth which is supplemented by a mango and macadamia nut growing business. Now into his 80s as
this AFR piece explains.
Greg Forsyth: a non-executive director and former chairman of Supply Network has a shareholding worth about $363m in the company, which supplies replacement parts for road transport equipment, according to
The Australian in October 2024.Henry Foster: owner of the North Australian Pastoral Company which, at its peak, was the country's fourth largest private property empire by size. Along with his brother William, was
booted from the 1998 BRW Rich List after being valued at $55 million in 1997.
William Foster: along with his brother, he is one of Australia's largest cattle producers.
Guy Fowler: a veteran UBS investment banker who is now helping out at Adara Partners but was pivotal in keeping UBS near the top of the investment banking league ladder for more than a decade, particularly with all the GFC-related capital raisings.
Ken Fowlie: the former executive director of Slater & Gordon owned about 26.8m shares and was worth close to $200 million when the stock peaked at more than $7 in 2015. Subsequently went broke after ill-fated Quindell acquisition in the UK.
Lindsay Fox: billionaire who started with one truck and eventually took out rival Mayne Nickless. Purchased Avalon and Essendon airports for peanuts. The 2010
BRW claimed $1.87 billion.
The Australian valued him at $3.52 billion in 2019. One of the few Rich Listers to have
appeared on Q&A. The Australian valued at $3.52 billion in 2019
Kelli Fox: co-founded website, astrology.com, in 1995, which was sold just 8 years later for $28 million. She then founded The Astrologer, which sent content through mobile phones and other websites. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Morry Fraid and Ruben Freid: the majority of their fortune was built through control of the Spotlight chain, which isn't known for paying its workers well.
The Australian valued them at $2.319 billion in 2019 and
The AFR valued them at $1.61 billion.
Francis family: Melbourne hoteliers who made their fortune through pokies at pubs such as Kealbo Hotel and the Dingley Hotel and in 2024 ventured into the NSW market when they
bought the Kings Head Tavern in Sydney from Redcape Hotels for more than $30 million.
Robert Franco: former director of Decmil Group, formally Paladio Group, who owned 8m shares worth more than $10 million at the peak but the business has struggled in recent years raising $50 million in a capital raising at just 5c in 2020.
Erich Fraunschiel: made plenty as Wesfarmers finance director for the 10 years until 2002 then became a professional director, including with Worley Parsons and Woodside where he built up shareholdings worth more than $2 million. Retired meekly from the WA News board rather than risk being voted off by Kerry Stokes at the 2008 AGM.
Mark Frawley: owned 9.21 million MFS shares before resigning on May 15, 2006. If he sold, everything is fine but if he retained them during GFC, it's not so good as MFS went broke.
Malcolm Freake and family: started software company Huon Corporation in 1986 and collected about $100 million in 2001 when it was sold to UK company, the Innovation Group.
Laurence Freedman: the co-founder of fund manager Equitilink sold out to a Scottish firm for more than $100 million a few years back. Also made heaps as a partner of the consortium that bought Network Ten out of receivership in 1992. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $135 million.
Peter Freedman: the Sydney-based founder and chairman of Rode Microphones loudly declared himself a Rich Lister in 2020 by
paying $9 million for Kurt Cobain's guitar, which he plans to take on a world tour to promote mental health funding.
Richard Freudenstein: Former Foxtel chief executive and current
Cricket Australia board member sold his
Mosman home for $23 million in 2019.
Max Fremder: a co-founder of chemical giant Nufarm, Max also made plenty from his 15% stake in
Select Harvests which aspires to be the world's largest almond grower. He was chairman of Select Harvest when the stock peaked at $14.50 in March 2006, valuing his stake at $85 million.
David French: formerly with ESSO Australia, he rose to be global head of environmental services for Exxon-Mobil.
Paul Fridman: founder of property development company Fridcorp, he built the company from nothing to about $500 million in developments, but then
reportedly was bankrupted in 2023 after going over the top paying $178 million for the Double Bay InterContinental during COVID.
Tab Fried: first leapt into the public eye after losing money on lippy queen Poppy King, but also had a large property portfolio including a one-third interest in the giant Eureka Tower at Southgate in Melbourne.
Tony Froggatt: an Australian who rose to be CEO of UK brewer Scottish & Newcastle for almost five years until returning to Australia in 2007 when he joined a range of boards including Axa Asia Pacific.
Bryan Frost: executive chairman of Mintails Limited who owned 21m shares worth $18 million when the stock peaked at 90c in June 2007 before taking a dive.
Ray Frost: the founder of Ray's Outdoors, Australia's largest outdoor entertainment and camping leisure retailer, who grew the small family run disposal store in Geelong, to manufacturing tents locally by hand and then gradually expanding to importing from overseas. In 50 years, Ray's Outdoors has grown to 38 stores in 5 states before selling out to Super Retail Group in 2010.
Gordon Fu: he is Australia's largest private owner of shopping centres, all within south-east Queensland. The
BRW claims $845 million.
The Australian valued him at $1.696 billion in 2019.
Cedric Fuchs: co-founder of the Charter Hall Properties Group who owned 5m shares when the stock peaked at $3.20 in October 2007 before taking a dive.
Peter Fuda: the management consultant and his Kara paid $16.3m for an original-condition brick home overlooking Balmoral Beach in Mosman in early 2023,
according to The AFR.
Paul Fudge: a former rag trader who purchased a coal-seam gas tenements in Queensland and then sold out for big profits. Forbes valued at $US580m in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $571 million in 2019.
Tim Fung: the Airtasker founder and CEO was left sitting on shares worth $55 million after the 2021 float which saw the shares quickly double to around $1.30.
Fysh family: another
Tattersall's estate with $72 million worth of shares at the time of the float, plus the tens of millions in distributions over the past decade.
Gadsden family: the basis of the Melbourne-based Gadsden family's wealth was its 22% holding in the packaging group J. Gadsden Australia, established in 1879 by British migrant Jabez Gadsden. The family sold its interest in the company to SA Brewing in 1986. Last valued by
BRW at $45 million in 1991 but then were
dumped in 1992 because "the family fortune has become increasingly difficult to trace".
Patrick and Angela Gallagher: own pokies pubs in Queensland and NSW including the Meadowbrook Hotel in Logan.
Greg Gailey estate: the former Pasminco CEO made more than $20 million riding the pre-GFC commodities boom and later became a philanthropist who served on the Opera Victoria board. After he passed away his
Toorak mansion was sold by his estate for $13.2 million in late 2022.
Mario Gallo: was one of three shareholders in Sydney-based Sasso Pre-cast Concrete which was sold to Brickworks for $35 million in March 2010.
Neil Gamble: is a director of Engin Ltd, Australia's leading VOIP provider and Chairman of Ryarc Media, a leading supplier of digital signage software. Made plenty as CEO of pay-TV company Australis Media, Star City Casino and Solution 6.
Peter Gammell: the long-time private CEO for the Kerry Stokes empire is himself a quiet, effective, tough Scottish bean counter. With impeccable breeding and super connections, the only personal bauble visible to the human eye is a winery in Margaret River called Wildwood. Thought to be worth more than $100 million after spear-heading the Stokes empire, especially those Caterpillar franchises, for a decade.
Jing and Yao Gan: investors from Rouse Hill in Sydney who own a large share portfolio.
Jack Gance:
originally owner of Le Tan sunscreen, which he sold in 1991, has more recently developed the booming My Chemist pharmacy chain.
The Australian valued at $1.46 billion in 2019.
John Gandel: following the arrival of his family from Poland, they opened a corsetry store in Collins Street. The business expanded into the retail chain Sussan which was sold in 1985. Now specialises on retail property, with his biggest asset a 50% stake in Melbourne's enormous Chadstone shopping centre. The 2010
BRW claimed $3.03 billion. Forbes valued at $US2.4bn in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $6.22 billion in 2019
Mark Gandur: was one of 2 major shareholders in a garment supplies business which was
sold to Pact Group for $122 million in 2018, a deal which later become the subject of a legal dispute and a campaign to prevent Rich Lister Raphael Geminder from privatisating the business in 2024. See
The Australian.
Gange family: Astoria Taxis and then Embassy Cabs quickly became several hundred cab licences, hotels and other property. Alf Gange and his brother Kevin, are the principals. Forbears first got into the taxi business in the 1890s, but retain a very low
profile empire.
Michael Gannon: a long time property investor and director of branded apparel retailer Cremorne Group. Reportedly paid $25 million for a Sorrento holiday house a few years back. Backed the Home Consortium float in 2019. Gannon used to run Blazer menswear and was
involved in the consortium which bought Laura Ashley from its UK parent in 1995.
Nicholas Garling: the former Morning Star Gold CEO topped up his stake to 29 million shares in early 2011 which at the time were worth about $15 million.
Garnham family: brothers Nick and Michael and their father Barry own furniture outfit Jardan which has a large manufacturing facility in Melbourne's eastern suburbs and more than 200 staff nationally.
Jamiee Gatt: long term
partner at Deloitte and current heading up the Asia Pacific assurance team after previously being audit managing partner in Australia. Also an astute investor.
Bob Gavranich: former senior executive of
Mineral Resources who owned 10m shares back in 2008. The stock
finished 2022 at $77.20 so he was mad to sell down. As
this 2014 profile shows, he was a specialist engineer on pipelines.
John Gay: the bull-headed former Gunns executive chairman owns about 18.7m shares courtesy of his Tasmanian tree-slaughtering operation. The stock peaked at almost $3.80 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $50 million but then went broke and he was also convicted of insider trading, but later made a come back running a small timber operation.
Gazal family: Lebanese immigrant, Joseph Gazal founded the family business, The
Gazal Corporation, making pyjamas and men's shirts. The heavyweights in their stable of clothing brands include Mambo, Calvin Klein, Van Heusen, Nautica, Lovable and Davenport. The family, led by David and Michael, still has more than $30 million invested in the public company.
Raphael Geminder: Runs and is the largest shareholder in the listed Pact Holdings Group. Married to the late Dick Pratt's daughter Fiona. Valued by
The Australian at $1.08 billion.
Rob Gerard: chairman and managing director of the Gerard Corporation, it was established after the sale of family's share in the Clipsal electrical goods business, which has interests in Mistral, agriculture and property.
BRW claimed $447 million in 2010.
Nick Georgalis: The Australian valued at $356 million in 2019.
Phillip George: Sydney property developer who sold his Point Piper penthouse for about $20 million in 2018,
according to Domain.
David Geraghty: a former senior executive at Mineral Resources who specialised in processing and previously worked at BHP and Rio Tinto. Appears in the Mineral Resources top 20 (
see p204) with 1.372 million shares which were worth $107 million with the stock finishing 2022 at around $78.
Steve Germyn: invested in Guzman Y Gomez in 2009 when he
joined the board and 15 years later
appeared in the top 20 with 3.81m shares worth $114m based on the first day price of $30 on June 20, 2024. Spent
21 years at McDonalds Australia with fellow big GYG investor and director Guy Russo, rising to CFO and deputy MD before retiring in 2005.
Shesh Ghale and Jamuna Gurung: Having arrived from Nepal, the couple have pioneered in the Australian private education sector, being the owners of the Melbourne Institute of Technology with 2500 students. Having made their fortune in education they are now invested in property and are developing at $500 million dollar hotel.
The Australian valued at $1.10 billion in 2019.
Bill Gibbins: founder of trucking company FCL which was sold to LinFox. Spent part of his fortune paying $1.7 million in 2007 so the Rats of Tobruk could remain in their Melbourne building, in a sale which was largely the work of
The 7.30 Report.
Charles Gibbon: founding partner at
Shearwater Growth Equity. Was valued at $437 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $470 million in 2019.
Bruce Gibson: regional real estate agent, with livestock and prime rural property holdings across Victoria. He was also chairman of real estate company Alex Scott & Co.
Adrian Gibson: married Diana Knox in 1965 who was the main beneficiary of the estate of her grandfather, the meat and canning industry magnate and philanthropist Sir William Angliss (died 1957). He was a Liberal MP and lawyer and they had 3 children before they divorced in 1990 and she remarried. The couple's main property asset was a 4450-hectare sheep and cattle property, Greystones, outside Bacchus Marsh, which was part of the Angliss inheritance. Adrian Gibson was chairman of Clifton Brick Holdings until it was sold in 1987 to Brick & Pipe, netting the Gibsons $40 million. The Gibsons realised $33 million in 1986 when they sold their 53% interest in the Angliss Queensland Stations group and were
together valued by BRW at $100 million in 1990.
Mel Gibson: famous actor and director most well-known for his role in role in
Mad Max. Estimated net worth of $425 million.
Tony Gilby: forged a career with Esso and then was CEO of coal-seam gas sensation, Sunshine Gas, which was taken over by Queensland Gas for a reported $812 million in 2008. Mr Gilby was a big winner from the sale which delivered him a $43 million windfall. See
Business News profile.
Adam Gilchrist: not the cricketer, but he joined the Sydney-based F45 gym business in 2014 and by 2020 it had sold more than 500 franchises worldwide. See
AFR profile.
Andrew Barlow & Adrian Giles:
entrepreneurs looking to invest in new companies after the sale of their successful web traffic measuring business Hitwise for $228 million. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Stuart Giles: met his partner Cathie Reid
as pharmacy students in the 1980s and then built the Epic pharmacy chain in Queensland, along with a private hospital group called Icon Cancer Centre. The AFR says $550 million after they sold down to Quadrant Private Equity and the QIC.
Ray Gillham: one of Australia's largest individual political donors. As a 73yo he gave $862,000 to the crazy Citizens Electoral Council in the 2003-04 financial year, when standing as their second Senate candidate. A Queensland grazier who has large land and cattle holdings in Mackay, but based on
some of these unhinged comments, would be surprised if he's hung onto a $20 million pile these days.
Warren Gilmour: former director of WA-based mining and materials company,
Andean Resources, who owned 11m shares worth around $25 million after the GFC.
Nick Giorgetta: former chairman of Regis Resources whose stake was worth almost $30 million in late 2010. Made it onto
The West Australian's 2019 Rich List with an estimated wealth of $188 million.
Ivan Glasenberg: The Australian valued the retiring Glencore CEO at $6.764 billion in 2019.
Steven Gliddon: founder of
Northcape Capital, a boutique fund
manager with more than $10 billion under management. More than $20m in fully
franked dividends likely to have been paid, not to mention salary plus equity
in the business.
Angus Gluskie: fund manager who owns 17 million shares in the Whitefield LIC which were worth almost $100 million in mid 2021. Lives in a
Mosman mansion.Shane Gluskie: the mother of Whitefield's biggest shareholder and founder who personally owns 11 million shares in the Whitefield LIC which were worth about $60 million in mid 2021. Must be very proud of her son, not to mention pleased with the wealth he has generated for her.
Brett Godfrey: the founding
Virgin Blue managing director made more than $30 million from his time running the airline and is now continuing to invest in tourism businesses, including with his old rival Qantas rival Geoff Dixon.
Amanda and Dipendra Goenka: this husband and wife team are behind the teenage girl fashion stores, Forever New, which opened their 42nd store in Melbourne's Bourke St. Dipendra also runs his own clothing factories in Asia.
David Gold: sold Azure Wireless, a wireless internet company he co-owned, to MagiNet Interactive. He has invested in start-up tech plays such as Aconex, Redbubble, homeXchange and Cableman, but is best remembered for the dstore fiasco during the dotcom boom. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Danny Goldberg: purchased beach front property in Byron Bay in 2006 for a record breaking $15.6 million.
David Goldberger and David Wieland: long time business partners and neighbours in Toorak, their fortune came from the Solo petrol station chain which was sold in 1989. Not long after, they started another venture, Liberty Oil, which is Australia's only major independent petrol retailer. To supplement their growing wealth is the growing popularity of the chain of DFO stores, especially at airports. The
BRW claimed $610 million in 2010 but the DFO business subsequently got into strife and was sold.
Jim Goldburg: with a large property portfolio through CKG Properties, this Brisbane businessman and former finance director of
Flight Centre, still has a large interest in the huge travel agency chain. The
BRW claimed $235 million in 2010.
Colin Goldschmidt: former managing director of
Silex Systems who owned 2.8m shares when the stock peaked at almost $13 in June 2007. He also acquired two US pathology laboratories for a total of $27 million.
Michael Goldsworthy: owned 6m shares in
Silex Systems, which peaked at almost $13 in June 2007.
Lorraine Golightly: long term family owner and operator of the 3.2ha Big4 Beacon Resort holiday park in Queenscliff which was
sold to Ingenia Communities in late 2021 for $37m in cash on a 7% yield.
David Gonski: similar to Graeme Samuel in that he is a lawyer who made millions from investment banking and then moved his focus to community affairs such as chairing the Australia Council, NIDA and the Art Gallery of NSW. However, he owns several businesses in his own right, still sits on a powerhouse of boards such as ANZ and Sydney Airport, formerly chaired Coca-Cola Amatil and ASX and also made tens of million through Investec, the investment bank he used to chair.
Charles Goode: the former Woodside and ANZ chairman owns 781,261 shares in
Australian United Investment Company which are worth more than $5 million and he also chairs stablemate DUI.
Bruce Goodfellow: former director of the chemical company Nufarm, who owned 662,914 shares when the stock peaked at almost $18 in May 2008.
Goodman family: a Sydney family who own or manage a massive global industrial property portfolio through
Goodman Group.
The Australian valued them at $2.287 billion in 2019.
Richard Goodmanson: the tough nut from Queensland was chief operating officer of chemical giant Du Pont, but also CEO of America West Airlines and even ran most of Pepsico's US operations for seven years after an initial 11 year stint with McKinsey. Also a former director of Rio Tinto who served on the board of QANTAS.
Delta Goodrem: famous singer and model and well known for her role as a
The Voice judge. Estimated net worth of $21 million.
George Gorrow & Dan Single:
founded Ksubi, a fashion label, which plans to expand internationally. They also provide designs under the name of Alba Fan Club for Jeanswest. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Bruce Gordon: beginning with the purchase of the Television Wollongong Transmissions in 1979, Bruce Gordon founded the regional media empire of WIN Corporation and is today also the largest shareholder in Nine. Lost more than $200 million when Ten went broke in 2018. The 2010
BRW claimed $1.65 billion. Forbes valued at $US700m in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $781 million in 2019.
Michael Gordon: after selling out of child-care company Peppercorn, shrewd investments of his private investment company Bydand continue to build a $100 million-plus empire.
Peter Gordon: former executive director and deputy chair of law firm
Slater & Gordon who owned 26.8m shares and got out well before the crash. Now chair of the Western Bulldogs and runs his own firm Gordon Legal, which has poached lots of staff off Slaters.
Craig Gore: the founder of the financial services group Wright Patton Shakespeare, his interests are spread from property development to being the former owner of a V8 super car racing team, but was dragged into messy litigation in 2020.
James Gorman: Melbourne boy who rose to be global CEO of Morgan Stanley. Started with Merrill Lynch and was poached by Morgan Stanley to head retail in early 2006.
Jim Gorman: former business partner of the late mining mogul Ken Talbot, he owns several properties in Queensland including some pastoral holdings.
Tom Gorog: former managing director of the Victorian division of Waterman Consulting Engineers AHW, he also has property holdings that push his wealth above $20 million.
George Gorrow: co-founder of the high fashion label and highly successful Ksubi. A keen surfer who has diversifed into other areas including Baddies Bar in New York.
Tom and Robert Gorton: successful father and son mango growers (see
this picture) who operate the Sunny Bluff Produce farm in Mullett Creek, Queensland.
Donated $30,000 to the Queensland LNP in 2020.
John Gowing: still the largest shareholder in retailer
Gowings with a 37% stake or more than 16.2m shares. The stock peaked at almost $3.90 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million.
Richard Goyder: former managing director of
Wesfarmers, he made more than $50 million from salary and share profits during his time with the business. Now chairs, Qantas, Woodside and the AFL.
Timothy Goyder: the Perth-based mining entrepreneur is chair of Chalice Gold and on May 15 2020 disclosed that he had
pocketed $10.5 million selling 10 million shares or 4.3% of the company. He retains a 13% stake and has a range of other mining interests as
this recent interview explains. A rare Rich Lister
who is on Twitter. Declared a billionaire by The AFR in November 2021.
Deryck Graham: former director of WA based Quickstep Holdings who owned 36m shares when the stock peaked at almost $1 in May 2007 before tumbling.
James Graham: has been involved with
Wesfarmers since 1976 and is a former managing director of its Gresham Partners investment bank. Owned about 1m shares in Wesfarmers and now chair of Coles.
Neil Graham: a retired crane driver who bought some land in WA in 1986 for $200,000, had his land compulsorily acquired to facilitate the construction of the Perth-to-Mandurah railway. His application for compensation rate was rejected
by the WA government claiming it was too much and instead paid out $2.5 million. After a six year legal battle, in early 2010 he was awarded $15 million for his troubles.
Richard Graham: began in the technology industry establishing the Sydney-based Computerland and founder/chairman of the online motor parts group,
Infomedia. He owned more than $100 million worth of shares at the peak.
Granger family: executive director Richard and brother John Granger were large holders in Southern Cross Equities which was sold for $150 million sale to
Bell Financial Group.
Grant family: reportedly sold their Melbourne-based Consolidated Property Services to South African conglomerate Bidvest for about $325 million in 2022-23. Founded by John and Mary Grant in 1977, it grew into an integrated property services business which serviced 145 sites across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
Sean Grant: along with his wife Therese Lynch,
The AFR reported in August 2024 that the NSW District Court judge, who hails from Albury-Wodonga and once acted for slain underworld figure Carl Williams, have put their Double Bay mansion Toxteth on the market guiding $28 million.
Steve Grant: founder of property development and investment giant Capital Corporation, which pioneered the development of Sydney's Norwest Business Park, as well as joint venture projects like the Kogarah RSL, Penrith Paceway, Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club, Bondi Junction RSL and Hillsong Church. In August 2024 he
paid $35.5 million for a landmark pink house on the Double Bay waterfront, for which he has already lodged plans for a multi-million dollar knock-down rebuild.
Gravanis brothers: bought their first Sydney pub in 1986 and then benefitted from the introduction of poker machines which helped fund a substantial expansion of their Oscars
hospitality portfolio.
Ben Gray: the
Melbourne-based son of former Tasmanian Liberal Premier Robin Gray started out
in investment banking at CS First Boston before forging a long career in
private equity, first as TPG's Australian leader and later through his own firm
BGH.
Bruce Gray: the inventor of a liver cancer treatment which turned him into the largest shareholder in the listed
Sirtex Medical. He owns about 17m shares or 31% of the company which is continuing to boom.
Andrew Grech: former managing director of Slater & Gordon who owned about 26.8m shares which peaked in value at more than $150 million before later going broke. Now working at Gordon Legal with Peter Gordon.
Alan Green and John Law: Alan Green began making wetsuits in 1969 with a $2500 loan from his father. In 1973, with his surfing buddy John Law, they started the Quicksilver surfwear empire. The
BRW claimed $308 million in 2010.
Chris Green: spent 16 years at Macquarie including where he was global head of real estate. Left in 2018 to establish his own New York-based firm,
GreenPoint Partners. Has also spent the past 3 years on the Goodman Group board and Goodman has made two commitments to invest a total of $45 million in partnership with GreenPoint Partners, raising conflict of interest questions at the 2022 AGM.
Irving Green: successful Doctor who lives in Melbourne and has also built up a multi-million share portfolio.
John Green: the former Macquarie Banker makes our list alone on his 941,510 shares in
Worley Parsons. The stock peaked at $52 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $50 million but subsequently tumbled back closer to $10.
Phil Green: the former
Babcock & Brown CEO owned shares at the peak worth more than $500 million before it went broke after the GFC hit in 2008. Went on to found Alceon in 2010 which has run successfully for more than a decade.
Rodney Green: the former chief investment officer at Perpetual has made plenty since parting ways with the funds management giant, including from his 1.46m shares in boutique fund manager
Treasury Group. The stock peaked at almost $16.50 in December 2007 before falling away and later merging.
Paul Greenberg: dubbed the father of online retail in Australia and made tens of millions as an early investor in Afterpay.
Ron Greentree: possibly Australia's largest wheat grower from Rowena in NSW who had a solid stake in AWB shares before it was taken over. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $164 million and was
reported to be a joint seller of a $200m package of wheat properties near Narrabri in 2014.
Lex and Peter Greensill: Derived most of their wealth from London based supply-chain finance company Greensill of which Lex is the chief executive.
The Australian valued at $1.52 billion in 2019, but then Greensill suddenly went broke in early 2021.
Michael Gregg: The Australian valued at $320 million in 2019, lifting this to $453 million in 2021. Into his 70s now but was a former major shareholder and director of Wisetech.
Michael Grehan: former director of death services company
Invocare who owned more than 1m shares when he resigned in February 2007 which peaked in value at close to $20 million. Educated at QUT but now living in Cheltenham, England.
Mark Greig: owner of project marketing company, Greig Property Group, which is prominent on the Gold Coast.
David Greiner: Co-founder of IT services company
Campaign Monitor, he was valued at $403 million by
The AFR in 2019. Spent $23.18 million on a Cronulla beach house in Sydney.
The Australian valued at $732 million in 2019, along with his partner Ben Richardson.
The Australian vaued at $452 million in 2021.
Nick Greiner: after 30 years of board fees and business work, the former NSW Premier
sold his Point Piper apartment for $14.5 million in November 2023.
Lady Jean Falconer Griffin: pops up on the
ALE Property Group top 20 shareholders with a $7 million holding so not unreasonable to assume she's worth more than $20 million overall.
Paul Griffin: Perth-based investor who has built up a large share portfolio.
Aileen Griffith: Wahroonga-based investor on Sydney's Northern Beaches who has amassed a solid share portfolio.
Alan Griffiths: Paul Keating's Industry Minister left Parliament after the sandwich shop affair but picked up a technology licence rather opportunistically from the CSIRO and built it into an IT business that he sold to a US firm for $30 million a few years ago.
David Griffiths: former non-executive director of ASX 300 gold producing and exploration company Silver Lake Resources which operates in Western Australia's Mount Monger and Murchison regions.
David Griffiths: co-founder of compliance software company Complispace who sold out in two stages to UK firm Ideagen, the second deal in November 2021 delivering a cheque for $12 million.
Ian Griffiths: helped build up Australian Wealth Management, which merged with
IOOF Holdings in April 2009 delivering him about 13m shares.
John Grill: the chair and largest personal shareholder of engineering giant
Worley Parsons, which floated at $2 in 2002 but soared to above $50 at the peak before tumbling back close to $10. The
BRW claimed $1.33 billion in 2010.
The Australian valued at $457 million in 2019.
Edeltraud Grill: the former wife of the billionaire CEO of Worley Parsons, John Grill, who reportedly sold 8 million shares worth more than $150 million several years ago.
Phillip Grimaldi: WA-based former Murchison Metals director reportedly received a tax bill from the ATO for around $35 million, resulting from Australia's largest tax probe, Project Wickenby. With a reported $55 million in bank accounts and tens of millions in shares, the tax bill hurt be he stays well north of our cut-off of $20 million.
Angus & Richard Grinham:
run Grinham Managed Funds, which has a large number of investors from the US. The
BRW claimed $368 million in 2010.
Bruno Grollo: arriving in Australia in 1928, Luigi Grollo starting up a paving company which was carried on by his sons Bruno and Rino, and built into the construction giant Grocon. Responsible for many Melbourne landmarks, including the grandstand at the MCG, they own large developments in Melbourne's CBD. He has retired now, leaving the running of the company to his sons. The
BRW claims $833 million. Forbes valued at $US560m in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $645 million in 2019.
Rino Grollo: after the carve up of the Grollo empire, he and brother Bruno went separate ways. Through his company, Equiset, he continues construction and development projects in Melbourne and Sydney. The
BRW claimed $320 million in 2010.
The Australian valued him and his wife at $544 million in 2019.
David Groth: was a divisional director of broking house Wilson HTM when it floated in 2007 and went on to become CEO of Pinnacle Asset Management. Has retained 2.8m shares which were worth $41 million in August 2021.
Matthew Grounds:
outgoing
head of UBS in Australia thought to be worth around $100 million. Made
BRW Young Rich List. Now involved with start-up Barrenjoey.
Eddie Groves: founder and former CEO of the child-care giant ABC Learning, his wealth has plummeted after margin calls and the collapsed of his old company but he has retained his shirt and a few residual assets sufficient to fund a lavish post-collapse wedding.
Patrick Grove: serial entrepreneur in a range of business including Catcha Group, ICar and Iproperty.
The Australian valued at $841 million in 2019. See Wikipedia profile.
Andrew Grover: co-founder of recruitment company Gemteq Executive which was sold for $19.5 million. Current director of LAPD Pty Ltd which recently purchased a corner site near Crown Melbourne for $6 million. Successful enough to have a
profile with BusinessNews.
Reg Grundy's family: an Australian icon and successful television entrepreneur, who brought to our screens TV shows such as
Neighbours,
Prisoner and a large variety of game shows. The
BRW claimed $850 million. Died in 2016.
Liwen Gu: from Asquith in NSW and owns a large portfolio of shares.
Michael Gudinski: founder of Mushroom records and the Frontier Touring Company which was ranked fifth largest concert promoter by Billboard magazine, the Mushroom juggernaut continues to grow including the film production division which was responsible for hits such as
Wolf Creek and
Chopper.
Dr Shane Guerinoni: a Perth-based GP who is also a successful share market investor.
Geoffrey Guest: owned 6.76m shares in
Count Financial when serving on the board. The stock peaked at almost $3.50 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $20 million, bottomed at 95c in December 2008 and then recovered. Retired as a non-executive director in 2006 ahead of $373 million takeover by CBA in 2011.
Stewart Gull: the former Carlton footballer started developing regional Victorian retirement villages in 1992 and grew to a position of pursuing a float of the business under the Country Club Villages brand.
Peter Gunn: renowned for his uncanny timing for investment in transport stocks, in 1999 his family owned company PGA partly merged with Mayne Nickless which has since been broken up and taken over. The
BRW claimed $585 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.26 billion in 2019. Prominent at the Melbourne Business School.
Antony and Timothy Gunn: farmers from Forton in Tasmania whose family has
run the property for almost 90 years and has
battled wombats whilst also accumulating a significant share portfolio.
Gunnersen family: descended from Captain Gunnar Gunnersen, who migrated to Australia from Norway in the 1870s in the barque Helga. His cargo was Baltic timber, and he continued to import Baltic timber after settling in Australia. The family bowed to pressure in January 1988 and sold its substantial shares in Softwood Holdings and Timber Holdings to CSR for $32 million. After the takeover CSR invited Thorold (Thorry) Gunnersen to join the CSR-controlled Softwood Holdings board. Gunnersen is a great-grandson of Captain Gunnar and was the previous chairman of Timber Holdings. The
BRW Rich List valued the family at a minimum of $55 million in 1990 before
giving them the boot in the 1998 edition.
Tim Gurner: Melbourne property developer who focuses on the inner city, particularly the City of Yarra.
The Australian valued at $652 million in 2019.
Arthur Habib and family: ran a commercial printing business in Sydney for 35 years but then
reportedly got compulsorily acquired for the new Waterloo Metro station in 2016. Also a successful share market investor.
Chris Hadley: one of the co-founders of Quadrant, arguably Australia's most successful home grown private equity firms, who remains executive chairman to this day. As the
website profile says: "Chris has led and managed the raising of all nine Quadrant funds, the first in 1996, and has been a member of the Investment Committee of all funds. Chris has led and managed a number of Quadrant investments and has been a director on many investee boards." Wouldn't have enjoyed this 2023
AFR feature piece. Frank Hadley: migrated from California in 1961 to plant cotton in Wee Waa, NSW. Had two children but was
dumped in the 1992 BRW Rich List after they valued him at $35 million in 1991 and then discovered he only owned two properties but managed several others in the region. See
this lovely article in
The Narrabri Courier when Frank and Norma celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2020.
Albert Hadid: initially from Lebanon and then made his first pile selling computers in western Sydney and then somehow picked up Australia's first pay-TV licences and then flicked them to Australis, making a quick $32 million profit. Australis then raised $200 million through a float and launched Australia's first pay-TV service called Galaxy which eventually went broke in extraordinary circumstances as spelt out in
this Fairfax feature from 2003.
Paul Haege: in 2024,
The AFR's Rear Window column
reported that he hosted a Christmas party for the Liberals in
what they called his "$50 million Darling Point party pad".
Tony Haggarty: a career coal man, he and his colleagues drove Excel Coal from obscurity into the $2 billion Peabody takeover. The former managing director of
Whitehaven Coal, owned shares worth more than $120 million in March 2010.The
BRW claimed $306 million in 2010.
Lim Kim Hai: former executive chairman of the regional airline service,
Rex Express, he owns about 25m shares or 20% of the company. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million, bottomed at 85c in March 2009 and recovered to around $1.20 in early 2020.
David Hains and family: owning a hedge fund that specialises in long-term international investments, The Portland House Group generates much of this billionaire's wealth. In the 1980s, he was one of Australia's most successful race horse owners and breeders, forming the highly regarded and successful Kingston Park Stud. The 2010
BRW claims $2.15 billion, although this is very hard to believe as
this Crikey story explains. Forbes valued at $US690m in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $2.851 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $2.85 billion in 2019
Tony Hakim: former controlling shareholder of mobile phone and car radio retailer, Strathfield Group. He is the founder of the Clear Communications Group which he has sold into Strathfield in December 2008 for a reported $115 million in shares.
Bruce Hales: the Elect Vessel of the Exclusive Brethren church and leader of over 40,000 followers worldwide, he constantly receives cash and property donations from followers. He has control over a vast network of properties and also looms over the 800 Brethren businesses spread across Australasia and the world. His sons Gareth and Charles Hales sold their office design firm Unispace for $300 million to investment firm PAG Capital in 2021. See
2024 Age feature on the family's wealth.
David Hales: the founder of Betty's Burgers sold his Sunshine Beach mansion (once owned by Pat Rafter) for $17 million in 2020.
Brendan Halfpenny: a 10% shareholder in Melbourne-based crypto exchange Coinbase which reportedly paid its shareholders a $700 million dividend in 2023,
according to The Australian. Anthony Hall: former technology director of medical IT company
Pro Medicus who owned 30m shares when the stock peaked at $1.75 in March 2006.
The Australian valued at $860 million in 2019, along with his partner Sam Hupert.
Kenneth Joseph Hall: appears in the Super Retail Group top 20 with 777,143 shares worth almost $10 million. He pops up as a former executive director of Pacific Energy.
Peter Hall: former executive chairman of boutique fund manager
Hunter Hall International who owned 11.5m shares but sold out cheaply to Soul Patts in
bizarre circumstances in 2017. The stock peaked at almost $18.50 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $200 million. He even toyed with buying
The Bulletin magazine.
Deborah Halliday: top 20 shareholder of
Paladin Energy with about 2.5m shares or 0.41%. The stock peaked at almost $10.50 in April 2007 when she was worth more than $25 million, but then fell away before making a comeback in 2022 during the Ukraine war energy crisis.
Jonathan Hallinan: Owner of a property empire.
The Australian valued at $866 million in 2019.
Malcolm Halstead: former finance director Kerr Neilson's
Platinum Asset Management who owned 23m shares worth $160 million when the stock peaked at $8.80 in June 2007 shortly after the float. It has been largely down hill since then.
Justus Hammer: a Sydney-based internet entrepreneur who was one of the major shareholders in online buying group Spreets which was sold in early 2011 to Yahoo7 for $40 million.
William Hames: former chairman of Perth-based
Cedar Woods Properties who owned 7.7m shares worth $40m when the stock peaked at almost $6 before falling away to a low of 90c after the GFC and then recovering to be above $8 in early 2020.
Allen Hamilton: he owns AQUIS staging island in Fiji. They bring in Alpacas from Peru, quarantine them in Fiji and then fly them to Australia. Fiji leases Hamilton the island and he spent $10 million developing the quarantine facilities. He has rural interests all over Australia and lives in a palatial mansion north of Daylesford.
Robert Hance: former CEO of Timbercorp who owned about 51m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4 in July 2006 when he was worth more than $200 million, but the company later went broke.
Ron Hancock: former managing director and founder of investment company
Wide Bay Australia who owned 1.6m shares when the stock peaked at $13.70 in February 2007.
David Hancock: got lucky as an executive director of Afterpay who made close to $100 million on his options as the stock rocketed in 2019 shortly before he exited.
Robert Hand: executive director and senior portfolio manager for
K2 Asset Management Holdings, who owned shares worth more than $11 million in March 2010.
Handbury family: their fortune originated from Murdoch media interests because Helen Handbury is one of the three sisters of Rupert Murdoch. The family's main investment is Ace radio - a regional radio network, but is supported by investments in properties around Victoria, including a range of golf courses. The
BRW claimed $297 million in 2010 which sounded a touch light given that Rupert collectively paid his sisters about $600 million during the 1990s.
Julianne Hannaford:
pops up on the top 20 of listed education provider
Navitas, formerly known as IBT Education, who owned about 9m shares which were worth more than $50 million. The company was taken over by private equity in 2019.
Hannan family: Sydney based, the Hannan family have been known to move with the times. Francis Hannan, later moving into newspapers and printing, established the family business as butchery in 1887. Now the family owns many media interests and are extending into property development. The
BRW claimed $680 million in 2010.
Simon Hannes: the ex Macquarie Banker and convicted insider trader was a top 20 shareholder in Altium with 615,000 in 2005, amidst many other equity investment.
Alan Hansen: a former US Marine Corps captain who arrived in Australia in 1969 and established an abalone diving operation. This grew into Tasmanian Seafoods, Australia's largest processor of abalone and sea cucumbers. The
BRW claimed $211 million.
Andrew Hansen: built his fortune through his late father Ken establishing the now listed
Hansen Technologies which has produced computer billing systems since 1971. Still the major shareholder and CEO worth more than $50 million.
Peter Harburg: a Brisbane-based private investor who purchased the Brisbane State Law building for close $100 million.
Duncan Hardie: founder and chairman of Hardie Holdings which used Graham Richardson for lobbying and made a clear $100 million profit on one Hunter Valley deal after Planning Minister Frank Sartor came through with a rezoning.
Ashley and Michael Hardwick: cousins of Cotton On's billionaire founder Nigel Austin who together
invested very profitably in the old Specialty Fashion Group, which now trades at City Chic. Still owned more than $40m worth of shares in September 2021.
Frank Hargrave and family: he established labour contract company
Skilled Engineering in 1964 which has provided the bulk of the family's wealth. Son Greg Hargrave was then CEO before the business merged with Programmed and then was taken over by a Japanese company. The
BRW claimed $390 million in 2010.
Steve
Harker: Westpac board member and former Australian Morgan Stanley CEO
who recorded the biggest house sale of 2019,
selling
his Point Piper mansion for $40 million to entrepreneur Gabriel Jakob.
Harkham family: the three brothers amassed a huge property empire spanning Sydney and the US but it degenerated into a messy court battle as revealed in
this SMH piece in early 2023.
Hugh Harley: senior Commonwealth Bank executive who left in June 2007 but made plenty on his shares.
Kerry Harmanis: the former Jubilee Mines CEO collected $500 million from the perfectly timed 2007 Xstrata takeover. The
BRW claimed $520 million in 2010.
Mitchell Harper: from an office above a Rozelle mobile phone shop hatched an idea in 2009 to make e-commerce shopfronts far more simple. The company, BigCommerce, floated on the Nasdaq in August 2020 and has a market cap of $US5.2 billion ($7.3 billion).
Harris Family: founders of the
Castlemaine Bacon Company who began the business in 1905, and successfully ran the business for 100 years until they sold to Denis Jen and KR in 2005.
David Harris: founder and managing director of Harris Farm Markets in Sydney, which has an annual turnover of over $300m. Married to Cathy Rossi, they are parents to Lachlan Harris, who worked as press secretary to former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
David Harris: was one of 2 major shareholders in a garment supplies business which was
sold to Pact Group for $122 million in 2018, a deal which later become the subject of a legal dispute and a campaign to prevent Rich Lister Raphael Geminder from privatisating the business in 2024. See
The Australian.
Richard Harris: Sydney-based chief risk officer at Afterpay who reportedly has a significant shareholding.
Geoff Harris: he revolutionised the retail travel business when he co-founded the discount travel franchise,
Flight Centre. The
BRW claimed $410 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $940 million in 2019.
Ken Harris: a large grain farmer from Rowena in NSW who had a solid stake in AWB shares before it was taken over. Was
reported to be a joint seller of a $200m package of wheat properties near Narrabri in in 2014.
David Harrison: long time executive of
Charter Hall who owned about 8m shares before the GFC when the stock peaked at $3.20 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $25 million.
Jason Hart: owns software company Protocom, which grew from his garage in Canberra to an international business with the help of toll free phone numbers. Hart keeps ahead of technology so his business is always ready to make a profit, and has deals in Germany, the US and the UK. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Morgan Hart: a former executive director of Regis Resources whose stake was worth more than $10 million in late 2010.
Gerry Harvey: 30% shareholder in Harvey Norman. The 2010
BRW claimed $1.69 billion. Donated to bush-fire relief through his
Magic Millions auction in January 2020.
The AFR valued him at $1.9 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.58 billion in 2019
Lynette Harvey: most of her wealth remains wedded to her former husband, Gerry Harvey of
Harvey Norman fame. The
BRW claims $221 million.
Harvey family: various arms of the family control assets worth more than $110 million thanks to their
Tattersall's shareholding. It was this family that even delivered Martin Bryant an asset that would have handed him about $4 million in capital and distributions by now if he hadn't done the massacre at Port Arthur.
Alex Harvey: Chief Financial Officer of Macquarie Group. Total 2018-19 pay of $6.6 million and has also made millions on equity incentives.
Jon Hasler: the QM Properties website claims it is "one of Australia's premier property developers," and our spy in Queensland claims the owner is worth more than $200 million. Also owns plenty of race horses.
Robert Havard: a long term Macquarie Group research analyst and associate director who originally hailed from Wales as
this profile with his old school explains. Now retired in Sydney enjoying the benefits of long term employment and share allocations at Macquarie.
Havas family: pop up on the Contango Microcap share register with almost $1 million worth of shares, suggesting Dr George and his wife Lynnette are probably worth more than $20 million.
Garrick Hawkins: was managing partner at Bain & Co (now Deutsche Bank) at a very early age and by the mid 1980s was just 35 and reportedly worth $50 million. Made serious money through his own firm Matrix. He secured one of Australia's largest-ever tax deals for the West Australian government and made an additional $40-60 million out of that over ten years. His known assets include a $20 million house in Vaucluse, several farms including a $10 million horse stud and one near Oberon boasting Australia's largest private garden. Garrick also makes plenty from his London investment bank and owns 51% of Orlani group which has around $250 million in industrial and commercial office parks around Sydney. He also built a $120 million hotel in London.
Jennifer Hawkins: the super model, along with partner Jake Wall,
reportedly sold their half built Whale Beach cliff top property for $30 million to a mystery buyer in late 2021.
Peter Hay: former managing director of contract miner
Sedgman who owned about 8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.20 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $30 million.
Brian Hayden: since commencing trading in Torquay, on Victoria's Surf Coast, in 1949, Brian's real estate company has grown into the largest real estate practice on the Surf Coast.
Hayes family: own large property holdings in South Eastern Australia to support their thoroughbred breeding and training operations.
Darren Hayes:
found fame with band
Savage Garden and is now a solo artist with his own label, Powdered Sugar. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
William Hayes estate: Bill was Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1971-73 and a real mover and shaker, based on
this piece when the family home was sold in 2019. Along with business partner Vin Kean, they were valued at $30 million in
BRW's 1991 Rich List before being
dumped in 1992. This
piece profiling Lady Mayoresses in Adelaide provides good colour on Bill's early life. They made their fortune through the Adelaide car dealer United Motors and the property developer United Landholdings and Bill went on to chair ETSA.
Sam Hayward: chairman of the mapping and adventure company Emprise Group and sold his Toorak mansion Clendon for
more than $20 million in 2020.
Geoff and Robert Hazell: together own and operate one of Tasmania's biggest civil construction companies, Hazell Brothers, which has been going for more than 75 years. See
this profile in
The Mercury.
Mark Healey: son of the late British billionaire Eddie Healey, who made his fortune developing the Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield which he sold for around $2 billion in 1999. Mark has been making a splash in the Victorian mansion market in recent years, selling a Toorak property for $43 million in 2021 and a Red Hill property for $25 million in 2022.
Robert Healy: listed in the top 20 of hot rocks company
Geodynamics with about 15m shares. Also has 25 million or 1.74% of
PanAust and owns about 5m shares in Clive Palmer's Australasian Resources.
Tim Heath: a cryptocurrency mogul who
The AFR valued at $2.27 billion on debut in its 2024 Rich List, calling him the biggest success story out of Warracknabeal, Victoria, since singer Nick Cave. He made his first fortune with a Tallinn-based online casino that accepted bitcoin, and now runs Yolo Group, which employs 900 people and holds over 100 stakes in companies related to gaming or fintech.
Heck family: owns or leases about 700 hectares of caneland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast (about 10% of the annual cane crush). It owns the
only private mill in Queensland, plus the Windaroo Golf Club. The real money will eventually come from residential development and this family has already started down this path in the Beenleigh area.
Dr Erfan Hedayati: A Nowra-based Doctor who trained in New Zealand and has built up a solid share portfolio.
Gervaise Heddle: the CEO of Greatland Gold and his partner Jocelyn Fuller
reportedly set a record for Longueville on Sydney's lower north shore when they paid $19.25 million for their Kenneth St property in May 2023.
Tom Hedley: beginning as a plumber in 1969, he began building homes in North Queensland, which led to the formation of the highly successful Hedley Group, although the credit crisis forced some major hotel sales in 2008. The
BRW claimed $285 million in 2010 although it would be nothing like that now.
Owen Hegarty: the big-talking former Oxiana CEO owned 27m shares which were worth more than $100 million when the stock peaked at around $4 in mid-2007, before his wealth plunged after the ill-fated merger with Zinifex to create Oz Minerals just as the resources bubble was bursting. Collected an outrageous $8 million payout even after shareholders voted down an earlier $10.4 million payout. Later went on to start private equity firm EMR which floated 29Metals, owner of the Golden Grove mine in WA, on the ASX in 2020.
James Height: co-founder of online retailer Adore Beauty who enjoyed a $46 million pay day in 2020 selling 40% of his shares in the Melbourne-based company when it floated in 2020. See
AFR coverage. Earlier sold a 60% stake in the business to private equity firm Quadrant in 2019 which valued the company at $110 million.
Hoss and Gillian Heinrich: owners of Military Rose who streeted her rivals to win Queensland's richest horse race - the $2 million Magic Millions. The construction boss and former chairman of The Gold Coast Turf Club, and horse trainer wife own Heinrich Bloodstock which has been a big buyer of yearlings over the years.
Michael Heine
and family: founder of
Netwealth,
The AFR valued him at $1.55
billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.30 billion in 2019
Joseph Hellen: property investor whose private company, The Hellen Group, purchased Centro's Ringwood shopping centre in Melbourne for $39 million in 2008. He also holds other retail property here and in the US.
Justin Hemmes: owner of a $150 million city entertainment complex, Ivy in Sydney. He also owns commercial and private property in Sydney's exclusive Vaucluse. Donated 500k to bushfire relief.
The Australian valued at $1.05 billion in 2019.
Warwick Hemsley: former non-executive director of Perth-based developer
Peet who owned 19m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.42 in October 2006 when he was worth more than $75 million.
Chris Hemsworth: famous actor and model from Melbourne and Phillip Island, most famous for his role as Thor in the
Marvel Comics movie franchise. Estimated net worth of $130 million.
Donated $1 million to the bush fires recovery.
Liam Hemsworth: famous actor and model from Melbourne, most famous for his role in the
The Hunger Games movie franchise. Estimated net worth of over $26 million.
Aaron Hendler: having established a successful business of manufacturing sports apparel in South Africa, he purchased the Australian distribution rights of Reebok which has since boomed.
Paul Henry: the co-founder of Bennelong Asset Management sold his Palm Beach property in Sydney for a
reported $16 million in 2018.
Judith Henzell: wealthy Queensland family which is realising a substantial fortune from land holdings on the Sunshine Coast such as Pelican Waters.
Georg Herda: an executive director of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Sydney who has built up a solid share portfolio of his own.
David Herrman: a beneficiary of the long-standing Sydney-based electrical switch manufacturer, HPM Industries. Competing against a flood of cheaper alternatives from Asia, HPM Industries was under pressure to maintain profits. The
BRW claimed $285 million in 2010.
Dion Hershan: Melbourne-based fund manager and founder of
Yarra Capital Management who in December 2022 teamed up with private equity Rich Lister Ben Gray to
spend $9.73 million buying Mornington Peninsula winery T'Gallant Wines off Treasury Wine Estates.
Myer Herzberg: behind the Melbourne-based Denman audio retail chain, his wealth grew with a successful investment in listed company Infomedia.
Greg Hewett: Melbourne-based investor who has put together a solid share portfolio.
Quentin Hewitt: farmer near Ballarat who has built up a solid share portfolio.
Lleyton Hewitt: tennis player who owns property in Australia worth over $30 million, and has a lucrative contract with Yonex.
Ian Hicks: inherited the Melbourne-based Applied Chemicals business founded by George and Greville Hicks and expanded it internationally. Was valued by
BRW at $27 million in 1991 but then
booted off the 1992 Rich List after two years of losses through the Keating recession. Ian Hicks popped up again publicly in 2008
selling his Toorak mansion to Eddie McGuire for $11 million. Has three children. ITW
appears to have bought the Australian Applied Chemicals operation in 2007. These days he chairs the Mornington Peninusla Foundation where
his website profile says "Ian has a strong interest in the arts, is a major supporter of the Australian Ballet and an enthusiastic collector of Australian art and sculpture. He has a vineyard, avocado farm and sculpture park on the Mornington Peninsula in Shoreham."
John Higgins: the investing buddy of wealthy lawyer Allan Myers QC held a one-third interest in their $100 million-plus aquarium business and even donated $3 million to Melbourne University as you can see
here. The Australian valued at $696 million in 2019.
Bruce Higgins: ran into trouble as a US-based executive of Redflex but now back in Melbourne as a professional director and owns a solid share portfolio. Did a great job as chair of HUB24 for 11 years until 2023 and made more than $20 million on his
shareholding in that company.
Peter and Rod Higgins: beginning their working lives as self-employed boat builders, their careers turned sharply into home-loan mortgage broking, establishing
Mortgage Choice, which REA Group
paid $1.95 a share or $244 million for the business in 2021. Rod was the richer and received $30 million for his 15.4 million shares when the Murdoch-controlled predator pounced.
Hill-Ling family: control Adelaide-based
Hills Industries, which still produces the iconic Hills Hoist clothes line but has been an utter disaster for investors. The stock peaked at almost $6.80 in October 2007 but is now a penny dreadful with more than $250 million in accumulated losses. See
these written questions asked at the 2022 AGM.
Hill family: the three brothers behind streetwear company
Globe International are still worth more than $50 million despite a mixed record as a listed company. The
BRW claims $257 million.
Danny Hill: Irish born businessman who owns the Chardan Development Group which produced the residential precinct Sunshine Cove in Queensland. The
BRW claims $388 million.
The Australian valued at $502 million in 2019.
Bob Hill: The Australian valued his former wife Judith Brinsmead at $544 million in 2019 and
The AFR said $594 million in 2020. She's a former Minter Ellison partner based in Brisbane who in 2018 bought her former husband Bob out of the construction business Adco, which had revenues of $946 million in 2019-20.
David Hill: former
global head of Fox Sports for News Corp and arguably the international doyen of sports broadcasting. Paid more than $30 million by the Murdochs over a couple of decades with them until departing in 2015 to open his own production company, Hilly Inc. Reportedly cost News Corp shareholders a pay out for sexual harassment in the
US way back in 1998. Gary Hill: a farmer/grazier, he inherited property from his grandfather who owned Yarrabee Station situated at Dingo. Felix Resources mined the Yarrabee mine for high quality coal for many years. At one point he also owned a very popular Kiosk in the Botanical Gardens in Rockhampton.
Gerard Hines: grew up on a family farm near Goulburn. Co-founded Delta Agribusiness in 2006 and was managing director when it was
sold to Elders for $475m in late 2024. Michael Hintze: owner of hedge fund manager CQS who was named 2008 Australian of the Year in London for his philanthropic and charity work. The
BRW claims $529 million. Forbes valued at $US1.1bn in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $3.55 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $3.55 billion in 2019.
Eddie Hirsch: co-founder of Hawthorn-based United Petroleum and a
significant property owner. Played for Doncaster Football Club back in the day and still sponsors them.
The AFR valued at $1.79 billion in 2023.
Dr Harry Hirschowitz: The South
African trained doctor has a major practice in Bondi and has built up an impressive share portfolio which included almost $10 million worth of Macquarie Group shares at one point.
Brian Hodges: former managing director of
Bradken, one of Australia's biggest and oldest heavy engineering companies, who owned 2.8m shares worth about $40 million when the stock peaked at almost $15 in December 2007 before tumbling to a low of $2.50 in January 2009 and then getting taken over a few years later.
Michael
Hodgson: Perth-based property developer valued at $2.34 billion by
The AFR in 2019 and $3.5 billion in 2023.
Michael and Suzanne Hodgson: the Perth-based couple reportedly paid $8.2 million for an apartment in the tightly held Noosa Court building in 2006.
Jeff Hogan: an electrician by training and worked for WMC Resources as a Supervisor, and for SECWA/Mines Department as a Mines Inspector prior to founding Positron in Kalgoorlie in 1987. Built the business to having revenues exceeding $100 million by the time it was sold to RCR Tomlinson in October 2007.
Lindsey Hogg: Melbourne-based businessman now in his 80s who made his fortune in plastics manufacturing but stayed below the radar until
The AFR reported in 2020 that he was looking to donate his $500 million art collection. Truly!
Kerry Hoggard: former chairman of
Nufarm who owned 2.3 million shares worth more than $40 million when the stock peaked at almost $18 in May 2008.
Charles Holckner: was awarded an OAM in 2017 in recognition of his philanthropy and community support and
donated $5 million to Jewish Care in 2019. The family business goes back to steel and the Smorgons and they
reportedly pocketed more than $62.5 million selling the Bunning Collingwood site in 2023. Have owned Melbourne-based
Encore Tissue since 1998.
Phillip Hollick: a Mildura-based investor who has built up a solid share portfolio.
Daryl Holmes: former controlling shareholder in
Queensland-based administration and management systems company,
1300 smiles, who owns about 15m shares or 75% of the company. The stock peaked at almost $3.40 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $80 million.
Janet Holmes a Court: she inherited the remnants of her late husband's wealth and is known for her strong social conscience. The
BRW claimed $260 million in 2010.
Paul Holmes a Court: The Australian valued at $363 million in 2019. He made the gutsy call to buy his siblings out of the cattle empire they inherited from their father Robert Holmes a Court and it paid off in spades.
Peter Holmes a Court: pops up in the Ridley top 20 with 12.26 million shares worth $15 million and also put $1 million into Viostream for 10%, the company which used to host all our Mayne Report videos.
John Holaday: former CEO of Sydney-based QRX Pharmaceutical, whose 7.5m shares were worth close to $20 million at the peak.
Hooker family: Suncorp bought the LJ Hooker real estate business from the Hooker family in 1989. Leslie Joseph Hooker set up the first LJ Hooker office in Sydney, in 1928.
Les and Patricia Holt: listed as owning 4.3 million shares in Boom Logistics. The stock peaked at almost $4.80 in April 2006 when the stake was worth more than $20 million before it headed south.
Dorothea Holtmann and Dr Christian Alexander: top 20 shareholders in Energy World Corporation with about 9m shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.40 in May 2008.
Paul Holyoake: former executive chairman and founder of IT services company
Oakton and despite earlier selldowns, still owned about 7m shares when the stock peaked at $6.80 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $40 million.
Dr Richard Holzgrefe: a successful Brisbane doctor who has since
branched out into a corporate career and has also amassed a multi-million share portfolio.
Dick Honan: chairman of the family-owned Manildra, Australia's dominant producer of ethanol. Since 2002, the Honan companies have secured $65 million in ethanol grants. The
BRW claimed $367 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $759 million in 2019.
Damien Honan: build up his own insurance broking business which was partially sold to a US private equity firm in 2020, raising the cash to
spend $22 million on a Portsea mansion in early 2021.
Arthur Hood: departed as CEO of Lihir Gold in early 2010 and walked away with a $15 million golden handshake, comprising a termination payment of $2.3 million, a $1.3 million cash payment in lieu of rights that would be been awarded under his full-term contract, plus 3.5m shares that were previously awarded and were worth more than $10 million.
Anna Hookway: a shareholder of the Sydney-based fashion brand management company,
Oroton Group, she entered into a deed with brothers Robert, Ross and Tom Lane, dated October 21, 2008 which requires them to act co-operatively with each other in relation to the consolidated entity's affairs. At the time the 29.22% stake was worth around $72 million and Anna Hookway's share about $18 million but a decade later it went broke.
Ross Hopkins: owns the
TRIP Consultants business based in Newmarket in Brisbane along with a solid share portfolio.
Fraser Hopkins: made his fortune building and then selling two consumer businesses to multi-nationals as is
detailed in this bio for Melbourne University's Australian Institute for Art History. An astute art collector who was raised in Melbourne and lives in Sydney. Made headlines when he sold
the Russell Drysdale painting
Rocky McCormack for a reported $1.89 million.
Jo Horgan:
has stores across Australia for her cosmetics lines, Mecca Cosmetica and Kit Cosmetics. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Peter Hosking and Tony D'Antonio:
co-owns Global Machinery Co, a company which imports DIY tools and sells them cheaply back in Australia. GMC have managed to enter and survive in the competitive US and UK markets by focusing on innovation. The
BRW claimed $270 million in 2010.
Robert Hosking: former executive chairman and founder of Mt Martha-based
Karoon Gas who owned 12.8 million shares when he retired 2020. Stock has been
on a wild ride peaking at more than $10 in 2008-09 and hitting a low of almost 30c in 2020 before recovering to more than $2 in 2022. When he retired in 2020, Hosking said: "Having transformed Karoon from an $8 million pure-play exploration company in the onshore Gippsland Basin, to making offshore gas discoveries in the Browse Basin, reaching the ASX 200 Index, developing a strong business in South America and finally leaving the business as an emerging production company with high-quality organic growth options, I believe that I am leaving Karoon in a strong position with an exciting future." He ultimately added value because while Karoon had $478 million in accumulated losses (
see page 72) by June 2022 and claimed net assets of only $276m, the company finished 2022 with a market cap of $1.28 billion.
Scott Hosking: a former scrap-metal trader and founding director of Nexus Energy, he was also CFO of Karoon Gas, founded by his dad Bob Hosking, with a stake which at one point was valued at almost $100 million.
Gil Hoskins: the former managing director of National Mutual made his real fortune in property development and playing the dotcom boom, especially in companies like Sausage Software.
Peter Houghton: a 4th generation owner of the 1.4ha Rye Hotel who cashed in for a
reported $50 million in 2023 to pokies giant Endeavour Group, subject to ACCC approval.
John Houston: former chairman of Sydney-based
telecommunications products and services group
Nexbis, formally known as Entertainment Media &Telecoms Corp, of which he owned about 61 million shares before the GFC hit. The stock peaked at almost 50c in August 2008 before falling away.
Sean Howard: BRW dumped the OzEmail founder from its Rich List claiming that some of his investments have struggled but he didn't have some success in ventures such as Webcentral and Melbourne IT.
Dig Howitt: grew up in Canberra and joined global ear implant giant Cochlear in 2000, making it to CEO in January 2018. By results day on August 15, 2024, he held 54,073 ordinary shares worth $18.26 million and statutory pay came in at $6.4 million in 2023-24, slightly up on the $6.3 million in 2022-23.
Anthony Howland-Rose: former chairman of Sydney-based
Allegiance Mining who received $12.82 million with the well-timed sale of his 11.65 million shares to Zinifex in 2007. The company's Tasmanian nickel operation was later mothballed and Oz Minerals almost went broke picking up the pieces in 2009.
Vincent Hua: Vietnamese migrant who rose to be a top Commonwealth Bank trader pocketing up to $15 million a year until he went missing in action in 2007 before suing the bank for unfair dismissal.
Hugh Huang: the son of Shanghai-based
shipping magnate Shannian Huang paid $14.35 million for an empty block in Point
Piper a few years back. Details
here.
Gabor and Roni Hubay: Roni is the daughter of the late property developer Eddie Kornhauser and the couple
sold their Toorak mansion for $15 million in 2013 and own a Melbourne CBD property which
recently signed a lease with Beyond Blue.
Claude Huber: a 10% shareholder in Melbourne-based crypto exchange Coinbase which reportedly paid its shareholders a $700 million dividend in 2023,
according to The Australian. Huddy family: founded and built Huddy's mining services business, which was sold to
Industrea for $146 million. The
BRW claims $147 million.
Dr Alison Hughes: founder of listed dentistry firm Pacific Smiles who still
controlled a 10% stake as various takeover battles unfolded in 2024, valuing the business at more than $250 million.
Jay Hughes: executive director of Perth-based stockbroker
Euroz, who owned about 8m shares when the stock peaked at $2.75 in November 2007.
John Hughes: founder of the Perth-based
John Hughes Group which has 500 staff in the automotive industry, turning over $500m a year. See this
interesting interview on Youtube.
Tim Hughes: Reg Grundy's long-time offsider collected plenty when his production company was sold to Pearsons for $300 million-plus in 1995 and then copped another whack when Macquarie Bank picked up the regional radio empire in 2004. Later ran listed marketing company Photon which went broke.
Richard Humphry: Australia's richest former auditor general made more than $20 million as the CEO who oversaw the demutualisation and float of that lucrative monopoly known as the ASX.
John Hunt: was registered as the owner of 33% of Primo Meats, but his former wife Marie Hunt launched a $50 million court claim for a bigger slice of the empire that was founded by the late Paul Lederer.
Peter Hunt: the career investment banker made his name at BT before setting up his own boutique firm Caliburn with colleagues Ron Malek and Simon Mordant which was then sold to New York-based Greenhill
for $181 million in 2010.Reg Hunt: as well as racing for Maserati alongside Fangio in the 1956 Melbourne Grand Prix, this motoring enthusiast was for two decades Australia's biggest Holden dealer.
Ash Hunter: owner of the Hunter 5 group of companies which owns
Just Magazines Publishing a classifieds listings service for used vehicles and other equipment. Started by his father in 1989, readership grew o more than 200,000 before falling away with most of the print industry.
Ian Huntley: founder of Huntleys' Investment Information and Huntleys' Investment Company, he has provided commentary and recommendations to investors for more than 30 years and enjoyed a tidy pay day selling out to Morningstar.
Sam Hupert: former managing director of the Melbourne-based
Pro Medicus, leaders in e-health and digital imaging, who owned about 30m shares.
The Australian valued at $860 million in 2019
Hutchinson family: the family founded Hutchinson Builders in 1912 and is now the largest privately owned construction company in Queensland. In 2010 the
BRW claims $145 million.
The Australian valued at $837 million in 2019.
Hyne family: owns one of Australia's largest timber companies which was established in Queensland 125 years-ago. Generating sales of over $120 million, the company has been mulling a public float or trade sale that could earn them more than $100 million.
Patricia Ilhan: widow of Australia's best known mobile phone salesman, "Crazy John" Ilhan who died from a heart attack in 2007. The
BRW claims $317 million but the recent sale to Vodafone sugggests this figure is inflated.
Nick Iloski: owner and founder of the Glad Group which is one of the fastest-growing cleaning companies in Australia. Glad has risen to an $80 million turnover for 2007-08. A key to their success is the fact that they have secured large retail cleaning contracts in Sydney and then subcontract the work out to other individuals or cleaning companies. An ex-employee has been reported as saying how a majority of the cleaners contracted are foreign nationals who are not only vulnerable, but are also being exploited whilst Iloski's wife drives around in a new Maserati.
Keith Ince: former County Natwest fund manager who co-founded Portfolio Partners in 1994 and then flogged it to Norwich Union for more than $100 million in 1998.
Inge family: Zig Inge was a homebuilder for many years before he moved into apartments for retirement villages which they family sold off to an unlisted fund, managed by Macquarie Capital Funds, for $641 million in 2007. They have added the historic Rivoli Theatre in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell to their portfolio for a reported $20.2 million. The
BRW claims $435 million.
The Australian valued at $707 million in 2019.
Ingham family: their poultry business was started by Walter Ingham in 1918 and eventually sold to private equity for $880 million in 2014 before later being floated on the ASX. The Sydney-based brothers, Bob and Jack Ingham, were also major players in the thoroughbred racing industry until selling out to the Dubai royal family for $500 million in 2008. The
BRW claimed $1.06 billion in 2010 and Forbes valued the brothers at $US640m in March 2010.
The Australian valued Bob at $1.01 billion in 2019 and
The AFR valued Bob's daughter Lyn at $1.19 billion in March 2022, even though she has 3 siblings. Lyn is the
chair of Ingham Property. Bob
passed away in September 2020 whereas his brother Jack
passed away in 2003. He had five children from 3 marriages, complicating the succession.
Inglis family:
have run the thoroughbred auctions in Sydney and Melbourne for years. Their headquarters in Sydney at Randwick is itself on real estate worth more than $100 million.
Andrew Ipkendanz: the financier sold his Vaucluse home for $47.8 million in 2017, according to
this AFR piece.
Bill Ireland: made plenty on paper in Challenger before Kerry Packer flicked him and then repeated the effort through the Mariner group and had all the trapping with the $10 million floating gin palace on Sydney harbour with six full time staff, the dark blue Porsche and the big property in the Southern Highlands. However, later sold his Mosman mansion as Mariner teetered and the credit crunch hit. Spent 3 years as a bankrupt and then attempted a comeback through a firm called Voyager in 2014.
Ernestine Ireland, widow of the late orthopaedic surgeon Basil Ireland, who in August 2024
sold her landmark pink house on the Double Bay waterfront for $35.5 million.
Joe Irvin: Sydney based hotelier who also owns pubs in Queensland. In 2019, bought the
Coolangatta Sands Hotel.
Peter Irvine: managing director and co-founder of Gloria Jean's coffee retail outlets. Since obtaining the Australian rights for the business, the chain grew into a global powerhouse and he is now well known for his story about
faith-driven success.
Maree Isaacs: a co-founder of Wisetech who
The AFR valued at $552 million when she came in at number 32 on their March 2022 list of Australia's 50 wealthiest women. They lifted the valuation to $755m in 2023.
Ray Itaoui: paid $47.8 million in 2017 for his Vaucluse estate. Made his money through Brett Blundy and Sanity Records, as is explained in
this AFR feature.
Jonathan & Candie Italiano: the private investors were reported by
The AFR in early 2010 to be selling their Mosman Park mansion in Perth for an asking price of almost $9 million.
Silvio Itescue: former CEO of biotechnology group,
Mesoblast, who owned 37m shares or nearly 35%. The stock peaked at almost $2.50 in February 2007 when he was worth more than $70 million.
Peter Ivany: collected $70 million when cinema chain Hoyts was sold to Kerry Packer in 1999 in one of the Big Fella's worst deals. Now a professional investor with a wide range of plays as the new owners of the business he once ran continue to struggle.
Margaret Jack: a prominent Liberal Party donor who lives in a Sydney penthouse and drew the attention of Michael West's crew in
this piece examining political donations in Australia. See
2020-21 return detailing almost 50k in Coalition donations.
Richard Jacka: a successful poultry farmer and distributor from Jamestown in SA whose descendants came out from Cornwall in the 1800. Has also built up a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Hugh Jackman: tripled his yearly salary in 2007 as a film and musical actor, and co-runs Seed, a production company. Jackman owns property in New York, Melbourne and London. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Alan Jackson's family: the late legendary former BTR CEO fell from grace after attempting to punch the Austrim CEO at a Christmas Party in 2002, but the pugnacious former Reserve Bank director did manage to offload more than $20 million worth of Austrim shares for a big profit before the stock tanked.
Gabriel
Jakob: The child care entrepreneur enjoyed a
significant
pay day selling down to private equity firm Bain & Co in 2018 and
celebrated the windfall by
paying
$40 million for Steve Harker's Point Piper mansion in 2019.
Edward Jacobson: top 20 shareholder of Carnarvon Petroleum who owns about 14m shares. The stock peaked at almost 80c in June 2008 when he was worth more than $10 million, bottomed at 25c in December 2008 and recovered to around 53c.
Darien Jagger: co-founded boutique investment firm
Cygnet Capital in 2003 and
paid $16.8 million for a property in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bronte in 2019.
Guy Jalland: former PBL executive who was paid out $6.5 million in 2007/08 but is still making millions each year as CEO of James Packer's private company CPH.
Bill James: another of the
Flight Centre directors that has sold off a lot of his investment. Wrote a guide book on the Kokoda trail. The
BRW claimed $378 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $595 million in 2019.
Dr Anne Japara: a pioneer in cancer research who attended University College in Melbourne, lives in Balwyn and owns a multi-million share portfolio.
Leigh Jasper: co-founder of Aconex, an international broadband technology company which helps clients to organise and manage information efficiently, especially on major construction jobs. Made
BRW Young Rich List and business was taken over by a US giant in 2017.
Mike Jefferies: resigned from the Afterpay board in January 2018 and exercised all of his 200,000 options at $1 on November 11, 2020, delivering a paper profit of $27 million if still held today. He previously worked with Afterpay CEO Antony Eisen at GPG. Now based in Perth and has sat on a few boards too.
Richard Jenkins: this chap was never even a main board director of Macquarie Bank but after serving as one of the many internal executive directors for 15 years, his final payout was a handsome $7.4 million, almost all of which was accrued but deferred bonuses.
Jenkins family: former farmers who
sold a property in Melbourne's eastern suburbs for almost $100 million in 2018 after it was held by the family for almost 100 years.
Alan Jennings: pops up in the Sydney-based Gazal Corporation top 20 with about 2.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $3 in March 2006 when he was worth more than $7.5 million, bottomed at $1.10 in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.25.
Francis Jennings: director and top 20 shareholder in the Hastie Group who owned about 9.3m shares or 4%. The stock peaked at almost $4.80 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $40 million, but later went broke.
Thomas Jennings: director and top 20 shareholder in the
Hastie Group who owns about 9.3m shares or 4%. The stock peaked at almost $4.80 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $40 million, but later went broke.
Allan Jenzen: a
talented player in the WAFL who is now a Perth-based investor in his mid 70s and owns a multi million dollar share portfolio.
Will Jephcott: former deputy chairman of Roc Oil who owns about 1.1m shares and made plenty more as an investment banker working along side Mike Tilley at Lloyds and Centaurus during the 1980s and 1990s. The stock peaked at almost $4.30 in August 2006 when he was worth more than $4 million, bottomed at 50c in December 2008 and recovered to around 67c.
Milan Jerkovic: CEO of Perth-based Straits Resources owns about 4.2m shares. The stock peaked at almost $8.40 in March 2008 when he was worth more than $30 million, bottomed at 70c in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.50.
Adam Johnson: a director of Innamincka Petroleum who owns about 8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.50 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $10 million, bottomed at 15c in January 2009 and recovered to was around 17c.
David Johnson: Chairman and CEO of Campbell Soup Co from 1990-97 and remained a figurehead leader subsequently, whilst also sitting on the Colgate-Palmolive board.
Gary Johnston: founder of electronics retail company
Jaycar who was valued at $397 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $587 million in 2019.
Mark Johnson: co-founded Macquarie Bank with chairman David Clarke and retired from full-time executive duties in 2007, whilst remaining on the board. Owned more than $40 million worth of Macquarie Bank shares in 2010 and would be even richer if he hadn't sold about 800,000 shares for an estimated $30 million over the previous 7 years. Unlike many Macquarie Bankers, didn't retire but instead joined a rival firm in his twilight years after also spending more than a decade as a professional director.
Walter Johnson and family: Walter was formerly the largest shareholder in Futuris, but the Perth-based farmer has now distributed an estimated $160 million stake across 20 different family members.
Peter Johnston: non-executive director of ASX 300 gold producing and exploration company Silver Lake Resources which operates in Western Australia's Mount Monger and Murchison regions. Held a stake worth almost $10 million in late 2010. Stock
still trading in early 2019 at around 60c. A senior executive at WMC in his earlier days.
Richard Johnston: a Byron Bay local who co-founded Tripadeal in 2011 with his best mate Norm Black. They sold a minority stake to private equity firm BGH in 2020 after COVID hit, then took on Qantas as a 51% controlling shareholder in 2022. Both deals were undisclosed. They then completely sold out and exited the business when Qantas agreed to pay $211 for the 49% in didn't own in June 2024.
Stephen Johns: the long-serving
Westfield finance boss made more than $30 million from the shopping centre giant and then became a professional director who chaired Brambles and Spark Infrastructure.
Alan Jones: the notorious shock jock is worth more than $50 million after pulling about $4 million a year from his radio gig and investing the proceeds wisely in various property and horse racing plays. Then worked for Nine after Macquarie Media takeover but was let go in 2020 to then move to 4 nights a week on Sky News working for the Murdochs before being ousted from that gig during the pandemic.
Clive Jones: managing director of
Bannerman Resources, an iron-ore wannabe in the Pilbara, who owns about 12.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4 in February 2008 when he was worth more than $45 million,
bottomed at 30c in November 2008 and in January 2010 is back above 70c.
Daniel Jones:
former member of band
Savage Garden, Jones now runs Meridien Musik, a music production business. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
George Jones: non executive chairman of Perth based
Gindalbie Metals, who owns about 13m shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.90 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $220 million, bottomed at 32c in October 2008 and recovered to around $1. He is also non executive chairman of Perth based
Sundance Resources where he owns about 15.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost 85c in June 2007 when he was worth more than $10million, bottomed at 8c in December 2008 and recovered to around 14c.
Greg Jones: the founder of Rams home loans and finance director of Allco, pocketed $45 million from the RAMS float, and also sold a Sydney property in Bellevue Hill for around $10 million.
John Jones: a director of Troy Resources whose stake was worth more than $20 million in late 2010.
Rod Jones: managing director of listed education provider
Navitas, formerly known as IBT Education, who owns about 55m shares. The stock bottomed at $1.80 in May 2008 but recovered to around $4.40 valuing his stake at above $220 million. Fast forward to 2019 and he's been trying to privatise Navitas along with a private equity firm run by Ben Gray, but was in dispute with the board.
The Australian valued at $437 million in 2019.
Scott Jones: executive General Manager of Student Recruitment for Navitas, who owns about 2.7m shares which pushes his wealth north of $10 million based on the share price of $4.40.
Simon Jones: started with PwC then spent 17 years at Macquarie with a focus on real estate before starting his own firm Adicent Capital in 2011. Paid $7 million for a Mosman residence in 2006.
Robert Jordan: the Australasian managing director of
Westfield owns 725,000 shares. The stock peaked at just above $23 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $30 million, and bottomed to around $12.21. He also gets paid more than $4 million a year.
Peter Joseph:
chairman of Perth-based
Dominion Mining, who owns about 11m shares. The stock peaked at almost $6.70 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $70 million, bottomed at $2 in November 2008 and recovered to around $3.18.
Peter Joss: beginning his own glass-making business after parting ways with his brother, this business became the basis of his stake in the building-products group McIlwraith-Davey. Since sold, he has ventured into property investment.
Peter Jowitt: made his money running a certificate framing business in South East Queensland and now lives in Bunya outside Brisbane. Owns a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Peter Joy: a
wealthy agri-business operator who owned 20.14 million shares in Tasmanian company Websters when it was taken over the by Canadian Pension Plan in a
$724 million deal in 2020 which valued each share at $2, so that was a tasty $40 million pay day.
Stephen Joyce: a high profile member of the Exclusive Brethren and a director of UBT, the Brethren's Universal Business System which offers such services as coaching and computers (with connection only to the internet through the Brethren's own portal). All of the UBT directors are well off and Joyce owns businesses such as Jaybro, Orange Hire and Cambridge Graphics. Stephen is also the grandson of William Leslie Joyce who owned Mastercraft Chocolates before selling it in January 1961 to Lifesavers for a tidy sum. Stephen was born on December 31, 1961 and is very clever, having also worked hard for what he has. He
reportedly sold Jaybro for $170 million to private equity firm Quadrant in 2017. WL Joyce was killed in a 1984 car accident and his successors remain divided based on their involvement with the Brethren.
Judd family: from the Glengallen station near Warwick in Queensland, which around a decade ago purchased 'Ellerby', a Darling Downs property for $3.3 million.
Juniper family: made their fortune as leading Queensland property developers. Specialising in high-end residential developments, they continue to grow through property including Sea Temple Resorts. The
BRW claimed $555 million a decade ago.
Ian & Leigh Junk:
the brothers made their fortune in the resources industry in Western Australia. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Paul Jury: a former executive director of NSW-based coal exporter Resource Pacific, who made more than $20 million from the Xstrata takeover at the top of the resources boom.
Con Kafataris: the former Sydney bookmaker controlled Darwin-based
Centrebet International with a holding of 52m shares or 59.74%. The stock peaked at just above $2.80 in May 2007 when he was worth more than $100 million and then the business was
sold in 2011 as the UK bookmakers stormed the Australian market.
Rodney Kagan: founded out-sourcing service provider Probe in 1979 and
reportedly benefitted from a $1.1 billion private equity exit in 2021.
Paul Kahl's family: together with Frank Hadley and their families, Paul packed up his home in California's San Joaquin Valley in 1961 and headed for Wee Waa in the Namoi Valley in NSW to plant cotton. As the
family says themselves, "today, three generations of the family have been involved in the running of the farming operation and the business has expanded to include 7,500 ha across 8 properties, all in the Wee Waa District. While cotton remains the primary crop, Merced Farming also produces wheat and durum, mung beans and corn as well as producing Angus beef cattle and sheep."
John Kahlbetzer: the late agribusiness mogul initially migrated from West Germany started out in steel trading working with the Heine Bros in Melbourne. Later built one of Australia's largest property portfolios, Twynam Agricultural Group, with over 400,000 hectares. The
BRW claimed $730 million in 2010.
The AFR valued him at $1.7 billion in 2019. Check out this
fascinating long-form interview with his son two sons, John and Markus.
Kailis family: family patriarch George P. Kailis founded the Perth seafood business GP Kailis & Sons in 1928. Most of his sons would follow their seafaring ancestors from the Greek island of Kastellorizo into the business although this
2011 AFR profile suggests various strands of the family compete against each other. The empire spans lobsters in WA, along with pearl farming, fishing, jewelery and fashion. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $168 million.
Anthony Kaiser: founder of Melbourne-based hedge fund, the Kaiser Fund which was listed with more than $1 billion under management.
Soraya Kaleel: a generous donor to St Vincents Hospital in Darlinghurst and owns a solid share portfolio.
John Kaldor: pioneered Macquarie Bank's push into infrastructure, this Sydneysider donated an art collection worth more than $35 million to the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia, so he is clearly worth plenty.
Steven Kalmin: former Chief Financial Officer of
Glencore PLC. Was valued at $479 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $425 million in 2019. For a man with a Bachelor of Business from UTS, he has done very well indeed.
Leon Kamenev: The Australian valued the Ukrainian board co-founder of Menulog at $583 million in 2019. Built himself an
enormous mansion in Vaucluse.Shan Kanji: the unpaid chairman of listed SAAS provider Atturra who owns 114.9 million shares which were worth about $100 million in late 2022. Track the share price
here but with net assets of around $40 million and market cap exceeding $200 million, he should be commended for generating wealth for all 800 shareholders. Is a Sydney-based lawyer by profession. See bio on
page 16 of 2021-22 annual report.
Kantor family: her brother, Rupert Murdoch, bought Anne Kantor out of the family company Cruden Investments for about $200 million in the 1990s. Charitable and philanthropic, the Kantor family have a strong interest in the arts scene in Melbourne, plus funded The Climate Institute. The
BRW claimed $355 million in 2010.
Theo Karedis: he made his fortune through the buy out of the Theo's Liquor retail chain by Coles Myer for more than $200 million. The
BRW claimed $338 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.15 billion in 2019.
Karidis family: founder of the largest property development and investment businesses in South Australia, Karidis Corporation, which has interests in retirement living accommodation, car parking, residential and commercial properties. In the past 50 years they built more than 5,000 structures and are estimated to be worth around $300 million.
Melissa Karlson: daughter of the late Perth-based billionaire Bill Wyllie who is responsible for the Wyllie Group's extensive national investment portfolio.
Damian Kassabgi: Afterpay's public policy boss did 19 years of hard labour working for Kevin Rudd but can now afford to retire.
The AFR's Rear Window column
reported that he exercised 30,000 options on December 15 at their strike price of $10.40 and a further 125,000 options on May 12 last year. He holds a further 145,000 options exercisable at $10.40, so all up that is more than $20 million in gross paper profit based on Friday's closing price of $135.15.
Nonda Katsalidis: Melbourne architect and also had a one-third interest in the giant Eureka Tower.
Adam Kaye: former solicitor and founder of Melbourne-based property investor IDA which had
a good exit from its 42% stake in the Silverwater resort near Phillip Island just as the pandemic was hitting.
Peter Kazacos: founder of Australia's then largest IT outsourcer, Kaz Computer Services, which was eventually taken over by Telstra.
Vin Kean's family: Vin was the long term business partner of William Hayes, who was
Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1971-73. Together they were valued at $30 million in
BRW's 1991 Rich List before being
dumped in 1992. They made their fortune through the Adelaide car dealer United Motors and the property developer United Landholdings and Bill went on to chair ETSA, whilst Vin chaired the SGIC. Based on
this 1992 BRW piece, the governance back then sounds interesting with 4 building the duo privately owned sold to the government bodies they chaired: "The pair has sold much of its property portfolio in recent years. At least three buildings have been sold to the SGIC and the empty 1 Anzac Highway office building was recently sold to the ETSA." Hmmm.
John Kearney's family:
the former QC
died in 2013, after which his family sold the Block Arcade for more than $100 million. He also owned largely rural property holdings near the Gold Coast.
Paul Keating: enjoyed a $40m+ windfall when Telstra agreed to pay $140 million for Boost Mobile, a business 29% owned by the former PM, as
The AFR reported in December 2024.
Ben Keighran: a technology whiz-kid who was writing software programs at 10 years of age. He was the founder of IT company Bluepulse and is worth more than $25 million. Has his own
Wikipedia entry.
Chris Kelaher: former managing director of of Australian Wealth Management, which merged with
IOOF Holdings in April 2009. The AWM stock peaked at almost $3.10 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $50 million. Had a tough Royal Commission and resigned as IOOF CEO in 2019.
Andrew Kelly: began selling car radios at local markets, he opened the first of many Strathfield Car Radio stores in 1980. He lost heavily in the dotcom crash, but has hung onto a residual fortune.
Gail Kelly: former CEO of
Westpac who owned about 1.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $31 in December 2007 when she was worth more than $45 million.
Nelson Kelly: a large investor in a syndicate of 5 western NSW pubs which were
sold for $75 million in 2021 when hotel prices were booming.
Brett Kelly: founder and controlling shareholding in the ASX listed accountancy firm Kelly Partners Group whose 51% stake was worth around $80 million in 2021 after a solid run on the sharemarket.
The AFR reported that he is a disciple of Warren Buffett.
Michael and Alexander Kelso: beef farmers based in Coleraine in Victoria's western districts who also have a share portfolio worth tens of millions.
Andrew Kemeny: sold his house in Vaucluse to Socceroo Luke Wilkshire, who paid $6.3m. Hails from the liquor retailing family.
Peter Kempen: the Pro Medicus chair saw his stake in the company soar above $100 million in 2024. The former accounting partner once chaired Ivanhoe Grammar's board as well.
Russell Kempnich: founder and former chairman of Queensland-based
Sedgman, a leading provider of multi-disciplinary engineering, project delivery and operations services to the global resources industry, who owned 19.4m shares when we looked. The stock peaked at almost $4.20 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $70 million. Sedgman was taken over by CIMIC in 2016 when it
offered 46c a share.
David Kenley: former CEO of booming medical company Polynovo who has had a long and successful career developing medical technology.
Kennard family: from humble beginnings, patriarch Walter built Kennards Hire into one of Australia's largest and most respected hire companies, with over 60 branches across Australia. Teamed up in 1994 with Valad Property Group in a deal worth $215 million, acquiring 24 properties under the Miller's Self Storage brand. The family later bought back the portfolio, suggesting they are seriously wealthy.
Kerri-Anne Kennerley: the media personality
sold her Woollahra mansion for $22 million in 2021.
Brian Kennedy: non-executive director of ASX 300 gold producing and exploration company Silver Lake Resources which operates in Western Australia's Mount Monger and Murchison regions. Held a stake worth almost $10 million in late 2010.
Henry Kennedy: a resources sector journeyman who enjoyed a $16 million pay day when Mineral Resources launched a $403 million takeover of Perth Basin gas aspirant Norwest Energy in late 2022 at 6c a share. He was listed in the
last top 20 on page 53 as being the biggest individual holder with 263.7 million shares or 3.93%.
Andrew Kent: former chairman of Perth-based specialist media company
Aspermont, who owned about 110m shares in 2010. The stock peaked at almost 55c in January 2008 when he was worth more than $55 million.
George Kepper: made his fortune when he sold a 51% stake in the networking equipment business he founded, Datacraft, in the 1990s. The
BRW claims $231 million.
The Australian valued at $551 million in 2019.
Shane Kerbage: referenced in
this 2023 story as an Elwood property player and financier of failed developer Paul Fridman.
Miranda Kerr: Sydney model best known for her work with
Victoria's Secret. Estimated net worth exceeds $20m.
Owen Kerr: co-founder of exchange broker
Pepperstone. Was valued at $538 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $416 million in 2019.
Larry Kestelman: The Australian valued at $605 million in 2019. Property developer and internet pioneer who had been dropping $15 million a year on the NBL but then turned it around with a strong marketing/commercial approach. Check out this
fascinating long-form interview. His first development in Glen Eira was a disaster due to a single dwelling covenant which nobody noticed as he delivered a dual occupancy.
Harry Kewell:
arguably Australia's best-known soccer player of his generation who has made tens of millions playing in the English Premier League for the likes of Leeds and Liverpool. In 2009 he earned $9.5 million with Turkish club Galatasaray. The
BRW claimed $54 million in 2010.
Glenn Keys: CEO and founder of Aspen Medical which has benefitted from $1.3 billion in Federal Government contracts, much of it related to the pandemic, which delivered a staggering $143 million pre-tax profit in 2020-21. See
The AFR.
Robin Khuda: the founder of Macquarie-backed data centres company AirTrunk is worth more than $300 million and splashed around $40 million on Sydney properties in recent years. In August 2023, AirTrunk
reportedly put together a whopping $4.76 billion sustainability-linked loan.
Kidman family: an empire started by Sir Sidney Kidman more the 100 years ago. This pastoral giant's land equated to about 4% of Australia's land mass at the peak.
Nicole Kidman:
a well-known Hollywood actress who also heads production company Blossom Films, and earns close to $20 million a film. The
BRW claimed $289 million in 2010. Contributed 500k to bushfire relief.
The Australian valued at $393 million in 2019.
Michael Kiernan: the former trucker turned mining entrepreneur built up significant value in
Territory Resources but then lost plenty when Monarch Gold fell over.
Thomas Sie Po Kiing: he joined the board of
Melbourne IT in 2002 and owned more than 5m shares. The stock peaked at just above $4.20 in June 2007 when they were worth more than $20 million, before falling away.
Heather Killen: Jim Killen's daughter is a former
AFR journalist who rose to become a vice-president of Yahoo! during the dotcom boom and was then managing partner of Hemisphere Capital, a London-based boutique firm providing capital, funding and connections to IT and digital media-related firms. Was also a director of ITV and used to work for Salomon Brothers in New York. Since 2009 she has been executive chair of H&C TV, a multi-platform media company dedicated to horse sport and leisure, and related country lifestyle activities.
Craig Kimberley: the Just Jeans founder sold his business way too cheaply to private equity in 2001, but he's still worth plenty.
David King: former director of
Eastern Star Gas who owned about 20.4m shares. The stock bottomed at 20c in October 2008 but was taken over by Santos at almost $1 a share.
Glenn King: former NAB banker and senior NSW public servant who has been CEO of digital property transfer giant PEXA since 2019 and ended 2022 owning 1.18m shares worth $14 million. Sold a further 303,000 shares in 2021-22.
Grant King: former CEO of
Origin Energy who earnt more than $4 million a year during his long tenure and owned more than 300,000 shares.
Guy King: co-founded discount coupon website RetailMeNot.com which he sold for $90 million in 2010. Sold his Toorak mansion
for $30 million in early 2021 as he and wife Liz looked to downsize.
John Kinghorn: founder of the failed Allco Finance Group but his major play was building mortgage originator Rams Home Loans which he floated just before the global credit crisis, pocketing more than $600 million. The
BRW claimed $536 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $401 million in 2019.
David Kingston: the former Rothschilds investment banker is estimated to be worth about $400 million in his new life as a publican, media investor, shareholder activist and professional director. Am loving his recent work shaking up various LICs which trade at a discount to NTA or have poor governance.
Kirby family: from humble beginnings of an inner-city motorcycle workshop, Sir James Kirby turned the business into a significant manufacturing enterprise, which has since been sold. Today, the family has many diversified interests, including heavy investment in the Hungerford Hill winery in NSW. The
BRW claimed $223 million in 2010.
John Kirby: controlled about 15% of Village Roadshow before it was sold to private equity firm BGH. Was in dispute with his brother Robert Kirby leading up to the sale.
Robert Kirby: the former executive chairman of Village Roadshow
personally owned about 15% of the company before it was sold to private equity BGH in 2020.
Ross Smyth-Kirk: former chairman of mining company Kingsgate whose stake was worth more than $50 million in late 2010.
Robert Kirkby: departed
BHP-Billiton in December 2006 with a very handy 770,000 shares. The stock peaked at almost $49 in June 2008 when his shares were worth more than $37 million.
Valda Klaric: wealthy Toorak benefactor who established
her own charitable foundation in 2012 and owns a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Jacob Klein: former managing director of Sydney-based Sino Gold, which was fully acquired by Canadian gold miner
Eldorado Gold in 2009. Now heads up Evolution Mining which has been a profitable play too.
Jurgen Klein: using a combination of science and horticulture he successfully created the cosmetics company of Jurlique International, which was backed by Kerry Packer for a while but then ran into big problems with the ACCC.
Betty Kleminko: her extraordinary story is told in this
comprehensive Wikipedia entry but the adopted daughter of Westfield co-founder John Saunders was
valued by The AFR at $1.367 billion in March 2022, along with her step sister Monica Saunders-Weinberg.
Marius Kloppers: the South African who rose to become CEO of
BHP-Billiton was on a salary package of more than $7 million a year and exited with more than $10 million worth of shares. Lives a quiet life in Melbourne on a very tidy BHP pension which dates back to his time at Billiton.
Steve Kloss: former CEO of Melbourne-based Pentana Solutions, which also owns carservice.com.au, which specialises in the supply and development of automotive computer systems tailored to Asia Pacific dealerships. He also once owned about 2.4m shares in carsales.com.au worth more than $30 million if still retained.
Graham Kluck: Perth-based
drilling legend who made his fortune
selling 20 drill rigs to Boart Longyear ahead of its overblown $2.35 billion float in 2007.
Stephen Knowles: co-founder and CEO of advertising tech company Accordant which was started in 2014 and
sold to Japanese giant Dentsu 3 years later in 2017. Knowles sold his luxury Vaucluse home to biotech boss Dr John Moller for a
reported $16.4 million in 2022.
Diana Knox: was the main beneficiary of the estate of her grandfather, the meat and canning industry magnate and philanthropist Sir William Angliss (died 1957). She married Liberal MP and lawyer Adrian Gibson in 1965 and they had 3 children before they divorced in 1990 and she remarried. The couple's main property asset was a 4450-hectare sheep and cattle property, Greystones, outside Bacchus Marsh, which was part of the Angliss inheritance. Diana was an artist, a promoter of Australian art and a strong supporter of charities. Adrian Gibson was chairman of Clifton Brick Holdings until it was sold in 1987 to Brick & Pipe, netting the Gibsons $40 million. The Gibsons realised $33 million in 1986 when they sold their 53% interest in the Angliss Queensland Stations group and were
together valued by BRW at $100 million in 1990.
David Knappick: former chief financial officer of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company which was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009. He benefited greatly from the sale and in 2010 the
BRW claimed he was worth $234 million. Fast forward to 2022 and Jonathan Chancellor was
calling him a coal billionaire as he attempted to offload 3 property near Byron Bay.
Knowles family: held a substantial portfolio of retirement properties which was
sold to the Stockland Group in February 2007 for $329 million at the top of the market. John Knowles led the family's investments along with brothers Russell and Graham and celebrity Carol Knowles was in the mix. Critics said they specialised in developing on flood plains.
David Kobritz: owns the Melbourne-based property developer Dealcorp and inherited a love of property from his father. The group has
delivered 70 projects since 1984.
Ruslan Kogan: Founder, entrepreneur and CEO of
kogan.com, a portfolio of retail and service businesses, paid $38 million for a Toorak pad in 2019.
The Australian valued at $543 million in 2021.
Andrew Koloadin: sold his website hosting business Digital Pacific for $52 million in 2017 and also collected $15.25 million for his 70
th level Penthouse at Soul on the Gold Coast in 2021.
Paul Kopejtka: former executive chairman of Perth-based
Murchison Metals who owned about 20.7m shares. The stock peaked at almost $6 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $120 million but subsequently went south. In September 2022 he was appointed CEO of GME Resources. See WA
Business News profile.
Kornhauser family: HSP Property Group is a private company of this family that has strong interests in Queensland courtesy of the late Eddie Kornhauser's pioneering high-rise property developments on the Gold Coast in the 1970s. The
BRW claimed $336 million in 2010.
Toni Korsanos: the former CFO of pokies giant Aristocrat sold 300,000 shares in 2017-18 for around $9 million and still held another 355,000 when she retired in March 2018. If retained, these would have been worth $16.5m in September 2021. Served on other board such as Treasury Wine Estates and Crown Resorts and then appears headed for another big gambling pay day through her latest gig at Scientific Games ahead of its likely Australian float, although this is yet to materialise.
Kospetas family: recently added another pub to its line-up of inner Sydney LGBTQ-friendly hotels after buying Erskineville's The Imperial Hotel for
about $20 million in mid-2023.
George Koukis: chairman of the
Temenos Group which sells banking software, with an annual salary of $1.3 million and nearly 2.5m shares, his wealth is north of $250 million. The
BRW claimed $289 million in 2010.
Shant Kradjian: founder and owner of online camera story digiDirect who
moved quickly and professionally to snap up online book retailer Booktopia in August 2024 after it collapsed, saving 100 jobs.
Brian Kruger: the last CEO of Toll Holdings before it was bought by Japan Post in 2015 through an over-priced bid of $9.04 per share. See
page 34 of final annual report for details of Kruger's shareholding which comprised 96,049 ordinary shares, 4.4 million options and around 530,000 performance rights, which no doubt would have paid out through the change of control provisions. His disclosed statutory pay over his last 2 full years in the job was a tidy $9 million.
Sam Kurtz: owns at least 25 retail properties ranging from Mornington to Malvern.
Lionel Krongold: former owner of KH Stramit Limited, one of Australia's largest steel manufacturing companies, and now executive chairman of the Krongold Group of Companies, a privately owned Melbourne based Investment Company. Lionel has served on the Epworth Hospital Medical Foundation and is a past director of the Essendon Football Club.
Lee LaFrate: energetic stockbroker and racing enthusiast who collected more than $20 million from the sale of his 1.868m shares in the Melbourne-based fund manager, Treasury Group.
Laidlaw family: Australia's oldest manufacturer of work wear, Yakka was owned by this Melbourne family until it was sold to Pacific Brands for $280 million in 2007.
Dr Andre Lalak: a very successful urologist with
two practices in Sydney who lives in a big place at Palm Beach and has amassed a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Pam Lamaro: former Collingwood director who was Paul Dimmatina's landlord at Lamaro's restaurant in South Melbourne, which became famous during the COVID lockdowns. Owned the site for more than 20 years and was
reportedly trying to sell it for around $14 million in 2022.
Lamb family: owning the Australian rights to technology that allows advertisement tracking, continues a history of media investment. The Lamb family once owned Sydney's 2UE and Brisbane's 4BC, along with regional television stations in Newcastle and Adelaide. Susan Conde, daughter of the late patriarch Stewart Lamb, was formerly married to professional director John Conde and she sold a Southern Highlands
property for $8.5m in early 2024.
Rodney Lamb: former executive director of Queensland-based
Sedgman, a leading provider of multi-disciplinary engineering, project delivery and operations services to the global resources industry, who owns about 15.2m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.20 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million, bottomed at 50c in January 2009 and in recovered to around $1.41.
Barry Lambert: former executive chairman of
Count Financial who owned about 90m shares. The stock peaked at almost $3.50 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $270 million, bottomed at 95c in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.39. Retired as a non-executive director in 2006. The
BRW claimed $211 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $342 million in 2019. Count was eventually bought by CBA and Barry became the largest retail shareholder in the bank.
Raphael Lamm: co-founder of the listed long short fund L1 Capital which
The AFR reported generated an extraordinary $129 million yearly performance fee in 2020-21. Earnt his stripes earlier at Cooper Investors, founded by fellow Rich Lister Peter Cooper.
Matthew Lamont: founder and CEO of Perth-based ASX listed DUG Technology who in September 2021 owned around 24 million shares when the stock was at 96c. See top 20 shareholders on
page 79 of 2020 annual report. The company specialises in resource industry IT solutions.
Mark Landau: co-founder of the listed long short fund L1 Capital which
The AFR reported generated an extraordinary $129 million yearly performance fee in 2020-21.
John and Michelle Landerer: John is a long-time Sydney lawyer and Michelle is a wealthy Sydney retail heiress. This
AFR piece explains the background. They
sold their landmark Vaucluse home, Ganeden, for $62.75 million in February 2022.
Lane family: the four siblings together owned 29% of Sydney-based fashion label Oroton which was worth close to $100 million at the peak but ended up going broke.
John Langley: the son of Gina Rinehart has an MBA but has been in dispute with his mother for many years.
The AFR claimed he was worth more than $2 billion in 2021.
Nick Langley and Lorraine Tarabay: Nick was the co-founder of fund manager Rare Infrastructure which was
sold for about $200 million in 2015 to Legg Mason and Lorraine was the chair of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art. They live in Point Piper and sold their
Whale Beach weekender for $7 million in 2020.
Stewart Langton: founder of the online wine auction business, Langton's, in 1998 before eventually selling out to Woolworths for a reported $13 million.
Peter Lansom: former executive director of
Eastern Star Gas who owned about 7.5m shares and benefited from the
90c Santos takeover bid in 2011.
Peter Larsen: education industry veteran who was a director of listed education provider
Navitas, formerly known as IBT Education, which was taken over in 2019. He owned about 31m shares at the peak. In 2010 the
BRW claims $155 million.
Wayne Lasky: co-founder of the Melbourne-based non-lender who in August 2024 put his grand Prahran mansion on the market for $17m-$18.5m. He paid $16m for it in 2020,
according to The AFR.Greg Lasrado: former internet porn-king who amassed a modest property portfolio in Brisbane and was also a donor to the ALP.
Matt Lattimore: the former Wesfarmers coal salesman got seriously rich working with Indonesian billionaires as the major Australian mining houses exited coal due to climate pressure. See this
excellent Aaron Patrick piece in
The AFR from 2023 summarising how he did it.
Joseph and Tony Lattouf: the brothers started their first hair dressing salon in Doncaster in 1987 and now control Hairhouse Warehouse, Australia's biggest hair and beauty franchise with over 150 outlets. Sadly, Joseph
passed away at 53 in 2020 after a short battle with cancer.
Leon Lau: the founder of recruitment company
People Bank he owned about 15m shares. He also once owned a stake in Village Roadshow worth more than $30 million.
Arthur Laundy: owner of over 60 pubs and hotels across NSW. Was valued at $584 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $833 million in 2019. His son is Craig Laundy, the former Federal Liberal MP. Arthur Laundy is a long-standing member of the “Fifteen Club”, a collection of high-powered Sydney publicans including former Wallaby Bill Young and
veteran investor Kim Maloney, who meet for a lunch once a quarter. The club has been operating for more than 30 years, and the venue for the lunch is rotated across pubs owned by its members.
John Laws: making $5 million a year through shock jockery and endorsements for a decade is handy, but the Golden Tonsils is also a very smart property investor who has amassed a large and valuable portfolio over the years.
David Lawson: a
retired Melbourne lawyer who reportedly sold his Red Hill South mansion for $20 million in 2022. Was previously the managing partner of Ridby Cooke before going out on his own.
Leo Lazzolino: founder and CEO of
Elite Property Group which operates in Melbourne's south east.
Donated $100,000 to the Victorian Liberals in 2018-19.
Paul Leaming: a former CFO
of AMP and alumni of Macquarie, he pops up on the Macquarie share register as
the owner of 109,034 shares valued at around $13 million in mid-2020. Also a racing enthusiast as he
spent
several years on the board of the Newcastle Jockey Club.
John Leaper: the Chairman of TLC Aged Care since 1995, and along with his wife Jenny, they have become one of the most successful providers of Residential Aged Care in Victoria. Formerly John was President of the Aged Care Association of Victoria and Vice President of the federal body for several years.
Paul Lederer: the son of Primo Meats founder Andrew Lederer who has stepped up to become a major supplier to Coles. The
BRW claimed $225 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.23 billion in 2019.
Yenda Lee & Family: Australian-Chinese Chairman of ‘
Bing Lee' who was valued at $334 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $526 million in 2019.
Trevor Lee: runs the ACC Group and supplies a large amount of Coles beef,
The Australian valued at $748 million in 2019.
Christopher Lee: one of the founders of accounting software group MYOB who was able to retire in April 2007.
Dr Patrick Lee: this Queensland doctor from Caboolture has a portfolio of property and shares worth more than $20 million.
Phillip Dong Fang Lee: a Sydney billionaire who gave evidence as a
huge high roller at the Star Casino inquiry and was also hit with a $272m bill by the ATO,
according to The SMH.
Andrew and Rhonda Leed: successful farmers who live on a property in Junortoun near Bendigo and also have a very large share portfolio.
Deborah Lei: owner of the East West Group of companies which has several major developments around Ipswich, Queensland. She is also involved in international trade and investment consultation and is Ipswich City Council's honorary business ambassador to China. A financial contributor to the ALP, she has used her political connections to promote her cause.
Isi Leibler: from humble beginnings in a shop in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, he built Jetset Tours group into large business which he sold to Air New Zealand in 1997.
Stephen Leibowitz: Retail Apparel Group co-founder who, along with his wife Pam, was offering their property at 69 Wolseley Rd, Point Piper on the market for $65m in late 2024,
according to The Australian.
Rod Leissle and John Tyrrell: behind the phenomenal
ABBA tribute band
Bjorn Again which now has 5 franchises playing at any one time around the globe.
Dudley Leitch: former managing director of Kings Minerals, involved in the exploration and development of gold, silver, and base metals in Mexico and Australia, who owned about 38m shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.10 in June 2007 when he was worth more than $30 million, but then crashed to a low of 6c in December 2008.
Peter Lemon: based in Caulfield and owns a large share portfolio.
Niall Lenehan: the former finance director of Kingsgate Consolidated, Goldfields and AurionGold but hit serious pay dirt through African coal miner
Riversdale Mining. He owned about 3m shares when Rio Tinto paid a crazy $3.8 for the company with $16 a share bid in 2010.
Anthony Lennon: the property developer behind the listed
Peet Ltd who owned about 70m shares at the peak. In 2008 he purchased a property in up-market Toorak for $7 million so he can demolish it to make way for his tennis court. The
BRW claimed $325 million in 2010 but the Peet share price later crashed. The stock peaked at almost $4.50 in November 2006 when he was worth more than $300 million.
Peter Leonhardt: former chairman of
Carnarvon Petroleum who owned about 28m shares when the stock peaked at almost 80c in June 2008 when he was worth more than $20 million.
Stephen Leung: private investor and part-time property developer, he sold the Australian Natives Association building in Elizabeth St Melbourne for a reported $9.6 million.
Richard Leupen: the former managing director of engineering and facilities management company
United Group (UGL eventually was taken over by CIMIC) whose share wealth peaked at more than $30 million before a post-GFC near margin call forced a major sell-down.
Michelle Levine: the CEO of Roy Morgan Research who owns 10% of the profitable research business and is also a director of both Haoma Mining and Kitchener Mining, which have been a financial black hole over the years.
Robin Levison: managing director and CEO of Queensland-based mining products and services group
Industrea, owns about 14.8m shares which alone puts his wealth close to $10 million in March 2010.
Solomon Lew: a billionaire retail investor with the Midas touch, Solly has made big money over the years in everything from Coles Myer, Witchery, Nine West, Just Group, Housewares International and Colorado. Recently bought control of Just Group. The 2010
BRW claims $1.49 billion. Forbes valued at $US1bn in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $2.028 billion in 2019.
Sarah Lew: Solly's former daughter in law was once married to Steven Lew and in 2014 paid
$18.55 million for a mansion in Towers Rd, Toorak.
Alex Lewenberg: The
prominent criminal lawyer sold his family home and firm's offices along with the neighbouring buildings located in Melbourne's CBD on the corner of Queens and Little Lonsdale street for $26 million in 2018.
Peter Lewis: Caulfield-based investor who owns a large share portfolio.
Lewis family: the Sydney family's wealth has been built by the Lewis Land property group which has strong interests all over Australia. The
BRW claimed $600 million in 2010.
Geoff Lewis: co-founder and managing director of Perth-based IT out-sourcing company
ASG Group. He owns about 14.7m shares. The stock peaked at almost $2 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $25 million, bottomed at 40c in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.29.
Justin Lewis: the former head of strategy at Allco Finance Group owned 1.04 million shares that peaked in value at $13.5m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless.Bill Lewski: Max Green's former business partner made a nice comeback in the retirement industry and deals with Babcock & Brown Communities delivered him almost $100 million, although his old empire is now run by Lend Lease and he cost investors hundreds of millions and was charged by ASIC.
Dr James Liang: Founder and CEO of Myhealth Medical Centres which started with one centre in Baulkham Hills in 2007 and has grown to have
90 centres across Australia.
Liberman family: smart investment strategies and excellent timing have built the family's multi-billion dollar fortune, which began in Melbourne after the arrival of Jack Liberman who fled Poland as a holocaust survivor. The
BRW claimed $2.2 billion in 2010.
David Liddy: the former
Bank of Queensland CEO owned 1.6m shares worth $30m when the stock peaked at $19.50 in October 2007.
Junhui and Shangjin Lin: The Australian valued at $845 million in 2019. Chinese gold miner behind the Kingland Gold business who
The AFR recently reported had agreed to pay $95 million in two years from now for two water front apartments in Point Piper.
Allen Linz: born in South Africa, he made his wealth acquiring prominent Sydney property with his Melbourne-based Eco-Villages Australia.
Ye Lipei: Shanghai
born property developer. He was valued at $2.05 billion by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.57 billion in 2019
Paul Little: he part-purchased Toll Holdings for just $1.5 million in 1986, built it with a series of takeovers and then sold it to Japan Post 30 years later before turning his hand to property development. The
AFR valued him at $1.77 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.32 billion in 2019.
Hongchen Liu: an investor
based in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo who has built up a solid portfolio of shares.
Eduard Litver: part-owner of Eco-Villages Australia Pty Ltd, a rapidly expanding property development company.
Andrew Liveris: Darwin-born and Brisbane-raised lad who rose to be CEO of Dow Chemical and also sat on the Citigroup board.
Catherine Livingstone: the former Cochlear CEO made plenty from her shares before retiring in then subsequently did a stand-out job as chair of Telstra and then CBA, coming on board when both giants were in governance trouble. Also chaired the Macquarie Group audit company for several years during its emergence as a power-house. A record that is hard to match in corporate Australia.
Warren Livingstone: the founder of the Fanatics
paid $17 million for the Captain Cook Hotel in Botany in early 2020, adding to his two other Sydney pokies pubs, the Charing Cross Hotel n Waverley and the Hyde Park Hotel in Darlinghurst.
Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz: after 9 years as CEO of Mirvac, Susan has amassed a pile of 5 million ordinary shares worth $15 million and saw her statutory pay double from $2.4m in 2019-20 to $4.83m in 2020-21. See p73 of
2020-21 annual report. She retired in late 2022 after a decade in the role.
Mark Lochtenberg: former managing director of
Cockatoo Coal who owned 37.5m shares worth $37m when the stock peaked at $1.20 in May 2008 before taking a dive. Was also a key director of Nickel Industries and stumped up $2 million as part of a $673m raising
unveiled in early 2023.
Andrew Lockhart: lives in a Woollahra mansion and is a former chairman of the Australian Venture Capital Association courtesy of the 17 years he spent running Macquarie's private equity business between 1987 and 2004, which delivered plenty of wealth, mainly through equity. Later founded his own firm Next Capital. See
Pitchbook profile.
Richard Lockwood: Perth-based former broker and mining financier who has served of various public company board and in 2023 owned 3.135m shares in African-focused Perseus Mining which was worth around $5 million.
Dr Albert Long and Teresa Ting: pop up on the top 20 of Lynas Corp (see
p111 of 2021-22 annual report) with 1.052 million shares worth $8 million at the end of 2022 and also received $17.25 million in 2022 for their property at 673 Musgrave Rd, Robertson, in Brisbane, according to
this piece in
The Courier Mail.
John Longhurst: majority shareholder in the south east Queensland shopping mall giant, the Hyperdome. A shrewd investor, in 1974 he purchased an 85 hectare site in Coomera, the site of the Dreamworld theme park, which he sold in 1989. The
BRW claimed $415 million in 2010.
Luc Longley: retired from basketball in 2001, after 11 seasons in the NBA, including a number of Chicago Bulls premierships playing along side Michael Jordon. Longley now stands up for environmental causes across Australia.
Geoffrey Lord: John Elliott's former right hand man who got out of Elders with a tidy pile and now has an extensive empire through his Belgravia Group which over the years has included businesses such as formal wear, corporate apparel, gym equipment, fitness centre management and taxis.
Peter Lord: former non-executive director of
Clive Peeters electrical discount chain who owned 41.6 million shares which were worth around $140 million when the stock peaked at $3.50 in May 2007 but it subsequently went broke.
Ignatius and Angela Loriente: investors in Melbourne's eastern suburbs who have put together a solid share portfolio.
Andrew Love: has been making plenty for years as a partner at insolvency firm Ferrier Hodgson but also owned 345,000 shares in booming African coal miner
Riversdale Mining and had in-the-money options over a further 550,000 shares which together delivered him about $8 million on paper thanks to the ill-fated $16.50 a share
Rio Tinto takeover bid in 2011.
John Love: the former head of shipping at Allco Finance Group owned 2.75 million that peaked in value at $35.7m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless.Frank Lowy: born in Czechoslovakia, Frank had his first taste of retailing working in his mother's grocery store. He arrived in Sydney in 1952 with a small suitcase, little English and no money. Driving a delivery truck, he saved enough money to open a small delicatessen in outer-suburban Blacktown with friend John Saunders. This business was the humble beginnings of the shopping centre giant
Westfield. The 2010
BRW claimed $5 billion.
The Australian valued him at $8.916 billion in 2019.
Alistair Lucas family: lost the power struggle to run Macquarie Bank's investment banking division to rival Nicholas Moore but still made tens of millions from his long service in the Millionaire Factory's Melbourne office and did just as well at Goldman Sachs-JB Were for several years before tragically passing away in the prime of his life.
Chris Lucas: the high profile restauranteur who made his first pile selling The Botanical Hotel in Melbourne for $16 million to the failed Cornerstone Group in 2007 and owns a Toorak mansion in St Georges Road said to be worth close to $20 million. Is now married to Solomon Lew's former daughter in law and also made plenty as a founder in a telecommunications company.
Harach Lucas: founder and CEO of Sydney-based IT services company MicroChannel Services which was
sold to Japanese tech giant Fujifilm Business Innovation for more than $100 million in early 2023 after almost 30 years of operation.
Baz Luhrmann: has become one of Australia's leading film directors responsible for
Strickly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, and the recent epic
Australia.
Andrew Lukas: former boss of AJ Lucas Group, an Australian leader in horizontal directional drilling for the resources industry, who owned 6.2m shares worth more than $40m when the stock peaked at almost $7 in June 2008. It's been a shocker for shareholders ever since.
Michael Lukin:
ROC Partners managing partner and co-founder who made
The AFR's top 25 dealmakers list in 2022 because "the firm has private capital covered from all angles – advising big super funds on which managers to invest in, overseeing secondary portfolio sales and running its own direct funds". Mike was one of the founding partners of Roc Partners following the management buy-out of Macquarie Group's private markets business unit (“MIMPM”) by its senior executives in June 2014.
Charlie & Grace Lund: these pastoralists are Queensland-based and their operations centre around cattle. They appeared on 2008 Queensland Rich List which claimed they were worth well over $100 million.
David Lundberg: founded Altus Traffic Management and then partially sold down to private equity firm PEP in 2022 on a valuation of about $200 million. Altus
later launched a sharemarket raid on rival firm Avada Group in March 2024, suggesting it was doing well.
Michael Luscombe's family: the former
Woolworths CEO died in 2018. Ran Woolworths for 5 years clocking up about $20 million in salary and owned almost 500,000 shares worth almost $20 million.
Iris Lustig: daughter of the late Ted Lustig who developed Melbourne properties such as Box Hill Central shopping centre, The Park Hyatt and The Grand Hyatt. The
BRW claims $379 million in 2010.
Chris Lynch: quit as
BHP-Billiton finance director on $4.6 million a year after missing out on the top job and then ran Transurban for a few years whilst still owning more than $15 million worth of BHP shares. Final two years at Transurban delivered $14m in statutory pay and then had another profitable run as CFO of Rio Tinto. All up, should be worth at least $50m.
Mark Lynch: former managing director and CEO of
Citigold Corporation who together with John Lynch had a share wealth that peaked at more than $100 million in 2007-08.
Lyons family: the assets are tied up in an estate but the direct shareholding in Tattersall's at the time of the float was worth almost $80 million and tens of millions have been distributed from poker machine profits over the past 20 years.
Darryn Lyons: the wild man from Geelong began his photographic career with the
Geelong Advertiser. He moved to London and established his business, Big Pictures, which was one the world's biggest celebrity photo agencies. Was a terrible mayor of Geelong.
Tom Lyons: an executive director of Perth-based flier WA1 Resources since March 2023. It floated in February 2022 after
raising $6m at 20c, then saw the stock soar to a peak of
around $21 in April 2024. It then raised $50m in a placement at $17 in July 2024 to help fund its drilling program for 3 potential energy transition deposits across WA. Lyons owned 2.23m shares worth more than $40 million on paper at the peak. He has a geology degree from UWA and was previously chief development officer of Agrimin Ltd. He is also MD of Tali Resources which is a substantial shareholder in WA1.
Sherman Ma: the litigious founder of Liberty Financial, which for a while had the biggest slice of the low-doc loans market in Australia. Failed to get a float away in 2007 with a lofty $700 million valuation before the GFC smashed the segment. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $104 million.
Wes Maas: former NRL player who build up his Maas Group equipment hire business into a public company which floated in 2020 valuing him at about $350 million.
Peter MacGregor: the former planning lawyer delivered the $200 million Queensland residential property development Seaspray on the Capricorn coast.
Eddie Machaalani: from an office above a Rozelle mobile phone shop hatched an idea in 2009 to make e-commerce shopfronts far more simple. The company, BigCommerce, floated on the Nasdaq in August 2020 and has a market cap of $US5.2 billion ($7.3 billion). He spent a
reported $25 million buying a Parramatta River property in 2022 in the suburb of Abbotsford.
Chris Mackay: the former boss of UBS in Australia rode the credit boom nicely and then made a fortune as chairman of fund manager
Magellan Financial Group. The Australian valued at $735 million in 2019.
David Mackay:- born in Hamilton, New Zealand, he studied business at Charles Stuart University and joined Kellogg Australia as group product manager in 1985. He left to become managing director of Sara Lee in Australia, but returned to Kellogg in 1998 as managing director, Kellogg Australia before landing the top global gig at Kelloggs.
MacKellar family: Alastair MacKellar founded the
Mackellar Group mining services outfit in 1966 and it was
finally sold to
North American Construction Group for about $450 million in July 2023 having build an empire with 700 full time employees, 350 mining machines over 15 ongoing projects.
Adrian MacKenzie: former Australian head of private equity firm CVC, which lost more than $1 billion on PBL Media. In 2008 he purchased a substantial parcel of land in the Southern Highlands for a reported $5 million.
Dennis Mackenzie: former managing director of
CSG, an information, communications and technology business that began in 1988 as a Xerox business centre based in Darwin, who owns about 51m shares. The stock peaked at almost $1.90 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $90 million, bottomed at 45c in January 2009 and then recovered. In 2010 the
BRW claims $128 million.
Mackinnon family: having owned the prized 2630 ha Kaladbro Estate property in Western Victoria for 150 years, a $25 million offer from Qatar-based Hassad Food proved too tempting in early 2010.
Hugh Maclachlan: he heads Australia's largest privately owned rural property group with 4.7 million hectares and is Australia's largest wool producer. The
BRW claimed $247 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $437 million in 2019.
Penny Maclagan: a former maths teacher, she joined
Computershare, which was founded by her brother Chris Morris and served many years as a director and large investor with about about 16m shares.
Bruce Maclaren: owner of Brisbane Steel Fabrications who has built up a solid property portfolio as well.
Elle Macpherson: once known globally as 'The Body' and an archetypal supermodel, she has continued to grow her wealth through her business nous and the establishment of retail lingerie giant Bendon.
John Mactaggert:
Technology One director and foundation investor who owned about 67m shares at the peak. Stock has boomed to record highs of more than $13 and he was still the largest shareholder and a director in early 2023 with almost 9% of the company or 31 million shares worth around $400 million.
Luke Mader: behind the ASX-listed Mader Group (MAD) which
The AFR reported he founded in Perth in 2005 and by mid 2024 had a
market cap of $1.3 billion. Mader had been a diesel mechanic working out of his ute in the Kimberley. He and some friends began servicing and repairing some machines across mine sites and within six years had an offshore presence.
Ross McDiven: sold his Multiplex shares for about $5 million to Canadian firm Brookfield in the 2007 takeover and was paid many millions more as an executive before and after the takeover. An old mate of Labor fixer Graham Richardson.
Magid family: Ambitious Property Developments generated much of this Melbourne family's wealth. Developing Esso house in Sydney into apartments, and Fountain Gate shopping centre in Melbourne are two of their bigger plays. The
BRW claimed $393 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $580 million in 2019.
Tom Magnier: his father John set up Coolmore in Ireland with Robert Sangster in the early 1970s. It's now considered one of the world's most powerful and successful horse racing and breeding operations and it has clearly paid well as Tom sold his Point Piper mansion for
$50 million in early 2024.Nathan Mahalingam: managing director of Perth-based Mission Biofuels, who owned 24.6m shares worth around $30 million when the stock peaked at $1.80 in May 2007 before tumbling during the GFC.
Norman Majer: owns the Sydney-based business Altitude Travel, lives in Rose Bay and also a successful share market investor.
Con and Ross Makris: a big player in the Adelaide property market, establishing the Makris Group. Owning an array of office buildings and shopping centres in and around Adelaide. The 2010
BRW claims $1.02 billion.
The Australian valued Con at $1.03 billion in 2019.
Ron Malek: the career investment banker set up his own boutique firm Caliburn with colleagues Ron Malek and Peter Hunt which was then sold to New York-based Greenhill
for $181 million in 2010.
Michael Malone: the founder and former CEO of Perth-based
IiNet, Australia's third biggest ISP after Telstra and Optus, who at one point owned 50m shares in the company and benefitted from the TPG takeover bid at close to $9 a share in 2015.
Kevin Maloney: former executive chairman of
MAC Services Group, suppliers of accommodation services to industry, who owned 86.6m shares worth $330 million when the stock was
taken over at $3.90 a share by a US firm in 2010. The
BRW claimed $276 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $557 million in 2019.
Kim and Cyril Maloney: Sydney hoteliers who have benefited from the pokies and own a string of CBD properties. The
BRW claimed $422 million in 2010. They are long-standing member of the “Fifteen Club”, a collection of high-powered Sydney publicans including Rich Lister Arthur Laundy and former Wallaby Bill Young who meet for a lunch once a quarter. The club has been operating for more than 30 years, and the venue for the lunch is rotated across pubs owned by its members.
Ian Malouf: The Australian valued the waste industry magnate at $550 million in 2019.
Roy Manassen: another food king, his Manassen Foods Australia is one of Australia's biggest food importers and wholesalers distributing 85 brands nationally including iconic brands such as Twinings Tea, Carrs Crackers and Trident Sauces. Owns a $15 million house in Mosman. In 2010 the
BRW claims $224 million.
Mantello family: Old man Albert was a legendary North Melbourne ruckman but his sons now run the successful development business which has included the excellent Sandhurst golf course estate in Melbourne's south east. They are also in the car business through what was originally Mantello Holden.
Godfrey Mantle: Queensland hotel owner and investor who was
slammed by Fair Work in 2023 for not paying penalties.
Robert Maple-Brown: the founder of the funds management group Maple-Brown Abbott which has been a strong and consistent performer for Australian superannuation funds, has a share wealth upwards of $200 million. The
BRW claimed $212 million in 2010.
Grahame Mapp: known as an "accumulator of wealth", a shrewd investor with the majority of his wealth in shares. The
BRW claims $415 million.
The Australian valued at $512 million in 2019.
Marc Marano: a former real estate agent boss turned venture capitalist who forked out $12.9 million on a Coogee property in late 2020,
setting a record for the suburb.
Marchant family: large land holder with substantial cotton and horse breeding interests based around Goondiwindi in Queensland.
Luke Marget: co-founder of fast growing dairy business Made which in 2021
reportedly sold 60% of the business to private equity firm TPG Capital, giving it an enterprise value of more than $300 million.
Rob Marich: A
Sydney-based former member of the Macquarie empire who still owned a stake in
the bank worth about $7 million in 2020. Presume this
Sydney-based Marich Foundation is his.
David Marriner: was responsible for the re-development of the historic Regent Theatre in Melbourne. This property developer has a diverse property portfolio with The Marriner Group, but arguably should have gone broke in the 1990s but for the generosity of the Commonwealth Bank. Now the biggest theatre operator in Melbourne.
Peter Marriott: the long-time ANZ executive and chief financial officer made more than $20 million from his time at ANZ and later served on the ASX and Westpac boards.
Gordon Martin and family: owned lucrative Coogee Chemicals and former chancellor of Perth's Curtin University. The
BRW claimed $452 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $593 million in 2019.
John Martin: former managing director of Standard Chartered Bank in London. Brisbane-schooled energy banker who did 26 years with ABN Amro and represents the British oil industry on the World Petroleum Council.
Peter Martin: former chairman
of listed EML payments who owned more than 7 million shares at the peak. Stock
peaked at almost $6 in March 2021 but finished 2022 trading at around 60c. The former CEO Rothschild Australia was a rare example of a chairman
voted off a board at the 2022 AGM. Surprisingly, he didn't vote his own 6.6 million shares in favour.
Mitchel Martin-Weber: owner of Inenco, the holding company for Australia's leading bearing, power transmission, driveline and hose, fasteners and sealing componentry supplier.
Domenic Martino: former chairman of Clive Palmer's iron ore hopeful Australasian Resources who owns 11.5 million options exercisable at $1.18. When the stock peaked he was worth than $10 million. Was the CEO of Deloittes forced out after the dotcom boom after a series of Walkley Award-winning reports by The Australian's Geoff Elliott. Probably not worth $20m these days.
Barbara Mason: the former wife of billionaire Wisetech founder Richard White who
The AFR reported received large payments as he sold down his stake in the company.
Peter Mason: former chairman of AMP, David Jones and Ausnet and one of the original "Fab Four" who built and profited nicely from the sale of Ord Minnett to what is now owned by JP Morgan.
Roger Massy-Greene: the former chairman and major shareholder of Excel Coal before it was taken over in 2007.
Michael Masterman: the CEO of ASX-listed
Po Valley Energy who owned about 26m shares in the company which aspires to find gas in Italy. A great mate of Andrew Forrest through their ill-fated time at Anaconda Nickel together.
Kerrie Mather: the long time
Macquarie Airports CEO who made more than $20 million, primarily from the great success that was Sydney Airport.
Phil Mathews: a Sydney investor whose fund was a big resources punter. Was a substantial share holder is Santos, Nexus Energy, Arrow energy and also owned more than 10% of Renison. Also cleaned up to the tune of $100 million by punting in gaming technologies giant Aristocrat.
Richard Mathews: the former chief executive of mining IT firm Mincom collected $26.8 million when it was sold to a US private equity firm for $315 million in 2007.
Bruce Mathieson: born into a farming family, he left school when he was 13 to become a toolmaker. At 31, he purchased his first hotel after being refused accommodation in a pub because he had children. This billionaire former business partner of Alan Bond now manages Australia's biggest pubs and pokies empire for majority shareholder Woolworths. The 2010
BRW claims $1 billion. Forbes valued at $US680m in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.18 billion in 2019
Don Mathieson: benefited to the tune of $175 million from the sale of Melbourne-based glass processing company
Don Mathieson & Staff Glass Glass to CSR in 2008. He is the younger brother of pokies king Bruce Mathieson. Very unusual to have two brothers who started with nothing become independently successful in business.
Christina & Richard Matta:
own Perfume Empire, a perfume brand and a pharmacy chain. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Peter Mattick: co-founder of
Salmat, Australia's largest company specialising in management of call centres, mailing of bank statements, advertising material and catalogues. He owned 36m shares when the stock peaked at $5.20 in August 2007. The
BRW claimed $280 million in 2010. Salmat is long gone but the partners
reportedly shared in the recent $57 million sale of their Port Macquarie Hotel.
Peter Mavridis:
after working in the US for two years, Mavridis noticed a gap in the Australian market for purely information technology firms, and moved back to start business S Central. The company boasts clients Telstra, Priceline and ANZ. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Karl Mayer: sold his Vaucluse home for $19.5 million in 2018,
according to The AFR. Made his money as a
Goldman Sachs investment banker before striking out on his own in 2005 with a hedge fund.
Mcalary family: the late Frank Mcalary was formerly a Queen's counsel who owned parcels of rural land in WA and NSW. As a large shareholder in Felix Resources, he was paid handsomely when they were purchased by Yanzhou Coal. In 2010 the
BRW claims $184 million.
Jay McAlister:
owns Imoda Group, which splits into Vantage Property Group, a construction and property development company, and Gallery Group, an advertising agency. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Brendan McAssey: along with his wife Elizabeth Ong, they build and sold their Only About Children childcare business to Bain capital
for around $400 million in 2016. It subsequently went broke thanks to COVID. They live in a $10m+ Mosman mansion
overlooking Balmoral Beach.
Peter McCarthy: the Melbourne-based founder of Myprosperity who
sold his business to HUB24 for a headline $40 million in stock in May 2023, although it will have delivered much more than that after the HUB24 share price surged to a record high of $59 in September 2024. It's all about technology, platforms and servicing Australian investors and their advisers.
Bill McCartney: pocketed $15 million when Orica bought the food chemical business he ran, Bronson & Jacobs, for $110 million in 2004 but then had to pay $2.3 million in 2010 after a court found he breached his non-compete agreement by helping two former employees set up a new competitor.
Malcolm McCusker: a well-known Perth legal family with a large share portfolio.
Jarrod McCracken:
a former rugby league player who made plenty swtiching sides during the Super League wars, McCracken now owns property development company Crackers Corporation. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Paul McCullagh: founding managing director of successful private equity firm PEP who originally hailed from Ireland and sits on boards such as Emeco and share registry firm Link. Has been active in Australia since 1986 as head of Prudential Securities and later Salomon Bros, all gigs which paid exceptionally well.
McDonald family: owning around 170,000 cattle spread over 11 properties totaling 3.4 million hectares in rural Queensland. The
BRW claims $209 million.
Dean McEvoy: the 32 year old founder of online buying group Spreets who owned 42% when it was sold in early 2011 to Yahoo7 for $40 million.
John McFarlane: the former ANZ chief executive has made more than $50 million over his term running the Melbourne-based bank for almost a decade, but left behind quite a mess with Opes Prime and has now sold down to own just 100,000 shares.
Lional McFadyen: his salary for the previous two years, as executive director of Bell Potter Securites, was more than $3 million. He also retains a handy stake in the now listed
Bell Financial Group.
Robert McGavin: chair, co-founder and largest shareholder in the recently listed Cobram Estates whose 29 million shares are worth $55 million based on the early trading price of $1.90.
Stuart McGill - former CEO of ESSO Australia who rose to become number three in the giant Dallas-based Exxon-Mobil Corporation - president of ExxonMobil Gas Marketing - before
retiring after 38 years of service in July 2007.
Jeffery McGlinn: former managing director of
NRW Holdings, who once owned 22.8 million shares before the GFC when the stock peaked at almost $3.50 in November 2007.
Sean McGould: the chief investment officer of Lighthouse Investment Partners, he has a shareholding in
HFA Holdings. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in July 2007, bottomed at 12c in December 2008 and in March 2010 was around 25c when they were worth more than $16 million. HFA later transitioned to become Navigator (NGI) and Sean was CEO with 19, shares worth about $20 million in late 2023.
Steve McGovern: the CEO of Dubber Corp joined the company in 2011 and when it joined the ASX300 in September 2021, his circa 7m shares were worth more than $20 million.
Gerry McGowan: former Impulse Airlines CEO who is now on the board of CBD Energy which owns a wind farm on King Island and recently received a government grant of $20 million to assist development of $360 million solar energy farm which McGowan boasts will create a $400 million export market.
Adrian McGrath: the Hunters Hill resident in Sydney owned about 10.6m shares in car dealer
Automotive Holdings Group which were more than $40 million when the stock peaked at almost $4.50 in July 2007.
John McGrath: made his original pile through his own real estate firm in Sydney but his best little earner of late has been 2m shares in the News Ltd-controlled realestate.com.au, although he lost much of his fortune as a huge gambler.
Brian McGuigan: the founder of McGuigan Simeon Wines, now called Australian Vintage, still owned a stake worth about $20 million despite the business struggling at times. Also has a solid share portfolio.
Eddie McGuire: collected $4.7 million from PBL in 2005-06 and $4.2 million in 2006-07 despite getting flicked as CEO and signing a new lucrative 4-year contract on the same rate to do not very much. Fast forward to 2023 and he still hosts Hot Seat on Nine, whilst calling football for Fox Footy. Biggest wealth has come from his TV production company and in 2022 he established a joint family office with David Evans, the son of former Spotless CEO Ron Evans.
McGuire family: one of the biggest pub owners in Queensland despite a messy
internal legal battle in 2020. Family hails from Ireland and Tom McGuire remains AHA Queensland President and a director on the
AHA's national board.
McHugh family: Sydney publicans who took on too much debt during the days of easy credit and in early 2010 were forced to sell the Kinselas Hotel at Darlinghurst for $12 million to a group led by John Singleton and Mark Carnegie.
Dick McIlwain: the former
Tatts Group CEO enjoyed a $15 million-plus pay day when the business merged with Unitab in 2006 but also then chaired Super Cheap Auto and Wotif.com, where he made a few million more.
Mark McInnes: the former
David Jones CEO enjoyed a pay packet of more than $5 million a year before getting sacked over a sexual harassment claim. Still making plenty today as Solly Lew's CEO of Premier Investments.
Peter McIntyre: former managing director of Perth-based uranium explorer Extract Resources, who owns 4.4m shares worth more than $30 million when the stock cracked $8 after the GFC before falling away.
Nick McKecknie: was the lead investor in a syndicate of 5 western NSW pubs which were
sold for $75 million in 2021 when hotel prices were booming.
Colin McKenna: Founder of the Midfield Group, a Warrnambool-based meat processing business which generated a $30 million pre-tax profit in 2020 on sales of $721 million.
The Australian valued the 71 year old on its 2021 Rich List at $462 million.
Andrew Mckenzie: former managing director of WA based
Euroz, who owns about 8.5m shares worth more than $20m when the stock peaked at $2.75 in November 2007.
Brett McKeon: founding director of Perth-based Australian Financial Group who made more than $20m out of the business which he
ran from 1994 until 2017. The company did a badly structured capital raising during COVID which diluted retail shareholders. Remains a non-executive director and the
2021-22 annual report discloses that me remains a substantial shareholder with 6% and those 16.3m shares were
worth around $25 million in early 2023.
Steve McKnight: a former accountant who began his property investment foray 15 years ago and owned as many as 130 properties, prompting his popular 2009 book
From 0 to 130 Properties in 3.5 Years, which has sold more than 150,000 copies globally and also been
recently updated. He also personally funded some anti-gambling campaigning which is excellent.
Hugh McLachlan: the son of Byron MacLachlan who inherited one of Australia's most famous pastoral empires in Australia when his father died in August 1992 at the age of 91. Inherited an estimated 3.5 million hectares of rural property and
BRW valued the family at $91 million at the time. According to
this Wikipedia profile, Hugh then retired in 2009 and his two sons, Jock and Callum, are now joint managing director of the Jumbuck Pastoral Company.
Ben McLaughlin: a long term Baker & McKenzie legal heavy in Sydney who is married to Hunters Hills Cr and former mayor Justine McLaughlin. They
reportedly listed their Hunters Hills mansion hoping for $16 million in 2023 after paying $5 million for it in 2005.
Don McLay: long time director of Credit Corp who owned 1.17m shares worth $40 million when the stock pushed through $34 after a strong half year result was released in January 2020.
Hamish McLennan: the over-worked professional director and former advertising man
sold one Sydney mansion in Lavender Bay, Alta Mura, for $17 million after trading up to a $30 million Darling Point mansion in 2023.
Hugh McLernon: the Perth-based lawyer and executive director of litigation fund
IMF owns about 10.6m shares worth about $17 million and made plenty from earlier plays with Danny Hill and AMP.
David & Maxine McMahon:
big investment in
Fone Zone, a phone retailer which has struggled to compete with Telstra. The couple also have a large portfolio of investments in Queensland. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Gerard McMahon: was one of the founders of construction and fit out company SHAPE which listed in November 2021. Remains on the board as a non-executive director and the
2021-21 annual report listed him as owning 9.73 million shares which were worth $15 million in early 2023. Started out in accounting but later completed a Masters in Leadership at Deakin University in Melbourne.
Julian McMahon: son of a former PM, he has gone to forge a very successful acting career in the US, and has worked on shows such as the quirky US hit
Nip/Tuck which reportedly earned him upwards of $6 million in a year.
Rove McManus: has become one of Australia's premier light entertainment personalities. Starting as a comedian, he owns his own production company that produces
Rove Live.
Gary McMillan: successful Toyota dealer who had a big presence in Preston and South Morang in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Ian McMullin: most of his wealth has been derived from the
Spotless group, a company he founded with his brother, pressing trousers in a small shop in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. The
BRW claims $229 million.
Brian McNamee:
the CSL chairman returned to the board last year owning 168,503 shares which were worth $50.5 million when the stock cracked $300 in January 2020. Brian is
one of the few people to have sold shares before coming onto a board in order
not to have too big a stake in the company given this could cause a conflict of
interest. Indeed, as we pointed out in this Feb 26 2018
Constant Investor piece, when he retired as CEO 6 years ago he
owned 851,655 ordinary shares and a further 605,648 LTI rights. Assuming all
those LTIs vested, he could have owned 1.457 million shares currently worth
$437 million. Rather than just being on our Rich List with its $20 million cut
off, Brian could have made
The AFR or
The Australian's top 200, if only
he'd never sold a share.
Ron McNeilly: the former BHP Steel boss made more than $10 million from his days at the Big Australian, but it was the chairmanship of engineering bolter Worley Parsons that has delivered more than that again. The stock peaked at almost $54 in June 2007 when his stake was worth more than $40 million.
John McNiven estate: the late bond dealer
reportedly sold his Palm Cove property to Ian Malouf for around $20 million in 2021.
McPherson brothers: Brendon and Leigh own a large holding of Donaldson Coal Holdings.
Emily McWaters: After launching in 2010, the South Australian who lives on Kangaroo Island sold her hamper and gift giving business to the ASX listed Maggie Beer empire
for $40 million in 2021. McWilliam family: famous for their wine, the McWilliam family own one of Australia's largest privately-owned wine companies based at Griffith, NSW. Future direction is shifting towards a focus on the premium market. The
BRW claims $311 million.
Bruce McWilliam: the lawyer and
Seven West Media executive owns about 2.1m shares in Seven Group Holdings worth more than $40 million, plus an estimated $200 million property portfolio in Sydney.
Thomas Meakin: principal consultant of engineering services company
Sedgman owns about 17m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.20 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million, bottomed at 50c in January 2009 and recovered to around $1.41.
Ron and Roy Medich: self-made millionaires from the Sydney Croatian community, their wealth is focussed around commercial property in Sydney and Melbourne.
Nelson Meers: former Sydney Lord Mayor who now owns pokies pubs worth more than $100 million.
Phil Mehrten: founding director of Melbourne-based Probuild Constructions. He has become known for completing projects on time and on budget. Under his leadership, annual turnover has increased from $20 million in 1987 to $300 million.
Don Meij: managing director of the
Domino's Pizza Enterprise, who has made more than $100 million from his shares.
Zimi Meka: the founder and CEO of mining services company
Ausenco, which is chaired by former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss. He owns around 15m shares. The stock peaked at almost $17 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $250 million, bottomed at $2 in December 2008 and recovered to around $4.25. The
BRW claims $444 million.
Rob Melham: founder and director of M8 Telecom, a virtual mobile service provider, who in 2010 advertised his 1400 square metre harbourside mansion in Kirribilli with expectations it would fetch more than $10 million.
Ilya Melnikoff: the nephew of billionaire Harry Trigaboff who has struck out on his own with some major developments in Melbourne, including 380 Albert St in East Melbourne which managed a $19 million penthouse sale.
Hans Mende: of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009 which he benefited greatly from the sale.
Menegazzo family: in the 1980s, Peter Menegazzo was Australia's biggest potato farmer based in Swan Hill. Famously he was part of a consortium that purchased AMP's Stanbroke Pastoral Company just before a boom in beef property. Died in a 2006 plane crash but his children now run the empire. The
BRW claims $722 million.
Lou Menniti: he arrived in Australia from Italy at the age of five, and following a building apprenticeship he heads Menniti Holdings In Brisbane. Still involved in Development and Construction in Brisbane and Italy, his wealth is north of $50 million.
Rod Menzies: Melbourne's multi-millionaire cleaning magnate and art saleroom supremo he founded
Menzies International, which is one of Australia's 500 most profitable private companies. Menzies International incorporates a cleaning business, fine art auction house, vineyard and racehorse stable.
Gordon Merchant: from humble beginnings as a small board shorts manufacturer on the Gold Coast,
Billabong International became a global surf and streetwear conglomerate and Gordon's stake peaked at almost $18.50 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $580 million. Subsequently came a cropper and was taken over.
Phillip Merrick: the co-founder of US software company WebMethods which has an annual turnover of more than $200 million.
David Merson: ex-CEO and recently retired director of Mincom, which he founded in 1979. Under his watch, it grew into Australia's largest software developer and exporter with 1,200 staff, annual revenues of $200 million, and global leadership in various IT sector systems. He owns a significant property portfolio and has financial interests in a host of software plays.
Alan & Irene Messer: founded
Lifespace probiotics in 2017. Was valued at $485 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $422 million in 2019.
Peter Meurs: part of the "Worley three", he runs the Australian and New Zealand businesses of the global engineering giant
Worley Parsons. The stock peaked at almost $54 in June and again in December 2007 when he was worth more than $40 million, bottomed at $11 in December 2008 but recovered to almost $24 in January 2010. The
BRW claims $526 million.
Michell family: riding the back of sheep into wealth, GH Michell & Sons remain Australia's biggest processors and exporters of wool.
Ian Middlemas: director of several energy and resources companies, his combined share wealth is upwards of $10 million. Chairs resource investor
Apollo Group.Heidi Middleton & Sarah-Jane Clarke:
have their own fashion label, Sass & Bide. They have just signed contracts with Blur Optix and Lovable to branch into eyewear and lingerie. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Naomi Milgrom: In 1990, Naomi Milgrom followed her father Marc Bessen and became Group Managing Director of the Sussan fashion Group. Naomi is now the executive chair and CEO of one of Australia's largest privately held retailers. Milgrom owns 100% equity in the Sussan, Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl retail chains which includes over 520 retail outlets and over 4000 employees. Her wealth is reported to be north of $500 million and is one Australia's richest businesswomen. The
BRW claims $660 million.
The Australian valued at $557 million in 2019.
Ian Miller: the man behind Miller's Retail, now known as
Specialty Fashion Group, owns about 14.4m shares. The stock peaked at almost $2.10 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $20 million, bottomed at 20c in December 2008 and had recovered to around $1.43.
RV Millar: Launceston car dealer who joined the board of tree-lopping giant Gunns Ltd and owned about 7m shares worth more than $20 million at the peak, before it later collapsed.
Stephen Millar: former
CEO and President of Constellation Wines, which became the world's largest wine business when BRL Hardy was acquired by US company Constellation Brands Inc in 2003. He's still based in Adelaide.
Michael Miller: started in advertising and marketing and has worked for more than 25 years for the Murdochs, including being CEO of the Australian division since 2015. This has clearly paid well as he
reportedly spent $18.6 million on a trophy home in Sydney's exclusive Bellevue Hill in 2019.
Millett family: A Sydney-based
hospitality family which
recently
sold Tomasetti House in Melbourne's famed Flinders Lane to Justin Hemmes
for more than $40 million.
Robert Millner and Family: Substantial shareholders in diversified investment company, Washington H Soul Pattinson.
The Australian valued at $1.13 billion in 2019. The empire was built up by Jim Millner who joined Soul Pattinson as trainee pharmacist in Sydney 1938 before enlisting. After spending years in Japanese POW camps, he returned to Souls. Under his management, he successfully built Souls through diverse and shrewd investing which now includes Brickworks, TPG and New Hope Coal.
Patty Mills: legendary basketballer whose salary in the NBA first cracked $5 million in 2014 and has just signed a two year deal with the Brooklyn Nets worth a guaranteed $US5.89 million a year.
David Mingay: owner of the Daracon Group, the largest privately owned Civil/Mining/Transport/Property company in NSW which has a turnover of around $300m. He started the business in 1983 after earlier working as a
Lake Macquarie City Engineer. He owns huge land banks in Newcastle and other areas, and he owns and operates 8 quarries.
Kylie Minogue: is most famous from her singing career, has also worked as an actress, owns a lingerie and fragrance line. She also owns property in Melbourne, Paris and London. Made
BRW Young Rich List and
donated $500,000 to the bushfires appeal.
Nick Minogue: the former head of risk management at Macquarie Bank was paid $4.4 million in 2006-07 and owned 110,000 shares which if retained today would be worth more than $15 million. The Cambridge educated Englishman is now President of the Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival, according to his
Linkedin profile.
Dean Mintz: founder of upmarket online retailer Cettire which was the best performed ASX300 stock in 2022-23. He still owns 46% worth more than $100 million.
Mark and Brad Mioevich: CEO and chairman of listed marine propulsion company Veem Ltd. Sold 11.9 million shares at $1.18 apiece for $14 million in 2021 whilst retaining a 50.4% stake in the company which was capitalised at about $160 million at the time.
George Mirabella: part of the Mirabella Lighting empire, whose father Paul started it all in the 1950s.
Michael Miroshnik: The
high-profile cosmetic surgeon in Sydney's eastern suburbs sold his Vaucluse mansion in 2019 for $37 million after buying it for $7.1 million in 2014.
Aram Mirkazemi: CEO of listed company Altium who owns shares worth more than $250 million.
Tom Misner: founder of the international network of audio engineering and digital media schools, SAE Institute, that educates over 36,000 students a year.
Hilton Misso: the biggest beneficiary of the $57 million purchase of Brisbane-based plaintiff law firm Trilby Misso by Slater & Gordon for an eye-popping $57 million in 2010. He first became a partner in 1974 but largely stopped working for the firm in 2002 when he retired from running the Redcliffe office which was then completely closed in 2006 after operations were consolidated in Brisbane.
Mitchell family: own 50% of the Mitchell transport business which handles remote transport logistics for big miners, especially in the Pilbara, and reportedly delivers EBIT of almost $20 million a year.
Barry Mitchell: part of the Mitchell Brown Group that previously owned ISP Westnet which was sold to iiNet for $81 million in cash, a quarter of which went to Barry.
Bevelly Mitchell: was married to the late media buyer and Rich Lister Harold Mitchell for 50 years until they
announced their separation in September 2013. Harold passed away in February 2024 aged 81. He
dropped off The AFR's Rich List in 2018 when valued at $370 million.
Harold Mitchell: Australia's most famous media buyer.
The Australian valued at $350 million in 2019. Harold passed away in February 2024 aged 81. He
dropped off The AFR's Rich List in 2018 when valued at $370 million.
Julian Mitchell: before becoming an investment director for JM Asset Management, he had worked extensively as a research analyst and investment banker across the world.
Neville Mitchell: the long-serving former finance director of Cochlear made more than $20 million on his incentive shares as the company boomed. Also active in the NSW Liberal Party and now serving on a few boards.
Nick Mitris: the other half of the gaming machine manufacturer, Olympic Amusements, which was sold in 1998 for more than $150 million. Now concentrates on prawn farming but was one of the Opes Prime customers protected from margin calls over shares in Aristocrat Leisure. At the peak, he
reportedly borrowed $100 million from Opes Prime to support his then 3% stake in Aristocrat which was worth about $120 million before the GFC triggered margin calls.
Lev Mizikovsky: chairman of Queensland-based construction company
Tamawood, he owns about 22m shares. The stock peaked at almost $3.30 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $65 million, bottomed at $1.50 in February 2009 and recovered to around $2.65.
Mat Mladin: six-time winner of the AMA Superbike Championship, he runs a motorcycle import business and has a large contract with Suzuki.
Max Moar: the long-time partner of the late Ted Lustig, he's now out of Melbourne's Hyatt hotels and is now developing land on the coast of Mexico to house the millions of retirees from the US. The
BRW claimed $379 million in 2010.
Jiwan and Suman Mohan: the husband and wife team
arrived in Australia from India in 1976 and built a fortune valued by
The AFR in 2020 at $580 million through
their soft commodities trading company JK International. Run out of Brisbane,
the business had revenues of $1.4 billion in 2016-17 and is reportedly
Australia's biggest trader in products like pulses and legumes.
Babak Moini: co-founder of Laser Clinics Australia which was
sold to KKR for $650 million in 2017.
Dr
Sanjay Mohindra: the Gold Coast-based cosmetic surgeon has been practising in
Australia since 1989 and has built up a tidy share portfolio as well including individual holdings in some listed listed companies worth $10 million.
Andrew Mohl: the former AMP CEO collected a tidy $6 million salary package in 2007 and walked out as the proud owner of about 1.6m shares, suggesting he is worth between $20-$30 million after five years running the place. Hopefully he didn't hang on given later disasters. Also served a stint on the CBA board.
Stephen Moignard: a former magazine publisher and serial entrepreneur. According to
this AFR piece, His company, Davnet, once had a market capitalisation of more than $7 billion before the tech wreck struck. Moignard at the time had two Ferraris but later
switched to running wineries in South Australia.
John Mohnacheff: group
sales director of Liberty Financial Group who owned 3m shares when the business floated in 2020. The stock was at $7.26 in September 2021.
Dr John Moller: the biotech boss was
reportedly behind the $16.4 million 2022 purchase of the luxury Vaucluse home owned by chief executive of tech company Accordant, Stephen Knowles.
Nick Molnar: Co-founder and CEO of
Afterpay. Was valued at $487 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $859 million in 2019, along with his partner Anthony Eisen.
Montague family: the dominant grower and supplier of apples in Australia - see tribute to patriarch Bill Montague who started the business in 1948 and passed in February 2024.
Ned Montarello: executive chairman of Perth-based financial services technology company
Thinksmart who floated the business for $204m in 2007 and later
transitioned it to a UK listing in 2016.
David Moore: the former managing director of nickel miner Mincor who made plenty out of his 4m shares which peaked at $5.20 in November 2007.
Nicholas Moore: anyone who's paid more than $30 million two years in a row is seriously rich, and
Macquarie Group's new CEO has been raking in the huge dollars for over a decade after pioneering the listed infrastructure fund model.
The Australian valued at $407 million in 2019.
John Moore:
John Howard's former Defence Minister lost a house bid when it topped $8 million a few years back so he's clearly worth plenty.
Simon Moore: the son of John Howard's former Industry Minister John Moore who carved out a successful private equity career running the Australian arm of Carlyle for many years and then setting up his own firm Colinton Capital. Has a big personal investment worth more than $20 million in car repair giant AMA.
Paul Moore: started out in equities research and then founded Sydney-based PM Capital in 1998 where he remains chairman and chief investment officer, overseeing
a big team running private money and a listed fund. Runs a good podcast for investors.
Paul Moore: made more than $20 million from his time as CEO of Pacific Brands and after 30 years he hung up the boots in 2007, walking out with a $3.4 million payout. The share price subsequently suffered.
Nick Moraitis: claims to run Australia's leading fresh produce company and is also a major shareholder in Sydney's markets by virtue of large operations he has there. Also owns many race horses and sits on the Sydney Turf Club board.
Doug Moran: the founder of the Moran Group was once Australia's largest private nursing home operator. The
BRW claimed $239 million in 2010.
Rob Moran: the former co-head of corporate finance at Allco Finance Group owned 3.43 million that peaked in value at $44.5m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless.Simon Mordant: the career investment banker has donated more than $10 million to Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art which he has long chaired. Made his money as an investment banker with the likes of BZW before setting up his own boutique firm Caliburn with colleagues Ron Malek and Peter Hunt which was then sold to New York-based Greenhill
for $181 million in 2010. See this
interesting 2020 interview about his latest advisory firm Luminis Partners.
David Morgan: the former Westpac CEO is worth more than $50 million courtesy of the enormous profits generated by the banking cartel over the past 25 years since CBA was 100% privatised in 1996.
Gary Morgan: the colourful pollster and Melbourne eccentric who still runs and controls Roy Morgan Research. Lost plenty in his gold play Haoma Mining.
Geoff Morgan: alongside Andrew Banks he set up the recruitment firm Morgan & Banks which is now known as Hudson. They sold M&B and then did it all against with
Talent2. The
BRW claimed $282 million in 2010.
Reportedly sold his Byron Bay pad for $22 million to Rip Curl co-founder Brian Singer.
Graeme Morgan: collected $108 million when he sold funds administration business Sealcorp to St George Bank in 1997 and
The AFR reported that he was offloading his art collection in August 2024..
Hugh Morgan: the former long-serving WMC chief executive and out-spoken Liberal Party supporter is thought to be worth more than $30 million.
Peter Morgan: former controlling shareholder in boutique fund manager 452 Capital but made his name as head of equities at Perpetual.
Kevin Moriarty: the former executive chairman of Adelaide-based zinc miner
Terramin Resources owns about 9m shares in 2007 when the stock peaked at more than $4.
Rob Morley: chairman of the Sterling Motor Group who in 2010 moved to sell his Portsea mansion with expectations it would fetch $5 million.
Chris Morris: the founder of
Computershare has built it into the world's biggest share registry and services company. Now worth close to $1 billion.
The Australian valued at $1.02 billion in 2019
Karl Morris: former CEO of Ord Minnett, he swapped his stake in Ord Minnett for around 11.1m Auswealth shares, which merged with
IOOF Holdings in April 2009.
Kate Morris: co-founder of online retailer Adore Beauty who enjoyed a $46 million pay day in 2020 selling 40% of her shares in the Melbourne-based company when it floated in 2020. See
AFR coverage. Earlier sold a 60% stake to Quadrant Private Equity on a valuation of $110 million in 2019.
Terry Morris: has built his wealth from property investment and a mail-order business, and also owns the Sirromet winery. The
BRW claimed $224 million in 2010.
Warwick Morris: spent many years at Macquarie building up his shareholding and then popped up in
this 2017 Domain piece spending $2.5m buying out a neighbours Mosman property in a joint deal with Corrs partner Chris Pagent. A qualified geologist, Warwick was famously involved in the
bruising defamation case against Michael West and
The Australian over some dealings at Allstate Gold.
John Morrison: former
London-based CEO of Man Investments, which runs the world's largest independent manager of hedge funds, with 1500 staff in 15 countries. Started out as a Sydney lawyer and then a Labor staffer before joining John Elliott's Elders Finance in 1986. Later moved to Ord Minnett where a Man joint venture set him on the path to running $US70 billion of investments.
Simon Morrison: a 24% shareholder in listed class action law firm Shine whose 42.3m shares were worth about $30 million in May 2020.
Dennis Morton: large shareholder of
Eastern Star Gas who owned about 14.6m shares and benefited from the 90c a share Santos takeover.
Allan Moss: former Macquarie Bank CEO who collected $107 million in salary over his last five years running the Millionaire Factory. The
BRW claimed $225 million in 2010.
Bill Moss: Macquarie Bank's long-serving property boss was paid more than $15 million a year before retiring and has amassed his own considerable property holdings over the years.
Denise Moss: the former
wife of Bill Moss, a long term Macquarie Group executive, who owned around $8 million Macquarie shares in 2020. They separated in 2000, as
this
profile in
The Australian
explains.
Morris Moss family: arrived from Hungary penniless in the 1950s and later married Rose, the sister of his business partner, David Burger. Morris was born in 2012 and
BRW's 1996 Rich List valued the pair at $120 million, tracking "a path to wealth familiar to many of the Rich 200 post-war migrant members: rag trade, retailing and property". They made it big in Sydney and were also big developers and property owners in California.
Sam Moss and family: co-founder of retail chain Katies. Sam died at the age of 90 in 2019 and the family
cashed in its half share in a $95 million Point Piper residential sale in 2020, with the buyer being a gold mining billionaire from China.
Alf Moufarrige: found a niche with upmarket serviced offices, and established the listed company
Servcorp of which he owns around 48m shares. The stock peaked at almost $6 in October 2006 when he was worth more than $280 million. The
BRW claimed $210 million in 2010.
Dov Mowszowski: his father founded The Lighting Corp company which was still 25% owned by Dov when listed.
Wes Moxley: former
CEO and part owner of Gold Coast boat building business Riviera who had Gresham as his major shareholder for a time.
Andrew Muir: the Good Guys boss purchased disgraced businessman Steve Vizard's Orrong Rd mansion $17.75 million. JB Hi Fi paid almost $1 billion for the business.
John Mulcahy: the former CEO of
Suncorp who pocketed more than $15 million from the insurer, plus plenty more in the previous 20 years which included stints with Lend Lease and Commonwealth Bank.
John Mullen - former CEO of DHL Express, a $US28 billion revenue market leader in the international documents, packages and logistics industry. Returned to Australia and became CEO of Asciano when his
exit pay was $10m after a takeover. Now chairs both Telstra and Brambles.
Luke Mullins: co-founder of recruitment company Gemteq Executive which was sold in February 2008 for $19.5 million.
Rick Munday:
started as a chef, then bought his own restaurant before moving into pubs across Australia with the Munday Group. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Nigel Munt: one of the three major shareholders who profited from the $57 million purchase of Brisbane-based plaintiff law firm Trilby Misso by Slater & Gordon for an eye-popping $57 million in 2010. He first became a partner in 1995 and retired several years before the sale. Now back
working for Aussie Injury Lawyers so perhaps isn't as rich as we thought.
Jonathan
Munz and family: plumbing manufacture owners, valued at $1.58 billion by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.24 billion in 2019. Is now fully out of Reliance Worldwide and instead
raising hell inside the Victorian racing industry.
Philip Munz and family: according to BRW, the main Munz family business through Gold Securities Australia was manufacturing. He then made an unusual shift in 1994 when he paid the Kennett government $15 million for the old n Prince Henry's Hospital site on St Kilda Rd. He planned a vast $100-million residential apartment project. The hospital was demolished and planning approval finally came in 1996, but the would-be developer offloaded the project to Mirvac which proceeded to build the famed Melburnian development. Philip was valued at $70 million before being
turfed off the BRW Rich List in 1998.
Marc Munzer: a former partner of Solly Lew's in Housewares International who pocketed more than $20 million selling his stake after the 1999 float. Should have hung in there as Beville has boomed ever since.
Euan Murdoch:
outbid John Howard's former industry minister John Moore in paying $8.55 million for an historic homestead near Beaudesert in south-east Queensland in 2005 and collected $123 million from the sale of his Herron pharmaceutical business in 2004.
Tosh Murphy: A Queensland property developer who had some
interesting dealings with elected councillors.
Murphy family: own the Canstruct construction business in Queensland which made a profit of more than $100 million in one year, largely off the back of more than $1 billion worth of Federal Government contracts related to offshore detention on Naura. Hmmm. See
this piece in
The Australian. Can deal with Labor too based on this
December 2022 PNG push with the Queensland government.
David Murray: received more than $25 million in salary from his 15 years running the Commonwealth Bank. Has also made more than $25 million from his shares and options over the years, but was surprisingly under-invested as AMP chair with
just 291,000 shares when he departed in August 2024 and did have an expensive divorce along the way.
Mussett family: their aged-care business, Conform Health Group, was purchased by Babcock & Brown Communities for $160 million. The
BRW claimed $160 million in 2010.
Myer family: a philanthropic family, whose initial wealth was formed by their interests in the Myer department store chain. Sidney Myer arrived in Melbourne in 1899 and built an empire, leaving his family a fortune worth £1.1m upon his death in 1934. The
BRW claimed $1.5 billion in 2010.
Allan Myers: one of Australia's best commercial QCs and Australia's richest lawyer, largely thanks to a stake in a Polish brewery once owned by his client Alan Bond.
The Australian valued at $812 million in 2019.
Lawrence Myers: one of the directors of listed hedge fund VGI (ASX code: VG1) – he reportedly paid $43 million for Brett Blundy's Sydney mansion in 2018.
Ian Narev: the former CBA CEO made more than $30 million during his stint with Australia's biggest bank and then went on to be CEO of Seek.
Jac Nasser: the former Ford CEO was sacked in 2001 with a final payout of almost $35 million after many years of multi-million dollar salary packages. The guy jokes about moving the Toorak property market if he ever started looking, so he acts like a seriously wealthy individual. A turnaround story at Polaroid, which he chaired until it was sold, has also delivered a profit of about $20 million.
Jean Nassif: Sydney property developer who migrated from Lebanon and made $75 million in 6 years
flipping a site in Clyde to Goodman Group in September 2021.
Steve Nasteski: Brett Whiteley's former art dealer is these days described as an art collector and prestige home flipper after
shelling out on a number of NSW properties in recent years.
Hilton Nathanson: following a stint at Goldman Sachs post graduation, he co-founded hedge fund Marble Bar Asset Management. Lives in London. The
BRW claimed $385 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $641 million in 2019.
Paul Naude: from humble beginnings as a small board shorts manufacturer on the Gold Coast,
Billabong International became a global surf and streetwear conglomerate. Paul was a director who owned about 1.4m shares when the stock peaked at $18.50 in July 2007 before later crashing.
Gordon Naylor: a computer science graduate from Melbourne Uni who was appointed CFO of CSL in 2010 with a starting salary of $1.3 million and then ran the key Seqirus division in the UK for 4 years before retiring in 2019 to become a professional director. The 2019 CSL annual report
disclosed on page 76 that he exited with 107,516 shares which, if retained, would have been worth $32 million at the end of 2022.
Naylor family: Greg Naylor, the estranged son of the late Channel Nine newsreader Brian Naylor, claimed the estate was worth $20 million when he
went to court seeking a slice of it.
Campbell Neal: executive chairman and CEO of
K2 Asset Management Holdings, he owned shares worth more than $55 million in March 2010.
Michael Nebenzahl: owns the venue operator Playbill which runs the landmark Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and must doing well after he spent $11.7 million in 2024 buying a luxury house in the City of Waverley,
according to The SMH. Bruce Neil: most money invested in superannuation and managed funds goes through an administration service. Bruce Neil's company, Select Managed Funds, supplied this service and was listed in 2005. He then sold to Australian Wealth Management in 2006 and has spent his time building horse breeding interests. At one point owned 27.8m shares in IOOF.
Gene Neill: Mount Eliza businessman in Victoria who in February 2008 featured in a
Melbourne Magazine story about luxury boats and confessed to having owned 10 over the years, the latest being a $3 million birthday present.
Kerr Neilson: as a star fund manager for BT in the 1980s, he broke away to form his own group,
Platinum Asset Management, and is now a confirmed billionaire after it floated in 2007. He holds around 323m shares or 57.59%. The stock peaked at almost $8.80 in June 2007 when he was worth more than $2.5 billion. The 2010
BRW claims $2.33 billion. Forbes valued at $US2.2bn in March 2010.
The AFR valued him at $1.49 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.19 billion in 2019
Judith
Neilson: ex-wife of Kerr Neilson,
The
AFR valued her at $1.77 billion in 2019. Doing great things funding public interest journalism.
The Australian valued at $1.25 billion in 2019.
Mark Nelson: chairman of Sydney-based fund manager Caledonia which enjoyed enormous profits in 2020 from its 3 biggest investments - see
AFR article.
Virginia Nelson: the widow of wholesale tobacco tycoon Arthur Nelson
reportedly collected a tidy $27 million from John Szangolies,
the hospitality entrepreneur, for her double fronted Palm Beach beachfront in 2021.
Neumann family: the Gold Coast-based Neumann Group was founded in 1948 by Alfred Neumann. Owning many interests in both residential and commercial property, they also have mineral, fuel and quarrying businesses.
Max New: he built his wealth in textiles which has been supported by his astute share dealings. Also, the father-in-law to failed mining tycoon Joseph Gutnick.
Marylyn New: involved in property, she once owned Fremantle's famous Esplanade Hotel and also 70 apartments in Fremantle's Woolstores project. Was valued at $191 million in
The West Australian's 2019 Rich List.Alan Newman: Robert Holmes a Court's understudy attempted to replicate his old boss through the growth of Futuris (now Elders) but he ended up selling his stake in the company for more than $10 million. It subsequently almost went broke due to forestry disasters before coming back with a vengeance.
Mark Newman: chief investment officer of
K2 Asset Management Holdings, who owned shares worth more than $43 million in March 2010. A relative of Sam Newman.
Maurice Newman: former chairman of ASX Ltd after a 14 year stretch, his wealth is estimated at almost $20 million, much of which came from the outrageously generous 1998 demutualisation.
Rob Newman: former CEO of booming aerial mapping firm Nearmap and has also made many millions out of his shareholding in listed 3D mapping business Pointerra, as is explained in
this AFR article.
Newsboys: with more success in the US than in their home country of Australia, and members of the band changing, they are still the world's biggest Christian rock act.
Peter "Talky" Newton: was a mining broker for County NatWest in the 1980s. After that, he put pre-float seed money into Hill 50 Gold in the 1990s and made a small fortune when South Africa's Harmony Gold took it over. Then put pre-float seed money into Abelle Ltd which was also profitably sold to Harmony. Other big plays included Bluestone Tin, a funds management outfit in the 1990s, Sydney Gas and a horse stud as you can see
here. Was also CEO of
MetalsX who owns about 66m shares or 5.92%. That stock peaked at 47c in June 2007 when the stake was worth $33 million.
Wendy Ng: the widow of Adrian Cleeve, a key figure in the creation of Afterpay, who was left with more than $500 million worth shares in the company after settlement of a bitter two year Supreme Court dispute with Cleeve's six siblings following his untimely death just 6 months after their 2016 wedding. See this
AFR feature.
Sunny Ngai and Family: The Australian valued at $498 million in 2019, dropping to $456 million 2021.
The AFR said $547 million in 2020. The family runs ABC Tissue products which owns the Quilton brand and generates sales exceeding $500 million. Sunny bought a $38 million Vaucluse mansion in 2019.
Nicholas family: their fortune was founded on Australia's most famous pharmaceutical product Aspro, but is somewhat diluted and spread amongst the family.
BRW valued the family at $180 million when Shirley Nicholas, the second wife and widow of George Nicholas, died in 1998. George died in 1980 and Shirley was survived by two children, Jennifer and Michael.
Giovanni Nicoletti: a large grain farmer from Westonia in WA who picked up a solid stake in AWB shares after it demutualised. The media dubbed him WA's biggest grain farmer until he
sold his 200,00 ha portfolio to the Saudis for $60 million in 2019.
Mario Nicomede: was one of three shareholders in Sydney-based Sasso Pre-cast Concrete which was sold to Brickworks for $35 million in March 2010.
Ross Nielson: founder of southeast Queensland-based Nielson Properties which has over $1 billion worth of projects. He also owns commercial properties in Brisbane.
Sasa Nikolic: a long-time Reece executive who
reportedly paid almost $30 million for a Toorak mansion in 2017.
Jinxia Ning and Guanglong Huang: paid $3.85 million in 1997 for their Woolwich mansion in Sydney and were
marketing it for more than $30 million in 2023.
Kevin Nixon: his real estate business was established in Moorabbin, Victoria in March 1976 specialising exclusively in commercial and industrial property, including investment properties. The company has now grown to become a recognised leader in its field and manages over 900 properties.
Gavin and Nigel Nixon: former executive directors
Retail Food Group which owns the Donut King and Brumby's Bakeries franchises. They together owned 10m shares. Stock peaked at more than $5 before almost going broke in 2019.
Nick Noutsatos: former owner of the company At Sam Seafood Holdings, he began by selling fish out the back of a van and grew this to annual turnover of more than than $70 million. Floated the business in 2001, had BRW declare his wealth peaking at $54m in 2003, then it collapsed in 2005, seemingly because he failed to understand franchising.
Ross Norgard: former director of
Brockman Resources, who owned 17.6m shares when the stock peaked at almost $3 in May 2008 when he was worth more than $50 million but was barely 3c in early 2020. The former liquidator was valued at $188m in
The West Australian's 2019 Rich List, mainly thanks to the success of Perth-based aerial mapping company Nearmap, which he founded.
Chris Norman: a c0-founder former director of Perth-based ship builder
Austal, who owned 26m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4 in February 2007 when he was worth more than $100 million. Stock was a $2.17 in late 2022 but he was not in the top 20. See this
engineers tribute.
Greg Norman: former world number one golf professional, Greg Norman continues to build his wealth through golf course design, property, clothing, wine and export beef. Despite a nasty and costly divorce, his wealth is still north of $200 million. The
BRW claims $254 million.
The Australian valued at $375 million in 2019.
Ian Norman family: the late co-founder of Harvey Norman had a substantial property portfolio, but the majority of his wealth can be attributed to the rise of the retail giant,
Harvey Norman, which he established with Gerry Harvey in 1982. The family controls about 17%, compared with Gerry Harvey who has around 30%.
Ralph Norris: the former CBA CEO was paid $6.5 million in 2006-07 and walked out having made about $30 million in total given the strong performance of his share incentives.
Duncan Nuttall: had a good exit from Upstream Petroleum in 2007 and is now retired in Melbourne's eastern suburbs sitting on multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Greg Oakman: sold 4 car dealerships in Sydney's western suburbs area of Macarthur to Peter Warren Automotive
for $27 million in January 2024. Paid $11m for a Hunters Hill waterfront property in 2015.
Bob Oatley: made his first fortune in coffee before pocketing a clear $1 billion building the Rosemount Estate wine business which he sold to Southcorp in 2000, giving it enormous indigestion. Foster's then bought Southcorp and Bob now focuses on his boats and developing Hamilton Island. The 2010
BRW claims $1.25 billion. Forbes valued at $US710m in March 2010. After Bob passed in 2016 his family is now valued at $1.13 billion dollars by
The Australian
Obeid Family: who says Labor politicians don't know how to manage money. Eddie Obeid and his 5 sons have acquired tens of millions down the years through various interesting means which eventually led to Eddie finishing up in jail.
Gerard O'Brien: owner of Silverleaf Investments in Perth - a
successful developer and ag investor who attended Aquinas, started at Bankwest then went into farming. Listen to this
fascinating podcast interview.John O'Brien: a Hunter Valley vet turned businessman who shelled out $124m in 2022 for the historic Plumthorpe pastoral operations. Originally made his money through animal products group Jurox, which was sold for around $400m to listed US animal health giant Zoetis earlier that year.
Peter O'Brien: went broke in the 1990s after taking on too much debt buying pubs from Foster's but has come back brilliantly through his acquarium play which was sold to MFS in 2006. Unfortunately, he took a little too much stock and suffered from the MFS implosion.
Tim O'Brien: successful NSW wheat farmer who spent $66m in 2022 adding to his holdings near Moree, according to
The AFR. Kevin O'Connor: the owner of G&K O'Connor Abattoirs in Pakenham, easily the largest beef abattoir in Victoria. All product is exported to Japan, the Middle East and Europe. The plant slaughters 1000 animals a day five days a week, bones them and also renders the by-product (margarine, fertiliser and the like). However, O'Connor had a rough fight with Victoria's meat unions a few years back as you can see
here.
Jamie Odell: the former
Aristocrat Leisure CEO made plenty on his incentive scheme as the company
performed well and subsequently
prospered in private equity land through Ellerston
Capital before returning to the pokies business at Scientific Games.
Simon O'Donoghue: has been in real estate all his working life and for 31 years has been the principal of O'Donoghues First National. Having always operated in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne, he has become a leading agent in Victoria.
Geoff Ogilvy: a past winner of the US Open golf tournament who made plenty on the tour.
Frank O'Halloran: The long-serving
QBE Insurance managing director made more than $20 million from his time with the company and is still in public company land as chairman of insurance broker Steadfast.
Michelle O'Halloran: owned 8.19 million shares in
Computershare which were worth almost $100 million at the time. In 2010
sold her Portsea mansion for $26 million to fellow Rich Lister John Higgins, the business partner of Alan Myers.
Sean O'Hara: one of the biggest individual pub owners in NSW along with partner Nick Quinn, as
this recent coverage of its new deal with Tabcorp notes.
Trevor O'Hoy: the former Foster's CEO made plenty over a 40 year career with the brewer and subsequently had a $50m+ pay day as the executive chair of Suisse when it was sold for more than $1.5 billion in 2018.
Nicolas O'Kane: long time head of Commodities and Global Markets at Macquarie Group. Total 2018-19 pay alone was $18 million and when combined with a big shareholding is worth well over $50 million.
William O'Keeffe: former chairman of African coal miner
Riversdale Mining which Rio Tinto foolishly paid $16.50 a share to buy. The former MIM executive and Glencore Australia managing director owned 3.8m shares.
Paul O'Malley: did a great job as CEO of Bluescope Steel for a decade and when he retired owned
2.3 million ordinary shares and 1.7 million rights. The shares
peaked at $25 in July 2021 and he's also made millions as a professional director, culminating in his appointment as chair of CBA in 2022, which pays around $900,000 a year.
Denis and Myrna O'Meara:
owed 11m shares in
Atlas Iron. The stock peaked at almost $4.10 in June 2008 when they were worth more than $40 million, before Atlas shares took a dive and were ultimately bought for a song by Gina Rinehart.
Denis O'Neil: with roots back to Hymix concrete, this Sydney fortune has continued to grow. Denis O'Neil has a vast property portfolio including a Cairns hotel, numerous Sydney apartments in his completed developments, including Observatory Tower, The Rex in Kings Cross and Sydney Park. Has recently purchased the Point Piper and Rose Bay Marina. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $134 million.
Derek O'Neill: the former
Billabong International CEO spent 20 years with the company and made millions from his well timed share sales before the business ultimately went broke and was bought by US hedge funds.
Naum Onikul: the former Woolworths director of food, liquor and petrol did 21 years with the business and was paid more than $10m in salary and owned shares worth more than $15 million when he
retired in 2008.
Alan and David Oppenheim: Alan is the managing director and his brother David is on the board Ego Pharmaceuticals Their late father, Gerald (the G in Ego) started the business in 1953, by developing a product to cure his son's cradle cap - Ego Pine Tar Bath Solution, later called Pinetarsol, and has now grown into global business with an average turnover of over $68 million.
O'Reilly family: run the legendary O'Reillys eco-tourism business in Lamington National Park show-casing arguably Australia's best remaining rain forest in the Gold Coast hinterland. Five brothers and three cousins were originally sold 800 acres to clear and farm in 1911 but over time they realised the fortune to be made from eco-tourism.
Don O'Rorke: the former managing director of Consolidated Properties for the Trinity Property Group, he had a share wealth of more than $20 million.
Paul O'Shea: starting with a nursing home in Sydney 30 years ago, he bulit up TriCare to be the largest private retirement accommodation service in Queensland.
Stephen O'Young: co-founder of family photo sharing business Tinybeans Group who
pocketed $2.72 million selling 20% of his stake in the company in early 2020.
Oswal family: behind Burrup Fertilisers which pulled its planned 2008 float, they are currently building a palatial $70 million home in the exclusive Perth suburb of Peppermint Grove which will sit as a monument to the excesses of the resources boom.
Graham Otter: retired executive for the Gandel family and Maurice Alter who also owned a chicken chain and has built a solid share portfolio.
Steve Outtrim:
sprang to fame with the Sausage Software float and eventually sold out for a $50 million-plus profit. Outtrim now runs ekoLiving, which aims at managing and reducing home energy use, and hi-tech home entertainment management.
Les Owen: under his leadership
AXA successfully undertook a major transformation program which resulted in significant improvements in performance and shareholder value. The Liverpudlian has stayed in Australia after retiring.
Roslyn and Tony Oxley: initially made their fortune from the Bushells tea business which was sold back to its British parent in 1979. They live in a $20m+ Darling Point mansion and are arguably Australia's most powerful and connected art dealers through their Roslyn Oxley gallery in Sydney. See this
interesting 2024 feature in
The Australian.David Pace: co-founder of
Greencape Capital, a boutique fund manager with more than $10 billion under management. Sold around 40% to Challenger in a couple of tranches and paid a $32m dividend in 2018-19 alone. Equity worth plenty more.
James Packer: fully cashed up after selling control of Crown Resorts to Blackstone in 2022 following a string of scandals. Worth an estimated $4.5 billion.
Gretel Packer: older
sister of James Packer, investor and inheritor of Packer fortune.
The Australian valued at $1.15 billion in 2019 and
The AFR claimed $2.05 billion in March 2022, which appears inflated.
Gregory Page: founding member of
The Wiggles, most of the wealth is generated from touring and dancing with children globally.
Katie Page: CEO of her husband's company,
Harvey Norman together they have created a retailing powerhouse. Owns around 18m shares directly worth about $70 million.
The AFR surprisingly
valued her at $1.6 billion in March 2022, perhaps forgetting how mean Gerry is.
Walter Pahor: his first project, a gas turbine power station in Pine Creek, led to the formation of Energy Establishments, which entered into partnership with Brightstar Synfuels USA.
John Paini: his Timevale Property Group sold the Aussie World theme park on the Sunshine Coast to Village Roadshow for a reported $15 million.
Ian Pagent and wife Maryanne: have long run the iconic Bathers Pavillion restaurant at Balmoral Beach in Sydney and in 2022
reportedly emerged as the $19 million mystery buyers of the Mosman home of former recruitment boss Katie Adamo and her dentist husband, Daniel.
Clive Palmer: mining main chancer and property developer who got into Parliament with his own party.
The Australian valued him at $4.5 billion in 2019 and
The AFR upped this to $22.75 billion by 2024 based on the $447 million in iron ore royalties that CITIC, the Chinese operator of the Sino Iron project in WA, paid him 2023.
Ross Palmer: the bulk of his wealth was derived from the sale of Palmer Tube Mills in 1994. His company, Procar Australia, manages many of the races in the national car-racing championship series.
Palumbo family: long term Adelaide builders and developers who recently
exited the Sofitel Adelaide for $154 million after building it themselves.
Susan Panuccio: a Ballarat girl who first joined News Corp in London in 2002 and is now CFO of News Corp earning more than $10 million a year. It is all spelt out in this
Linkedin profile and see page 50 of latest News Corp
proxy statement for her pay specifics.
David Paradice: fund manager who
The Australian valued at $599 million in 2019.
Peter Papas: he rode the technology boom of the 1990s establishing and selling two software companies and was also the founder of N-Space which he sold to a subsidiary of MYOB.
Tom Park: the former Southcorp CEO only spent 5 months of his 5 year contract with the company but after buying Rosemout for $1.5 billion and bringing the management team in he was redundant but still collected $7.8 million in 2001 before taking the reigns at Goodman Fielder where he lined up for another huge whack of options. Add another $2.3 million that he got the following year and Park's 5-month effort at Southcorp paid him an incredible $10.1 million. Later became CEO of
Paperlinx where he destroyed heaps of value during the credit crunch.
John Parker: of
Felix Resources, a former Australian resources company was purchased by China's Yanzhou Coal in 2009 and he benefited greatly from the sale.
Philip Parker: real estate agent and founding director of Queensland developer
FKP, which became Aveo. Owned 13m shares or 5% of the company when the stock peaked at $7.50 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $90 million, but it then tumbled to a low of 50c in December 2008.
Greg Paramor: the former managing director of
Mirvac owns about 5.7m shares and was paid almost $10 million in salary during his tenure. The stock peaked at almost $6 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $30 million. In 2023 he sold his Sydney mansion in Lavendar Bay
for $42.2 million.
Aaron Parkhill: the property developer and nephew of Westfield co-founder Frank Lowy was reportedly offering his Bellarine Peninsula waterfront estate in Victoria for an asking price of $20-$22 million in early 2020.
Dr Malcom Parmenter: spent 20 years as a GP then led the ASX-listed Independent Practitioners Network before it was taken over by Sonic Healthcare in 2008. Was appointed CEO of Healius in 2017 and after a boom pandemic his statutory pay peaked at $5.9 million in 2021-22 (see
p55 of 2021-22 annual report). Began 2023 owning 681,000 ordinary shares worth around $2 million but his big play is the circa 11 million of outstanding options.
Bruce Parncutt: the former managing director of stockbroker MacIntosh Securities has been a canny investor and director over the years in businesses such as King Island Cheese.
Nev Pask: a Queensland property developer who was responsible for the development of over 1500 house and land packages on the Redcliffe peninsula as well as several commercial projects.
Paspaley family: founded in the 1950s in the Northern Territory by Nick Paspaley senior, 60% of their fortune is generated through the family's pearling business. They have continued to grow through diversifying into property, retail and investment. The
BRW claims $620 million.
Wayne Passlow: the founder and CEO of the software company Open Telecommunications who was at one point a paper billionaire before it all fell over.
Bill Paterson: co-founder of engineering giant
Worley Parsons, who was the second largest shareholder after CEO John Grill. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $290 million.
David Paterson: a geologist and former stockbroker who made plenty from his ASX membership but did better from the 9.1m shares he owned as a director of zinc miner
Terramin Resources. The stock peaked at almost $4.10 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $35 million, before taking a tumble. The company survives to this day and was capitalised at $64 million in June 2024.
Brett Paton: an investment banker
who went on to become a professional director and then made serious money in
two separate public companies: Magellan and Pointsbet.
The AFR recently did
a
Rich List update and pointed out that his Poinstbet stake, which he chairs,
was worth $74 million in August 2020. It subsequently tumbled.
Barry Patterson: the former chairman of
Silex Systems owned 4m shares worth around $50 million when the stock peaked at almost $13 in July 2007. Silex was still going in mid 2024 with a market cap of $1.44 billion.
Nicole and Stuart Patterson: founders of Melbourne-based Patterson Building Group.
Peter Pattinson: successful farmer from Mullion Creek in NSW who has also built up a substantial share portfolio.
Colette Paull: one of the earliest
Billabong International employees in 1973 and was later a non-executive director who owned 2.5m shares worth almost $50m when the stock peaked at $18.50 in June 2007 before taking a tumble.
Tom Payne: he shares an interest in 280 poker machines with the Steele family, and has yearly earnings estimated at $30 million from his pub and pokies interests.
Rodney Payne: a Sydney-based former BT trader and founding director of Zurich Capital Markets Australia who in 2011 placed his Seaforth mansion on the market for $8 million.
Terrence Peabody: in 1987 he established the the waste management company Transpacific which was floated in 2005. Terrence Peabody arrived from the US to work on the Snowy Mountain Hydroelectric scheme. He found that waste product from the coal-fired power stations could be used to strengthen concrete, and set up a deal with the government to collect all the waste, and then on-sell it to concrete companies.
The Australian valued at $582 million in 2019.
Gary Pearce: the former CEO of Jubilee Mines collected $23 a share for 500,000 options as part of the $3 billion Xstrata takeover in 2007.
Guy Pearce: famous actor and musician. Estimated net worth of $23 million.
Tobias Pearce & Kayla Itsines: engaged couple founded online fitness app
Sweat. Was valued at $486 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $487 million in 2019.
John Pearce: co-founder and chairman of
Collection House who owned 11.3m shares when the stock peaked at $1.55 in February 2006. Trading at just above $1 in early 2020.
Jonathan Pearce: a Sydney-based private equity veteran who joined Quadrant Private Equity from
CVC Capital Partners in 2012 and became the firm's most prolific originator but then exited in July 2023, triggering this
intriguing AFR feature.
Rod Pearse: the veteran Boral CEO who was earning $5m a year for a number of years whilst running the company.
Richard Pegum: former Macquarie Bank trading guru who left in 1998 to run his own lucrative hedge fund, Bennelong Asset Management, out of London. Bennelong has grown quickly to become a $1 billion multi-strategy hedge fund focused on the Asia Pacific. Very prominent in thoroughbred circles, Pegum was a part-owner of Melbourne Cup winner Brew and even pops up with a
testimonial for a luxury cruiser based out of Port Douglas.
Pellicano family: long-time players in the Melbourne property scene. The
BRW claimed $290 million in 2010.
Gary Pemberton: the former Brambles CEO and Qantas chairman made more than $100 million buying into
Billabong International and then chairing it through its float.
Andy Penn: the former Axa CEO picked up $17 million courtesy of the $15 billion takeover by AMP and its French parent and then made more than $10m as CEO of Telstra.
Dr David Penn: Sydney
dental tycoon who paid $52 million in 2010 for the Point Piper home of recruitment pioneer Andrew Banks. Also has a solid share portfolio.
Scott Penn: a healthcare entrepreneur who has owned the Manly-Warringah NRL club since 2006.
Napoleon Perdis:
owns his own line of cosmetics and make-up academies, which started in Sydney and now has stores throughout Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Most of his fame is due to appearances on TV shows such as
America's Next Top Model, being a sponsor of the Emmy Awards, and starred in reality show
Face On. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Tony Perich: with his sons and brother, he runs Leppington Pastoral Company, one of the biggest dairies in the southern hemisphere. Owning more than 4000 hectares in Sydney's outer west, his land is prime for development into residential housing. The
BRW claims $730 million.
The AFR valued him at $2.05 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.59 billion in 2019.
Kevin Perkins: was CEO of KFC in Australia for 29 years until
retiring in 2014 but remains a substantial shareholder in Collins Foods with a 6.17% stake or 7.2 million shares (see p113 of
2021-22 annual report) which were
worth about $50 million in early 2023. Now into his 70s.
Gary Perlstein: the former CEO co-founder of
Specialty Fashion Group, formerly Miller's Retail and currently City Chic collective, owned about 17.8m shares. The stock peaked at $2.10 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $30 million, before it took a tumble and then boomed to peak at around $6.50 in 2021 during the Covid lockdowns but was
back below 50c in early 2023. As
The AFR reported, he was
forced out in 2017 after attempting to put together a management buyout on the cheap. Has been
running his family office ever since.
Matthew Perrin: investment in thoroughbreds, a large share portfolio, and strong interests in risk management software company RuleBurst, keep the Gold Coast-based and former Billabong CEO busy but he subsequently went bankrupt and to jail after some unpleasant investment experiences in China and some controversial CBA dealings back home.
Stan Perron: a resourceful business man, Stan Perron died in 2018 leaving one of the largest philanthropic bequests Australia has seen. He tried his hand at many things, including property, vehicles and stock market investments. The Perron Group is one of Australia's biggest landlords with an annual rental of around $90 million generated from his large portfolio of commercial property and shopping centres.
Allen Perry: a software entrepreneur whose play time assets included an 8.8ha retreat near Port Douglas which is thought to be worth about $4 million.
Greg Perry: the great stock-picker during Colonial First State's glory days never had his $30 million-plus reward revealed because he wasn't nominally an executive like his boss Chris Cuffe.
Shane Pettiona: was the founder of the website discountnewcars.com.au, which he sold to Carsales for $22 million - $19 million in cash and $3 million in Carsales shares. Went on to be COO of the listed Carsales and
made more than $10 million out of his shares. Then started the web-focused Cracka Wines and gave
this interesting interview to
Smart Company in 2011.
Grant Petty: co-founder of Melbourne-based Blackmagic Design which supplies software and equipment to film-makers. A great story given he once lived in housing commission and is now valued by The AFR at $580 million.
Spent $9.9 million during a 2 minute Zoom auction buying a new home in June 2021.
Jamie Pherous:
his company Corporate Travel Management which handles travel contracts for large companies. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
The Australian valued at $577 million in 2019.
Eddie Phillips: a significant holder of residential and commercial property in the Byron Bay region.
Anthony and Liz Phillips: made their money in Camp Australia, a business which started in Melbourne's eastern suburbs with tennis clinics during the school holidays. Shared in much of the $400 million Bain Capital paid for the business in 2016. Now run
The Phillips Foundation.
Andrew Phillips:
former Carlton footballer who, along with brother Anthony, founded and
developed
Camp Australia which was sold to private equity firm Bain Capital for around
$400 million in late 2016.
Robert Phillpot: co-founder of Acconex.
William Phillips: owned 14.6m shares in
Medusa Mining which have traded above $3 but were back below $1 in early 2020.
Pickard family: Adelaide-based owners of Fairmont Homes, Pickard Development Group, Adelaide City Soccer Club, Land SA, Lifestyle SA, Realty SA and The Pickard Foundation, which has donated many millions to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and other charities.
Jamieson Pickering: leaving school at 16 to work on the family's tomato farm, he became chairman and majority shareholder of a successful enterprise called Tomato.
Pidgeon family: Brisbane-based family which has built shopping centres and huge developments around the city since since the Joh days.
Geoff Pigot: a former non-executive director of Queensland coal miner
Aquila Resources who owned 13m shares worth more than $200 million when the stock peaked at almost $17.
Pike family: multi-generational family winery operator in South Australia's Clare Valley who have had enormous success
with their riesling, sell to 17 countries and have been rated in the
top 3 cellar door operators by James Halliday in recent years. The operation first opened in 1984.
Michael Pikos: director of the Brisbane-based developer The Pikos Group, which developed multiple apartment towers on the Gold Coast.
Russell Pillemer: managing director and 34% shareholder in fund manager PCG. The independent expert (
see p 53) for the Milton takeover by Soul Patts valued the Soul Patts' 38% stake in PCG at between $77 million and $85 million in mid 2021 so Russell is doing well.
Piper family: the late Alan Piper owned car dealerships plus 1.28m shares in Brisbane car auctions company
AP Eagers.
Glenn Piper: a residential developer through his Meridian group who branched into hospitality assets with a $100m buying spree after COVID, according to
The AFR.
Wal Pisciotta: former chairman and co-founder of the online portal
carsales.com.au. He earned $65 million when it was listed in 2009 and still retains an 8% stake for many years before selling down. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $172 million.
Joshua Pitt: director of
Red Hill Iron, his holdings are more than 3.5 million. The stock peaked at almost $7.30 in May 2008 when he was worth more than $30 million, bottomed at $1.80 in January 2009 and recovered to around $3.30.
Rob Pitterino: the former County Natwest stockbroker, now based in Monaco, has invested in most of the profitable ventures that his close mate Peter Newton has enjoyed, including Hill 50 Gold, Abelle Ltd, Bluestone Tin and Sydney Gas.
Mark Pittman: director (since 2010) and large shareholder of boutique Adelaide stockbroker
Taylor Collison.
John Piven-Large: one of Australia's most successful liquor merchants, he sold Cellarmasters to Foster's in 1997 for $160 million.
Nir Pizmony: sold JNH, Australia's largest privately owned toy distributor, to
Funtastic in 2002 for a reported $30 million but then left the Funtastic board in 2004.
Barry Plant: after opening a single office in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs in 1979, his business expanded and merged with EJ Doherty to become Barry Plant Doherty of which he is a director. With over 10,000 sales in 2008 alone, he established himself as one of Melbourne's leading agents, culminating in the
2022 purchase of his local Manningham rival Phillip Webb. Great detail on both of them in
this piece.
Julien Playoust: Sydney establishment figure who owned an estimated $90 million stake in
Tattersall's and has received at least $20 million in distributions since lucrative Victorian pokies licence issued in 1991. Voted onto the board against the wishes of the incumbents in November 2005, but then quit again as part of the Unitab merger.
Andy Plummer: a major shareholder and executive of Excel Coal when it was sold for $1.9 billion to Peabody Energy, and then owned 22m shares in
Whitehaven Coal when it was floated. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $255 million.
Fay Ellen Plummer estate: Queenslander who
passed away in 2022 with a share portfolio which included some holdings in individual stocks that exceeded $7 million. Used to live in
this modest North Lakes property.
Greg Poche: for nearly 30 years, he built up his Multigroup Distribution Services company into the highly successful Star Track Express. In 2003, he sold out to Qantas and Australia Post for $750 million and in 1992 he exposed one the most infamous cartels in Australian corporate history, involving TNT, Mayne Nickless and Ansett Transport Industries. The
BRW claimed $932 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $566 million in 2019.
Anthony Podesta: former managing director of
McMillan Shakespeare, the leading provider of independent salary packaging services in Australia, who owned 12.9m shares. Stock above $13 in early 2020.
Brett Pointon: began by purchasing the management rights to one Queensland hotel and then ran the listed
Oaks Hotel and Resorts group out of Brisbane before it was taken over.
Anthony Poli: the former executive chairman of
Aquila Resources, which has coal mining interests in Queensland's Bowen Basin. Owned 26m shares when the stock peaked at $17 in May 2008.
The Australian valued at $608 million in 2019.
Polites family: the late Con Polites was a self-made millionaire courtesy of property development. He was born in 1919 in Port Pirie of Greek parents and ended up with his Polites signs all over Adelaide before he passed away in 2001.
Nick Politis: owns the car dealer company WFM Motors, which had a large stake in listed car dealer AP Eagers. Long time chairman of the Sydney Roosters rugby league club. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $182 million.
The Australian valued at $1.52 billion in 2019
Nick Poll: managing director of the emerging Mirabella Nickel which developed the Santa Rita nickel mine in Brazil that came into production in 2009. Owns about 2m shares when stock peaked at $8 in June 2008 but it later went broke.
Henry Pollack: the Polish migrant was the co-founder of
Mirvac in 1973 with Bob Hamilton and still has an estimated $100 million-plus investment portfolio, although he left Mirvac in 1996, aged 73.
Murray Pollock: co-founder of Perth-based DDH1 drilling in 2006 and supported the circa $300 million sale of the diamond drilling business to fellow listed outfit Perenti in 2023. Regarded as a
50 year pioneer in diamond drilling techniques.
John Pollaers: the former Foster's CEO is worth more than $10 million after Foster's shareholders narrowly approved his full incentive payments for 2010-11 and 2011-12 ahead of the $10 billion SAB-Miller takeover. Was part of the hostile quartet elected to the AGL board in 2022.
Ricky Ponting: one of Australia's all time best cricketers, and long time captain, with his Cricket Australia contract and lucrative sponsorship deals, he pulled in more than $4 million in 2009 alone and then enjoyed a $12m pay day selling his 1.2% stake in Beteasy to The Stars Group, which is now part of Flutter entertainment under the Sportsbet brand in Australia.
Alex Popescu estate: long time benefactor to the Geelong Football Club whose $37 million-plus estate courtesy of a timber business was contested by family members. Read this
lovely profile of the Romanian migrant made good. Mr Popescu's second wife, Helen, and his daughter Christine Willoughby,
battled in the courts and the estate included a
personal 250k bequest to then Cats CEO Brian Cook.
John Porter: the
Austar CEO has made more than $20 million courtesy of a lucrative incentive scheme introduced when the private equity firm CHAMP rescued the company in 2001.
James Porter: lives on an acre in North Adelaide and owns a large share portfolio.
Michael Porter: successful farmer from Laurie Park in South Australia who also built up a large share portfolio.
Leigh Porter: long time executive at Wisetech Global who appears in the 2021-22 top 20 (see
page 156) with 705,000 shares which were worth around $37 million at the end of 2022. Educated at Charles Sturt University.
Adrian Portelli: The man dubbed “Lambo Guy” after his controversial appearance on
The Block in 2021 is worth a staggering $350 million is you can believe this
News Corp piece.
Potter family: the heirs of legendary stockbroker Sir Ian Potter have more than 36.8 million of shares in listed investment company
Australian United Investment Company, if you include The Ian Potter Foundation which is the biggest shareholder with 39.3%. The stock peaked at almost $9.50 in October 2007 when they were worth more than $350 million. The
BRW claimed $738 million in 2010.
John Potter:
ex CEO of Gold Coast-based developer
Villa World whose stake was worth more than $30 million. Also has significant private real estate interests on the Gold Coast and owned a triple block on Hedges Avenue.
Tom Potter: is behind the Eagle Boys pizza franchise which concentrates on regional areas where competiton is less and margins greater.
Brent and Tim Potts: key players behind
Southern Cross Equities who benefited from the $100 million sale to Bell Financial Group in 2008.
Len Poulter: founder of one of Australia's largest specialty meat retailer
Lenards. Opened his first store in Brisbane in 1987 and franchised into almost 200 stores Australia wide. Read this
nice company profile.
Corin and Brian Powell: The founders of the first Australian-owned women's activewear brand Running Bare, put their Rose Bay Federation home of the last 27 years on the market in August 2024 with a $25 million price tag,
according to The AFR. The couple bought the New South Head Road dwelling for $2.2 million in 1997, about 14 years after they founded Running Bare in 1983.
Mick Power: owner of Brisbane-based
BMD Constructions which turns over $300 million a year in civil and land development. After ignoring him for years, The
BRW finally recognised this in 2008, valuing him at $450 million.
The Australian valued at $633 million in 2019. BMD recently managed the $130m Fitzsimmons Lane road project in Manningham.
Ceasar Pradella: successful Brisbane-based property developer who is now retired. See
1999 AFR piece on his then expansion plans.
Pratt family: the empire was created by the late card-box king Richard Pratt. He started the VISY cardboard empire and had a private investment company, Thorney Investments, which has continued trading buying into small and medium stocks. The AFR valued Anthony Pratt and family at $24.3 billion in 2023.
John Prescott: the former BHP CEO was fired on March 4, 1998, sending shares in the Big Australian soaring $1.17 or 8.2% to $15.51. Prescott owned 2.04m shares so his personal stake rocketed by $2.38 million to more than $31 million on the day he was sacked.
Eva Presser: a secretive property player and fruit juice seller who made a hash of running Channel Nine in Perth but still profited nicely from its sale to Bruce Gordon in 2007.
Chris Preston: a Melbourne vet who pioneered knee surgery for dogs, lives in a $5 million Melbourne property and has substantial share investments.
Leon Pretorius: former managing director of uranium explorer
Deep Yellow who owned 72.6m shares worth more than $30 million when the stock peaked at 67c in April 2007 before taking a dive.
Glenn Preusker: entrepreneur who left school at 15 and went on to found bathroom rental company Splashdown which ever
sponsored the 2006 movie Kenny.
Andrew Pridham: former CEO, largest Australian shareholder and continuing executive director of listed investment bank Moelis, now called MA Financial Group. Also long-term chair of the Sydney Swans. A career investment banker worth north of $200 million although his reputation suffered when he dived into the pokies business buying Redcape Hotels and
the stock temporarily plummeted when the Albanese government announced a review of the significant investor visa program which it had been milking.
Sam Prince: BRW valued him at $207 million in 2015. Made his money in Mexican franchise food and now has a range of other businesses.
The AFR lifted his valuation to $1.1 billion in 2023.
David Prior: the founder of yoghurt brand five:am offloaded his St Georges Road property in Toorak for $40m in 2024. He paid $23m for the five-bedroom home dubbed Karum a decade earlier,
according to The Australian.
George Prothero: was the state manager for Hudson Frame & Truss who took the plunge in 2002 to establish Alpine Truss in Wangaratta. Built it for 22 years before
selling to Metcash at an enterprise value of $64m in February 2024. A Benalla Tech kid made good.
Alastair Provan: long time managing director of
Bell Financial Group who owned 32 million shares at the peak which were worth more than $50 million when the stock traded above $2 before the GFC. Still executive chair in 2023 when he wasn't welcoming of shareholder questions related to unfair capital raisings.
Puljich family: inked a $210 million deal with Stockland in July 2023 to sell a portfolio of their Queensland retirement villages, as
The AFR reported at the time.
George Punches: former deputy chairman of
Collection House who owned 17.8m shares when the stock peaked at $1.55 in February 2006 when he was worth more than $25 million.
John Purkis: a Sydney publican who paid $36 million for the popular Tea Gardens Hotel at Bondi Junction in 2014 and then sold it for $75 million to the Ryan family in 2024,
according to The AFR. Mr Purkis retains the Woolpack Hotel in Parramatta (Australia's oldest dating to 1796), as well as the Imperial Hotel in Rooty Hill in Sydney's west and another venue in Sutherland Shire.
Stuart Purves: owner of Australian Galleries, he once spent $5 million for some John Olsen and Jeffrey Smart artwork at an auction. As
this profile discloses, his parents started the business in 1956 and joined in 1966, giving him 56 years of service thus far.
Richard Purves: the long-serving chairman of health group DCA who collected about $40 million from private equity firm CVC in a $2.7 billion takeover bid in 2006. Also an environmentalist who has served as chairman of WWF Australia and one of the international directors.
Stan Quinlivan: the owner of the Ocean Beach Hotel claimed it was worth in excess of $60 million when the nearby Cottesloe Hotel in Perth's swanky beachside suburbs was acquired by Multiplex. Has diverse interests including Skippers Transport, a major logistics operator in Perth and WA airline Skippers Aviation. Took a strategic stake in Hazelton Airlines in 1997, became Chairman with about 35%, then sold out in a bidding war between Qantas and Ansett for terminal rights at Sydney airport. Also owns about $20 million worth of prime grazing and cropping land at Esperance – including "The Beef Machine." Then there is Gibsons & Patterson, a hospitality industry supplier, distributor and agent. Racehorses are often a sure sign of wealth and Stan is one of the biggest owners in WA, which is not surprising given that he was a leading bookie and trainer in the 1970s.
Christina and Tony Quinn: The Australian valued at $601 million in 2019.
Nick Quinn: based in Newcastle and
one of the bigger individual pub owners in NSW along with partner Sean O'Hara through the O'Hara Hotel Group, as
this recent coverage of its new deal with Tabcorp notes.
Michael Quinn: former non-executive director of Sydney-based
QRX Pharmaceutical who owned 9m shares at the peak.
Clive Rabie: former long term CEO of
Reckon who owned 10m shares at the peak, although the stock has struggled in recent years.
Rabinowicz family: Ezriel migrated to Australia in 1948 after he and his family were held in Auschwitz, his skills in textiles led him to set up the hosiery business, Kortex, which he later sold to concentrate on property. The
BRW claimed $287 million in 2010.
Anthony Radford: CEO of
Cellestis, developers and marketers of QuantiFERON technology products for medical diagnosis and scientific research. Owned 12m shares worth more than $50m when the stock peaked at $4.70 in February 2006.
Fred Rae: owned the independent Gull Petroleum chain which had more than 100 outlets in WA. The
BRW claimed $270 million in 2010.
Pat Rafter:
after retiring from professional tennis and avoiding plenty of tax by being based in Bermuda, Rafter joined with the ill-fated Babcock & Brown to launch the brand Bounce. He also had a lucrative contract with Bonds, an Australian underwear company.
Max Raine: the man behind Raine & Horne who own heaps of real estate himself and has a great franchise.
Paul Ramsay: in 1964, when he was 28, he founded
Ramsay Health Care which became Australia's biggest private hospital operator. Died in 2014 leaving a $3 billion bequest to the Ramsay Foundation.
Marli and Franz Ranacher: owners of the Bullo River Station, located 800 kilometres southwest of Darwin near the Western Australian border. They also offer guest stays at the property which is becoming an icon in the Top End. With rural property exploding, their holding is said to be worth more than $80 million.
Rob Rankin: the Australian expat made a fortune as the Hong Kong-based Asian head of investment banking for UBS since 2003 and did equally well at Deutsche Bank before a stint working for James Packer, including as chair of Crown Resorts. Refused to appear before the Bergin Inquiry, much to his discredit
Zeljko Ranogajec: a relatively anonymous Rich Lister, he is known by many casinos around the world as "The Joker', and has been classified by many as the world's biggest gambler. It is reported that he alone makes up 6-8% of Tabcorp's annual turnover which equates to around $600-800 million. If you add to this the tens of millions he bets with local bookmakers and other places around the world as far flung as Russia, his annual spend is reported to be more than $1 billion. His team of form and video analysts, which take up a large portion of the top floor of the NSW headquarters of Tabcorp, have helped grow his operation into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut.
Doug Rathbone: the former managing director and largest shareholder of Nufarm who owned 30m shares. Also has a strong passion for wine owning Global Wine Ventures, which includes the famous Yering Station in the Yarra Valley. The stock peaked at almost $18.20 in June 2008 when he was worth more than $400 million. The
BRW claimed $615 million in 2010.
Leandro Ravetti: the Argentinian came to Australia in 2001 to join Cobram Estates and is now joint CEO with
9.6 million shares which are worth $18.24 million based on the opening price of $1.90 after the August 2021 listing.
John Rawlins: a professional mine manager and geologist who resigned from the board of the booming Felix Resources in 2007 but still made plenty from his stake in Resources Management and Mining, a major Felix shareholder until March 2007. He'd be a lot richer if they'd stayed on the Felix share register as the coal miner's share price soared in 2008 before the resources bubble burst.
Rawson family: Founders of
Burgess Rawson, one of Australia's best known real estate brands, the Rawson family sold Gippsland farms for $20 million in 2019.
Ray family: founded by the late Gold Coast white shoe brigade leader Brian Ray, the family has a diverse property portfolio ranging from hotel and retail properties between Port Douglas and Northern NSW.
Rea family: Ralph, Wally and Beverley Rea together owned 10% of the consortium which bought Stanbroke Pastoral from AMP on the cheap for just $490 million and parlayed some of these profits into the purchase of properties to expand their Queensland cattle empire when Stanbroke was subsequently broken up.
Robert and Jennifer Reardon: cotton and macadamia farmers from Talwood, Queensland, they own a five-bedroom Liberty Panorama penthouse at Main Beach valued at around $15 million.
Redmond family: this Sydney-based publican family recently purchased the Hurtzville Ritz Hotel for around $40 million which adds to their St Patrick's pub portfolio of three taverns in and around Sydney.
Chad Reed: unheralded, he is an Australian Supercross champion with huge success in the US worth around $25 million. Earnings in 2009 alone were $8.8 million.
David Reed: executive chairman of Perth-based Reed Resources, who owned 20m shares when the stock peaked at $1.11 in January 2007 before falling away.
Tim Reed: CEO of MYOB from 2008-2019, through 2 rounds of private equity transactions (Archer Capital and then Bain Capital) before a relisting on the ASX (2015) and then a privatisation by KKR (2019). His MYOB stake was valued at $45m in
this AFR article. Went on to be
President of The BCA.
Mary Reemst: former Macquarie Bank CEO, as opposed to parent company Macquarie Group. Retired on August 2, 2021 after
a 22 year run with the bank. 2018/19 total pay of $6 million, rising to $8m in 2020-21 and finishing at $5.6m in 2021-22. Retired owning 98,980 shares which were worth $16.5m at the end of 2022, second only to CEO Shemara in the executive ranks. Has taken no public company board seats since retiring but is on the
Sisters of Charity board and also assists refugees.
Rees family: long time controlling shareholders in ASX listed Melbourne-based company Sietel which had a market cap exceeding $50m at the end of 2022. See
curious notice of meeting for 2023 AGM.
Adrian Redlich: founded fund manager Merricks Capital and built it to have $2.9 billion under management when it was bought by listed rival Regal Funds Management for $235 million in June 2024. See
announcement. He owned 50.5% and will become chief investment officer at Regal.
Bruce Reid: owns a substantial portfolio of shares and property and also operates a Sydney Harbour cruise-ship business.
Jeremy Reid: former managing director of Everest Babcock & Brown and a major shareholder before it collapsed. The BRW claimed $66 million before the GFC hit.
John Reid: a major holding in
James Hardie Industries, a company he chaired for 23 years, has driven his wealth. Somehow avoided most of the grief over the dodgy asbestos play.
Cathie Reid: met her partner Stuart Giles as pharmacy students in the 1980s and then built the Epic pharmacy chain in Queensland, along with a private hospital group called Icon Cancer Centre.
The AFR says $550 million after they sold down to Quadrant Private Equity and the QIC.
The Australian valued at $502 million in 2021.
Peter Reilly: the former managing director of business services group AUSDOC who went on to become one of the largest shareholders in struggling listed stockbroker Tolhurst with 33m shares. It was eventually bought by the unlisted Patersons Securities.
Ray Reilly: inner city pub owner and operator in Sydney who
paid $8.5m for the iconic London Hotel in Balmain in 2021, adding to
5 other venues.
Therese Rein:
Kevin Rudd's wife has built up quite a fortune through the Ingeus job placement group which turned over $260 million in 2006-07.
BRW estimated she was worth $60 million.
Chris Renwick: ran Rio Tinto's Perth-based iron ore division from 1997 until 2004 before becoming non-executive chairman of Coal & Allied. Share plays delivered many millions on top of his salary.
Andrew Rettig: founder of Melbourne developer R Corp which has delivered more than 30 projects.
Richard Revelins: the former finance director of Mintails who owned 14m shares. The stock peaked at almost 90c in June 2007 but then fell away.
Martin Rey: a former Babcock & Brown executive director who used to own more than 1.2m shares. The stock peaked at almost $35 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $40 million, but collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless.Robert Reynolds: former chairman of Avoca Resources whose stake was worth almost $10 million in late 2010.
Don Rhodes Estate: a pioneer in the Pilbara and former business partner of Lang Hancock whose descendants were
suing for a 1.25% iron ore royalty in 2023. The estate trades as DFD Rhodes and operates as a balanced fund, investing in property and equities, as well as holding a large amount of agricultural land.
James Rice: an Adelaide-based property developer who has concentrated on apartments.
Jodee Rich: the co-founder of the failed telecommunications company One-Tel managed to extract enough value from his stake before the collapse to ensure his on-going wealth no matter what the regulators have thrown at him.
Robert Rich: the former managing director of Stoddarts Holdings went on to be deputy chairman of
Argo Investments where he owned 17.5m shares worth more than $150 million at the peak.
Peter Richards: the former CEO of Dyno Nobel collected more than $20 million from the Incitec Pivot takeover in 2008. He joined Dyno Nobel's Australian operations in 1991, then worked in Asia and North America before returning to lead the Macquarie driven float.
Richards family: JJ Richards & Sons is Australia's largest privately owned waste management operators. Operating out of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and New Zealand, the Brisbane family employ over 900 people. The
BRW claimed $267 million in 2010. Big Liberal donors.
The Australian valued at $1.13 billion in 2019
Ben Richardson: Co-founder and managing partner at healthcare service
Carnall Farrar. Was valued at $371 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $732 million in 2019, along with his partner David Greiner.
The Australian vaued at $451 million in 2022.
Ric Richardson: Sydney-born
founder of IT company, Uniloc, was the winner in a battle with Microsoft over an unauthorised use a software patent registered to his company. Now living in California, a US jury ordered Microsoft to pay $532 million for the unauthorised use.
David Riches: the founder and chief executive of GenusPlus, has about $244m worth of shares in his power and communications infrastructure services group, according to
The Australian in October 2024.
Neil Richmond: leads a fourth generation farming family based near Geelong but also with properties in NSW. NAB
features them on their website as a successful farming family and they also pop up on the
Cobram Estate top 20 with 5.03 million shares worth almost $10 million based on the early trading price of $1.90 after the August 2021 listing.
Tony Richter: founded Formulab Neuronetics Corporation in 1995 and was valued at $427 million by
BRW in 1996. Has since gone into administration, taking much of Tony's wealth with it. Appears to
live on the Gold Coast.
Peter Riedel: has an Economics degree from Monash Uni, spent 14 years working on mergers and takeovers at Deloitte before becoming CFO of Liberty Financial Group. Owned 3.04 million shares when the business floated in 2020. The stock was at $7.26 in September 2021 but fell back to $4 by mid 2024.
Rijs Family: the founders of listed company
Patties Foods which still owned 47% after the initial float.
Gina Rinehart and family: following the death of her father Lang Hancock, Gina has endured his lingering debts, a lengthy court battle for his estate, battles with the family of his business partner and survived nearly going broke in the 1990s. Owning her own iron-ore mines, an ongoing cash deal of receiving royalties from Rio Tinto and a strong Asian appetite for minerals, continue to drive the wealth of Australia's richest woman. Her 50% interest in all the Hope Downs Pilbara mines that Rio Tinto will develop over the coming years, plus her majority owned Roy Hill operation see her wealth now valued at $40 billion by The AFR in 2024, despite ongoing litigation with 3 of her children.
The Australian valued the whole family at $64 billion in 2024. Given the WA Government still has gross debt of $50 billion, you would think they would jack up the flat 7.5% iron ore royalty rate, especially after Queensland Labor introduced a progressive scale for coal in 2022 which peaks at 40% when the price tops $300 a tonne.
Stephen Ring & family: former managing director of
Swisse, whose father Kevin Ring founded the business. Was valued at $530 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $597 million in 2019.
Paul Riordan: co-founder of Cobram Estate who is now a US-based
non-executive director with
9.82 million shares which opened at $1.90 after the August 2021 listing and was around the same in mid 2024.
Ivan Ritossa: the former Barclays Capital boss paid $45 million in 2008 for David Coe's harbourfront mansion in Vaucluse. See this interesting
2012 Euromoney profile.
Norm Rix: born and bred Gold Coast developer who is still going with his Rix Development group into his late 80s. Check out this
hilarious long-form interview from 2021 where he declares everyone who works for the Queensland land tax department is a socialist who hates developers.
Margot Robbie: fantastic Australian actress brought up by a single mum in regional Queensland - see
Wikipedia. Roberts family: owned the construction giant Multiplex since it all began from humble beginnings with John Roberts in Perth in 1962, until the children pocketed $1 billion selling out to Canadian firm Brookfield Asset Management in 2007. The
BRW claimed $1.16 billion in 2010. Tim Roberts, John's son, was valued by
The AFR at $2.38 billion in 2019. Andrew Roberts, Tim's son was valued at $862 million in 2019 by
The Australian. See full page tribute to John Roberts
on page 23 of the last Multiplex annual report back in 2006.
Anthony Roberts: owned almost 70% of Porter Davis Homes, which collapsed in 2023. Made BRW Young Rich List.Christopher Roberts: former CEO of booming ear implant company
Cochlear who made more than $50m out of the company share scheme and is now representing David di Pilla on the Sigma Pharmaceutical board.
Lloyd Roberts: Canadian who founded SMS Technology which did an ill-fated paper merger with a falling Sausage Software. Now lives in Melbourne but managed to salvage a tidy pile and SMS subsequently travelled better when chaired by Laurie Cox before it was
taken over by rival ASG for $124 million in 2017.
Ian Roberts: co-founded
Regis age healthcare service. Was valued at $519 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $561 million in 2019.
Alex Robertson and family: established in 1926, Alexander Robertson Real Estate
manages over $500 million of commercial property, retail property and industrial property. The family also owns more than $100m worth of pokies pubs in Melbourne, including the Lower Plenty Hotel and the Epping Plaza hotel. A good example of a family that was struggling along but then made windfall gains from the rollout of pokies. See
this profile in
CBD News. Alex passed away in 2019.
Hugh Robertson: a Melbourne stockbroker who in 2007 was paid more than $6.8 million as executive director of Bell Potter and later retained shares worth more than $3 million in the listed Bell Financial Group.
Tony Robinson: the CEO of PSC Insurance owned 3.6m shares worth $22.3 million when the
$2.3 billion Ardonagh takeover came through in 2024.
Bill Robinson: was involved in the early days at Carsales as a partner in sponsoring company Reynolds & Reynolds, who held
Carsales shares worth $12.8 million after the float in 2010.
Kim Robinson: former executive chairman of Kagara Zinc who owned 12.4m shares worth more than $80m when the stock peaked at $7.60 in September 2006. It went into administration in 2012 at a time when it claimed to have net assets of $478 million. He sold 5.12 million shares for $912,000 shortly before it collapsed but still owned 13 million shares.
Haydn Robinson: a successful and now retired Perth solicitor for many years who has also proved to be a shrewd sharemarket investor. Popped up in
this 2013 piece when being sued by a former client.
Lee Robinson: an ex-pat living in London who did a maths degree at Cambridge and worked for BT before founded Trafalgar Asset Managers in 2001 and sold a 20% stake to investment bank Goldman Sachs for more than $80 million in 2008. He then left the firm 3 years later causing a stink, as
Business Insider noted in this piece. Now
running Altana Wealth out of Monaco.
Roche family: established in 1922, Adelaide Development Company (ADC) was founded by John Roche, and is Australia's oldest property developer. Concentrating on developing large residential properties in Adelaide, it has expanded into WA as the Estate Development Company. The
BRW claimed $200 million in 2010.
Steve Roche: a 24% shareholder in listed class action law firm Shine whose 42.3m shares were worth about $30 million in May 2020. Recently lost most of his class action team because too much of the profit from their good work was going to him. Steve's website
profile starts by saying he "was raised on a dairy farm on the Darling Downs and is the ninth youngest of ten children. He has seven older brothers."
Bill and Imelda Roche: heavily involved with property development, constructing thousands of residential projects in Queensland and NSW. The husband and wife team worked alongside each other for 40 years, after meeting in a supermarket in 1956. Initally selling lamps door-to-door, they took a stake in burgeoning company Nutri-Metics, which they later sold to the Sara Lee Corporation. The
BRW claimed $659 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $536 million in 2019.
The AFR valued Bill and Imelda Roche at $1.42 billion in 2019.
Rockefeller family: wealthy property developers who came to Australia from America but are not related to the famous Standard Oil founder. Were struck with tragedy after the alleged murder of Herman Rockefeller in Melbourne. Big players in Tasmania. See
this profile in
The Mercury.
Tony Rodbard-Bean: successful Melbourne barrister who lives in a circa $5 million property and has amassed a solid share portfolio.
Steuart Roe: CEO, founder and major shareholder in
Registry Direct, the Melbourne-based online share registry service which now has clients all over the world. Listen to
this interesting interview with Alan Kohler way back in 2017 when he was starting out.
Greg Roebuck: the former chief executive of
carsales.com.au who made more than $100 million out of his stake in the company. Did a great job too and a lovely fellow. If only all Rich Listers were like him.
Andrew and Richard Rogers: owners of the retail menswear chain, Roger David, which was inherited from their father Kalman Rogoziniski. Came across them in some City of Melbourne planning battles.
Rockman family: Irvin was the former Melbourne Lord Mayor who got out of the hotel business in the 1990s and together with son Matthew has made more than $100 million from the 2005 float of online classified advertising business
Seek.com.
Bob Rose: a Sydney-based property developer. The
BRW claimed $200 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $623 million in 2019 and
The AFR trumpeted his wife Margaret's contribution in its 2023 Rich List when the couple were valued at $690 million.
Harry Rosen: former CEO of Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company,
Phosphagenics, he owned shares worth about $55 million at one point.
Michael Rosenbaum:
co-founder of DealsDirect.com.au, which sells almost anything through its online store. Their stock is obtained straight from the manufacturer to keep prices down for their customers. Made
BRW Young Rich List. See this
interesting interview from 2020.
David Roseman: former Macquarie Bank executive director and head of Australian Infrastructure who made tens of millions during his time at the bank.
Iain Ross: former managing director of the
Worley Parsons hydro-carbons division who owned 466,777 shares worth almost $25 million when the stock peaked at almost $58 in December 2007.
Julia Ross: founder and managing director of Australia's largest independent recruitment company,
Ross Human Directions, of which she owned about 37.2m shares. The stock peaked at almost 78c in February 2007 when her stake was worth almost $30 million. The
BRW claimed $81 million in 2010.
Joseph Ross: a major provider of joint-venture funds for the Gold Coast property industry, this Sydney-based investor owned 50% of the Chevron Renaissance building in Surfers Paradise, which was sold for about $60 million. He owned 9m shares in CVC Ltd which had the other 50% of the Renaissance. Also invested through a company called LJK Nominees to hold sizable stakes in the likes of Computershare, Commander Communications, Prime Infrastructure, Macquarie Leisure, Gazal and Powerlan. Through LJK Nominees he was one of the
Babcock & Brown “foundation” shareholders, with some 2.8m shares which are now worthless.
Keith Ross: has been paid more than $100 million by Whitehaven Coal for its Narrabri coal mine as is explained in
this ASX announcement. Stephen Ross de Belle: an Australian investment banker with the likes of ABN Amro and Barclays who went on to become managing director of Midwest Corp with shares worth more than $20 million when the Chinese government paid top dollar in 2008.
Gregory Rosshandler: former managing director who built Finewrap, the largest single Flexographic print packaging company in Australia, to sales of $170 million and sold it in 2006.
Zac and Thelma Rossi: former top 20 shareholders of Paladin Energy with 1.7m shares or 0.28%. The stock peaked at almost $10.70 in June 2007 when the stake was worth more than $15 million.Roth family: tenacious property developers, brothers John and Stanley Roth have added to their large Sydney property portfolio which was created by their father Henry Roth. Owning buildings in Sydney's CBD and surrounds, they have expanded into creating Italian gelato chain, Gelatissimo. The
BRW claimed $243 million in 2010.
Michael Rothner: principal of Sydney-based property investment bank AsheMorgan who paid $26 million for David Waterhouse's Rose Bay mansion in August 2023.
James Rothel: former chief scientific officer of
Cellestis, developers and marketers of QuantiFERON technology products for medical diagnosis and scientific research, who owned 12m shares worth more than $50m when the stock peaked at almost $4.70 in February 2006.
John Rothfield: Dr Turf is best known for his punting commentary in the media but is also an astute property investor in Melbourne worth more than $20 million.
Garry and Susan Rothwell: architects turned property developers who both
scored honorary Doctorates from Sydney University in 2022.
The Australian valued at $514 million in 2019.
John Rothwell: the former managing director and largest shareholder of Perth-based ship builder
Austal who at one point owned shares worth more than $100 million.
Stephen Rouvray: Sydney-based insurance industry veteran who worked at ING and Austbrokers. In retirement he and his wife Gaeleen own 384,528 shares in listed insurance broker AUB Group which were worth around $12 million in June 2024. See
p148 of 2023 annual report.
Douglas Rowe: sold his metal recycling business Southern Recyling to listed CMA for $40 million in 2006 and was then later fired as CMA CEO and established a new competing firm in 2010 as this story in The Age, on August 15 2010, revealed. Reg Rowe: the value of his wealth was helped with the float
Super Cheap Auto stores in 2004 which is now Super Retail Group. The
BRW claimed $320 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $870 million in 2019.
Trevor Rowe: the long-time investment banker
paid more than $10 million for an apartment in James Packer's Barangaroo casino development in 2020.
Kerry & Rowena Szeszeran-McEvoy:
run the Australian Institute of Fitness, which are training colleges, and are looking to open campuses for foreign students to cash in on international interest. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Graeme Rowley: the former Rio Tinto executive who became operational boss of Fortescue Metals and made close to $100 million on his shares.
Peter and Mark Rowsthorn: owner of the state-of-the-art Wadham Park stables in Victoria. Peter and his son Mark were also part of the winning team of Toll Holdings that secured the acquisition of Patrick Corporation in a vicious takeover. Mark later ran debt-laden
Asciano. The
BRW claimed $1.09 billion in 2010 but it has dropped from that.
Anthony Rozic: an executive director and 16-year stalwart of property giant Goodman Group who sold $20 million worth of shares in 2020.
Michael Ruane: former director of
Reward Minerals who owned 22.8 million shares worth more than $40 million when the stock peaked at almost $2 in July 2008.
Richard Rubin: South African migrant who had a business called Panache World based in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. In South Africa 20 years ago he invented the in-built hairdryers and mini clothes dryers that are now in hotels around the world. He was a millionaire by 21, first Rolls Royce at 22, first jet by 25, a 737 by 30, followed by three heart attacks by 32.
John and Calogero Rubino: ran the mining, oil and gas services company
Monadelphous Group and together owned 6m shares worth more than $100m when the stock peaked at almost $17.50 in November 2007.
Josh Rudd: owner of surf brand Ghanda and brother of
musician Xavier Rudd. He has been buying up lots of properties in Lorne and Victoria's Surf Coast, near where he runs his booming surf brand from. See
coverage in The Age.
Grant Rule: the co-founder of MessageMedia
reportedly shelled out $75 million for Toorak's Blair House in 2022 after selling his SMS marketing business to a Swedish rival for $1.7 billion in 2021.
Ian Runge: founder of Brisbane-based mining software and consulting company
Runge which floated in 2008, raising $50 million but leaving the family still in control and worth almost $100 million.
Geoffrey Rush: the first Australian-born person to win an Academy Award for acting. Ongoing earning capacity hurt by defamation battle with News Corp, plus his own actions which lead to that.
Sarina Russo: founder and managing director of the education, recruitment and investment companies that form the Sarina Russo Group. She has achieved great success as an educator, businesswoman and property owner. She owns a portfolio of both commercial and residential properties in Brisbane.
Angelo Russo: the Brisbane-based City Motor Auctions boss collected a
then record $18.5 million when selling his clifftop residence on Leopold Street in Brisbane's swanky Kangaroo Point in 2016.
Guy Russo: the former McDonalds, Kmart and Target CEO got seriously rich when he took on the chair role at Guzman Y Gomez and watched his 5.67m shares soar to a value of $170 million when the stock debuted at $30 in June 2024.
Rodney Rutherford: a top shareholder in Kagara Zinc who owned about 3m shares worth $20 when the stock peaked at almost $7.60 in September 2006 before later taking a tumble.
Gerry Ryan: founder of caravan manufacturing business Jayco who also sits on the board of NRL club Melbourne Storm. In early 2010 he purchased some property in Toorak for around $18 million.
The Australian valued at $488 million in 2019.
Justin Ryan: left Quadrant Private Equity amid internal acrimony in 2021 after a decade at the firm. He now runs his own firm,
Glow Capital. See
AFR feature.
Patrick Ryan and family: sold the Republic Hotel, located on the corner of Pitt and Bridge Streets in Sydney, to a Singaporean group for a
reported $35 million in 2017.
Alan Rydge: ownership of Greater Union Cinemas and the Rydges hotel chain through the old
Amalgamated Holdings are the main source of his wealth, along with a hugely valuable waterfront landbank in Point Piper. The BRW claimed $277 million in 2010.
The AFR valued him at $1.58 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.32 billion in 2019.
Matthew Ryland: co-founder of
Greencape Capital, a boutique fund manager with more than $10 billion under management. Sold around 40% to Challenger in a couple of tranches and paid $32m dividend in 2018-19 alone. Equity worth plenty more.
Dahlia Sable: a member of the Fried/Fraid family who
paid $13 million for a Towers Rd property in Toorak in 2012.
Alek
Safarian: a
biotech veteran who grew up in Sydney and is now based in London running his
own biotech investment company Alsa Holdings.
Antony Sage: emerged in 2008 as a 6.4% or 20.6 million shareholder in cashed up former wannabe iron-ore producer
Cape Lambert Iron which sold its project to the Chinese government for $400 million at the top of the market. Later bought the Perth Glory A League franchise.
Nabi Saleh: co-founder of Gloria Jean's coffee retail outlets and was a Hillsong elder who sat on the Hillsong board. Since obtaining the Australian rights for the business, he grew the chain aggressively to revenues of close to $100m a year.
Radek Sali: former CEO of
Swisse Vitamins who was valued at $386 million by
The AFR in 2019.
Doug Sallis: attempting to sell his Beachfront Hotel in Darwin for $11 million to pokies giant Endeavour Group in 2022 but was
reportedly facing resistance from the ACCC which is concerned about competition issues.
Philip Salter estate: the co-founder of listed print marketing company
Salmat who owned 36m shares worth more than $150m when the stock peaked at $5.20 in August 2007. The BRW claimed $280 million in 2010. His estate
reportedly shared in the proceeds of a $57 million sale of the Port Macquarie Hotel in 2022, so the duo didn't just do marketing together.
Carlo Salteri and family: for 35 years, he built up his highly successful company Transfield, along side Franco Belgiorno-Nettis. It was broken up in 1997, which left him with the defence industries arm of the company which was re-named Tenix and sold to British Aerospace in 2008 for about $800 million. The 2010
BRW claims $1.33 billion. Forbes valued at $US970m in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $1.84 billion in 2019.
Mario Salvo: in 2004 he sold the $40 million-plus Delta/Europcar business to Malaysian venture capitalists. He started his Delta car rental business in 1988 with 100 old bombs. When he sold the business he had a fleet of 7000 cars.
David Same: his father Saul Same founded the Gloweave empire in Melbourne and also pioneered fundraising breakfasts for Melbourne's Jewish business community with the Labor Party in the 1950s, as
The Age reported shortly before the 2010 election.
Graeme Samuel: made plenty as an investment banker with Macquarie Bank in the 1980s but then devoted himself to community causes while retaining an interest in Grant Samuel and also making heaps in the Austexx property joint venture with his two former best friends and Rich Listers, Liberty Oil co-owners David Wieland and David Goldberger. The DFO side of this business eventually imploded under the weight of debt.
Matthew Sandblom: founder, executive chairman and near majority shareholder in ASX listed 3P Learning which ended 2022 with a market cap of $330m. Accumulated losses of $30.7m and net assets of $194m so have added value through Mathletics and the like. See
2021-22 annual report.
Christine Santic: estranged wife of Tony Santic, Port Augusta tuna king and owner of record breaking Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, who reportedly secured an Australian record separation payout of $125 million.
Tony Santic: the Port Lincoln businessman built his wealth through large tuna quota holdings which he sold half of in 2003 when prices were peaking. Famously, he is the owner of one of Australia's most successful race horse, Makybe Diva and also subject to a hugely expensive divorce.
Luke Saracini: the Perth-based property developer was the owner of Saracen Properties and Saracan Estates winery. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $288 million.
Saragossi family: Joe Saragossi married the daughter of Brisbane entrepreneur, George James, following his service with the US army during WWII. He built the company G.James Glass & Aluminium into a strong business turning over a $1 million a day. The
BRW claimed $202 million in 2010.
Ralph Sarich: beginning with the Orbital Engine Corporation, a company set up to market the orbital piston engine, Ralph sold out in 1992 and turned his attention to property development, creating his company Cape Bouvard Investments. He owns commercial buildings in Melbourne and Perth, where he developed the Icon project which was the largest luxury apartment tower in WA. The 2010
BRW claimed $1.13 billion.
The Australian valued at $978 million in 2019 and
The AFR lifted this to $1.61 billion in 2024.
Sam Sarin estate: was one of the longest serving and biggest tuna bosses in Port Lincoln who was valued at $330 million by
BRW in 2003, according to his
Wikipedia entry. Passed away in 2020.
Ani Satchcroft: in 2022 was appointed Head of Infrastructure Investment in the Real Assets division of Macquarie Asset Management in Australia and was also named in
The AFR's list of the
top 25 deal makers in 2022. See this
glowing Macquarie profile which even mentions she has triplets. Was also a pivotal player in the $23.5b AirTrunk deal, as
The AFR reported.
Nigel Satterley: owner of the Perth-based Satterley Property Group that sells house-and-land packages. The
BRW claimed $400 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $423 million in 2019.
Saunders family: the late John Saunders opened a small delicatessen in Western Sydney with friend Frank Lowy in 1958. A year later they opened the first Westfield shopping centre before the partners split in the 1980s. Continuing property investment has grown the Saunders family wealth, but not nearly as quickly as the Lowys who are worth more than $6 billion. The
BRW claimed $779 million in 2010.
The AFR valued his children, Betty Klimenko and Monica Saunders-Weinberg, at $2.73 billion in 2019.
Clive Savage: sold out of Clive Peters to JB-Hi Fi some years ago before then trading in Queensland as Clive Anthony where he had a handful of stores competing with Harvey Norman and then sold again to JB Hi Fi as
this industry newsletter notes.
Paul Savich: has been CEO of Perth-based flier WA1 Resources since February 2021. It floated in February 2022 after
raising $6m at 20c, then saw the stock soar to a peak of
around $21 in April 2024. It then raised $50m in a placement at $17 in July 2024 to help fund its drilling program for 3 potential energy transition deposits across WA. Savich owned 4.1m shares worth more than $80 million on paper at the peak. He has a Commerce degree from Curtin University, started out in audit and then corporate finance at Deloitte and then worked in the mining sector for the likes of Echo Resources.
Saville family: long term owner and operators of cable manufacturer
Markerry Industries which has a plant in Carrum Downs and two plants in Malaysia. CFO Alison Saville serves on the committee of the Melbourne Racing Club.
John Savio: the Stanthorpe-based apple grower was clearly good at his job as he was able to purchase an office tower in Brisbane for $88 million in 2008.
Sam Savvas: the founder of WOW sight and sound electronic superstores. Moreover, he also moonlights as a property developer through his SSI Group. Reported to be worth upward of $200 million.
James Sawyer: a large grain farmer from Dalwallinu in WA who built up a solid stake in AWB shares before selling out in a foreign takeover. Still going strong in 2023 according to
this Facebook page.
Ron Sayers: founded Perth-based mining services company
Ausdrill in 1987 and owned 34m shares worth more than $80m when the stock peaked at $2.90 in May 2007. Later pursued for tax fraud by the ATO.
Anthony Scali: major shareholder with about 41.5m shares of
Nick Scali, Australia's largest importers and suppliers of quality furniture. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in September 2007 when he was worth more than $100 million, bottomed at 50c in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.50.
Peter Scanlon: the former right hand man to John Elliott and one of the main shareholders of Patrick Corporation who benefitted enormously from the waterfront reforms and then the later high-priced takeover from
Toll Holdings. The BRW claims $640 million.
The Australian valued at $840 million in 2019.
Niki Scevak: co-founded successful Sydney-based venture capital fund Blackbird in 2012 with Rick Baker and Bill Bartee and it is still going strong today. The big pay day has been Canva, as The AFR explained in
this 2024 piece.John Schaffer: former chairman of the Perth-based leather and building products company
Schaffer Corp, who owned 3m shares worth more than $25m when the stock peaked at $9.50 in February 2008.
John Schaeffer: arriving in Australia from Holland in 1959, he was Australia's richest cleaner when Tempo Services became Australia's biggest contract cleaners but then suffered a humiliating margin call and had to sell his mansion and art holdings before the company was sold as well. His wealth may have recovered to exceed $20m but we're not sure.
Fred Schebesta: founder of successful finder.com website who in 2020 had been linked with a consortium looking to buy AAP.
Scheinberg family: since selling their flagship Best & Less retail chain, they have focused on expanding their property holdings. Were
indirectly blamed for sending McWilliams Wine broke in early 2020 courtesy of an onerous warehouse lease in Sydney's Chullora. The
BRW claimed $284 million in 2010. Original business was set up by two brothers who emigrated to Australia from Hungary in 1939. One changed his name to John Hammond and together they were
valued by BRW at $170 million shortly before John Hammond died in June 1997 at the age of 87.
Steven Scheuer: was
easily the largest shareholder in the Webjet board room for many years and also
reportedly made millions selling a prime Southbank development site near the Yarra in 2015. Was originally an account then made his pile in manufacturing and importing clothes.
Schiavello family: brothers Joe and Tony are thought to be more than $100 million through their company which has a large share of the Australian office fit-out market, plus a growing property development business in Melbourne.
The Australian valued at $437 million in 2019.
Bruno Schiavi: has made his fortune through retail ventures and having an MO of joining with celebrities and developing products. This has included a lingerie line teamed with Janet Jackson and a men's underwear range partnered with Brett Lee.
Jeffrey Schiller: held shares in the likes of Medusa Mining and Independence Group which suggested was worth more than $20m before the GFC. Was a
director of Medusa Mining around the same time.
Les Schirato: owned food and beverage company Cantarella Bros, which in turn owns Vittoria Coffee (the largest coffee company in Australia). Cantarella is debt free and has turnover of more than $100 million. Coffee has huge margins, so this business is an absolute cash cow.
John Schubert: the former chairman of CBA and long term director of BHP-Billiton made plenty when UK concreting giant Hanson took over his Pioneer International a few years back. He was CEO. His really big earner was
Worley Parsons. Back in 2003-04, Schubert's last full year as Worley chairman, he was only paid $110,000 but owned 1.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $54 in December 2007 this stake, if retained, would have been more than $40 million.
Schumann family: big players in the ski resort business who have $40 million upgrading the Silver Star Mountain Resort in Canada after buying it in 2001 and a further $128 million upgrading the Big White resort in Canada. See this
rare interview with Peter Schumann, the son of founder Des Schumann who got his start running the 175 acre ski resort at Mt Hotham in Victoria.
Adam Schwab: Melbourne-based co-founder of Luxury Escapes who started out as a lawyer at Freehills and then did some work as a proxy voting adviser, which led to his excellent book after the GFC called
Pigs at the Trough. Contributes to Crikey and serves on the Private Media board.
Schwartz family: Jerry Schwartz, son of Eve Schwartz, is the sole family member director of his family's company. They own hotels in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. He is also a qualified laser and cosmetic surgeon. The
BRW claimed $258 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $468 million in 2019.
Alan and Carol Schwartz: The Australian valued at $409 million in 2019. Carol is the daughter of billionaire Marc Besen who sits on boards including Stockland and the Reserve Bank.
Adam Scott: Australia's best young golfer with annual earnings around $8 million and a personal wealth of more than $25 million.
Will Scott: the former CommQuest CEO was worth about $15 million when the shares peaked after its 2007 float, but subsequently dived. The company foolishly spent $1m on a Paris Hilton party in Sydney.
Ines Scotland: former
CEO of the Sydney-based
Citadel Resource Group, who owned about 255m shares. The stock peaked at almost 39c in August 2008 when she was worth more than $100 million.
Rob Scott: the Wesfarmers CEO
sold $6m worth of shares in May 2024 to meet tax liabilities but as
this ownership notice shows, he retains more than $40 million worth of stock with the share price cracking $70 for the first time in July 2024.
Russell Scrimshaw: former co-founding executive director of Perth-based
Fortescue Metals Group who owned about 8m shares in the early days. Was still going strong in public company land in 2022 when
appointed executive chair of Peak Rare Earths.
John Scull: a director of Bigtincan Holdings who
pocketed $3.83 million selling down his stake in early 2020 but retains 11 million shares worth around $10 million in late February 2020.
Donald Seaton: began as a commodity trader with Gardner Smith in the 1950s and eventually bought the business from which he has now retired but remains a large shareholder.
Norm Seckold: mining entrepreneur, former chairman and managing director of Bolnisi Gold, in 2008 he withdrew $95 million worth of stock out of Opes Prime, triggering the unravelling of the fraud and the eventual collapse of the securities lender. He also owned around 34m shares in
Kings Minerals which peaked at $1.10 in June 2007 before diving.
David Seder: venture capitalist with an outfit called
Squareknot Australia who
reportedly sold his new Holland Rd home in Sydney's swanky Bellevue Hill for about $27 million in late 2023, just two years after they paid $15 million for the 1200-square metre landholding near Cooper Park.
Frank Seeley: Adelaide's "Mr Cool" invented and developed the world's first all plastic, non-corrosive evaporative cooler in the 1970s. Today, his privately-owned company has an annual turnover of $100 million, directly employs 450 people, exports to 75 countries and owns subsidiaries in the US, France, Spain, and Asia.
Julian Segal: former CEO of
Incitec Pivot and Caltex who was paid more than $10 million by both companies.
Vivek Sehgal: The
AFR estimates the 64 year manufacturing giant is worth $4.64 billion
through his Samvardhana Motherson Group which has 272 plants in 41 countries.
Lives in Melbourne and Delhi.
The Australian valued him at $6 billion in 2019.
Jim Selkirk: controls Selkirk Bricks, Victoria's largest brick manufacturer, which has been running for more than 120 years.
Alan Senior: pocketed $23 a share from Xstrata for his 310,210 shares in Jubilee Mines when the business was sold.
Leon Serry: prominent investor in several Melbourne bio-tech plays such as
Circadian.
John Sevior: prominent fund manager with Perpetual, Airlie and Magellan before retiring in 2023, giving this
interesting exit interview to
The AFR's also retiring Chanticleer columnist, Tony Boyd.
Helen Sewell: co-founder of
Great Southern Plantations who sold 25m shares at about $1.60 a pop in March 2001 when she retired from the board.
Kevin Seymour: a board member and substantial shareholder in
Tattersall's after the Unitab merger, he is also a substantial Brisbane property developer with his private company the Seymour Group. The
BRW claimed $565 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $874 million in 2019.
Leigh Seymour: the daughter of Kevin Seymour paid $16.5m in 2022 for the large home at
22 Noosa Pde, according to
this piece in
The Courier Mail.
David Shafer: the CFO and
co-founder of Kogan.com started off with a 30% stake which has generated
personal wealth exceeding $100 million over the past decade, especially as the
stock soared in 2020 before later taking a tumble.
Shahin family: Adelaide family with controlling interest in Peregrine Corporation, a convenience retailer and the operator of Smokemart & GiftBox retail sites across the country who have now moved into shopping centres.
The Australian valued them at $1.844 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued them at $1.49 billion.
The Australian valued at $1.84 billion in 2019
Shannon family: sold the Captain Cook pokies hotel in Botany for
a reported $17 million in early 2020.
David and Stephen Shannon and their brother-in-law Brett Cuthbert: reportedly sold St Kilda's popular Village Belle Hotel for $31 million to Mazen Tabat on a yield of 4.7 per cent in late 2021. The two-storey venue occupies a large 1308-square-metre site on the corner of Acland Street and Belford Street.
Annette Sharp: once married to John Singleton and produced three children. Their marriage lasted less than 10 years, but her settlement was estimated to be worth around $50 million.
Bob Sharpless: the co-founder and MD of one of Australia's largest residential land developments. Greater Springfield, in Brisbane's south-western suburbs has around 15,000 residents, with future growth geared towards 30,000 residents.
The Australian valued at $553 million in 2019.
Chris and Graham Shaw: substantial owners of Direct Group which specialises in direct marketing and runs television channels, including TVSN and EXPO on pay-TV.
Edwin Shawyer: wealthy Queensland farmer and former chair of the Australian Barley Board who has accumulated a significant share portfolio.
Doug Shears: a mover and shaker in Australian agribusiness. The once owner of Uncle Tobys and juice maker Berri, he nows spends most of his time enjoying the fruits of his work. The
BRW claimed $306 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $351 million in 2019.
Sold his Palm Beach home for $40 million in 2022.
Sheezel family: own GPI, the diversified distributor and manufacturer of everything from corporate uniforms to bicycles.
David Shein and family: founder of the information technology company Com Tech, he has since sold out to Dimension Data and had a brief stint on the Fairfax board. The
BRW claimed $242 million in 2010.
Tony Shepherd: the former Transfield CEO turned non-executive chairman owned 1.6m shares which peaked when the stock hit $16 in November 2007 before later tumbling.
Peter Shepherd: successful Melbourne shoe retailer who almost made it to Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 2001 and also ran for the Myer board in 2002.
Richard Sheppard: long-time deputy managing director of Macquarie Bank who owns shares worth almost $200 million. Now a professional director including chair of Dexus.
Ivan Sher: had a small stake in the original Vodafone licence in Australia which earned him more than $40 million.
Brian Sherman estate: co-founder of the funds management group Equitilink which he sold in a bear market and also had a great run as a substantial shareholder in Channel Ten after his consortium took control with a $90m equity injection in 1992-93. Now best known for his art collecting and animal liberation campaigning. Passed in 2020 at the age of 79 after a long battle with Parkinsons. See
Fairfax tribute.Declan Sherman: a Queenslander who joined Macquarie Group in Sydney then went to New York and Brazil with the Millionaires Factory where he started a successful fitness business before returning to Brisbane and succeeding in labour hire, as is all spelt out in this
2024 AFR feature.
Peter Sherrie: used to lead Stockland's Queensland apartment business but then left to form a private property joint venture with Super Retail founder Reg Rowe which has prospered over the past decade.
Peter Sherwin: another successful Top End farmer who sold out in the good times. Sold Alroy Downs on the Barkly Tableland for $70 million, three years after he bought it for $30 million.
Malcolm Shippen: Melbourne stockbroker who led the purchase of Rod Price's former North Tahara property near Wagga Wagga for about $10 million in 2010.
Ian and Camilla Shippen: Riverina farmers who paid $37 million for western Victoria grazing property Mt Fyan in late 2018.
Brad Shofer: co-founder of the software group MYOB who stepped down from his executive role before it was taken over by private equity firm Archer Capital for
about $500 million in 2009 which produced a big pay day.
Fraser Short: already owns hotels, restaurants and bars in partnership with pokies baron Arthur Laundy – so why not throw in one of Australia's most famous food farms? Short
bought The Farm at Byron Bay from owners Tom and Emma Lane in 2020.
Alan Shortall: former
CEO of US-based
Unilife Medical Solutions. He owned shares that were worth more than $18 million in March 2010.
Max Shroder: a former top 20 shareholder of of listed education provider
Navitas, formerly known as IBT Education, with 9.4m shares. Business was taken over in 2019.
Phillip Sidney: former managing director of Melbourne-based renewable energy product manufacturer Quantum Energy who owned 683m shares which peaked in value at $65 million when the stock hit 15c in December 2006 before later weakening.
Peter and Wayne Sidwell: successful advertising and printing entrepreneurs through Shomega which was sold to PMP in 1996. Then went on to build listed company Wellcome which was sold in 2019-20.
Tal Silberman: founder and CEO of the Double Bay based Moshav Financial a financier and property development business which claims to have $900 million under management and was involved in a
messy dispute in 2021.
Avi Silver: billionaire co-founder of Hawthorn-based United Petroleum and also a
significant property investor and developer in his own right.
Nicholas Silverthorn: former director of
NRW Holdings who owned 21.4m shares which peaked in value at $90 million when the stock hit $3.50 in November 2007 before later tumbling, only to return to the ASX200 in 2019.
Karl Simich: former managing director of Sandfire Resources who owned shares worth around $13 million in March 2010.
Ruth Simon: co-owner of the electrical-device maker HPM Industries. The
BRW claimed $285 million in 2010.
Gary Simonds: controls the
struggling listed home builder Simonds Group after pocketing $151 million when it was floated $1.78 a share in 2014 and then bought back in when the stock tanked. Owned 46% going into a $25.5m raising at the end of 2022 when the stock was trading at 11.5c.
Simonetta family: currently selling their fruit and vegetable business Precision Fresh with
talk of a $400m+ valuation. It is jointly owned with Canada's PSP Investments but the three brothers, Joe, Tony and Mario should all soon be able to comfortably retire.
John Simpson: Founder of property developer
Summit Homes. Was valued at $454 million by
The AFR in 2019.
James Simpson: former senior executive at
Platinum Asset Management who sold his shares for more than $30 million and went on to purchase a $7.1 million new house in Birchgrove NSW.
David Sinclair: pathologist and professor at Harvard Medical School, he is a co-founder of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals which was sold to global giant GlaxoSmithKline in 2007 for a reported $1.1 billion.
James Sinclair: started with The Sporting Globe bar in Geelong in 2009 and now runs 50 venues through his Signature Hospitality Group, with the latest venue at
Northland being featured in the AHA magazine and
The Australian. Bought the TGI Australia business in 2017.
Brian Singer: co-founder of Rip curl which enjoyed a big pay day when Kathmandu overpaid for the business shortly before COVID struck.
Reportedly bought Geoff Morgan's Byron Bay pad for $22 million.
Billy Singh: a wealthy Queensland banana grower who in 2010 added to his portfolio with the $3 million purchase of a plantation near Bundaberg which Timbercorp had bought for an inflated $9 million in 2006.
Damien Singh: spent 8 years as CFO of Canva before leaving in controversial circumstances in February 2024, as per
this AFR piece.
Dan Single: co-founder of the high fashion label and highly successful Ksubi. A keen surfer who has diversifed into other areas including Baddies Bar in New York.
John Singleton: making his fortune through his old advertising company
STW Communications, he also has a strong interest in the horse racing industry owning Strawberry Hill Stud. Made plenty investing in 2GB, Lonely Planet and the Magic Millions business on the Gold Coast. The
BRW claimed $230 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $476 million in 2019 and
The AFR had lifted this above $800 million by 2023.
Maha Sinnathamby: a former civil engineer, he is behind the building of a new city in south-east Queensland, the Greater Springfield development. The
BRW claimed $571 million in 2010.
The Australian valued him at $1.66 billion in 2019.
David Sitsky: the long-term chief scientist at Nuix who is based in Canberra and has worked for the business since 2000. Popped up on the
original top 20 with 1.75 million shares worth $14 million based on the opening day's closing price of $8.01.
Robert Skinner: a former Deutsche Bank Australia director who in 2010 listed his waterfront mansion in Mosman for sale with pundits tipping it would fetch more than $13 million.
Brad Skelton:
founded ST Group, a heavy machinery transportation company which operates across Australia. The company took off when they were called in to shift around 95% of the machinery used in building the new Hong Kong airport. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
David Slack:
former County Natwest fund manager who co-founded Portfolio Partners in 1994 and then flogged it to Norwich Union for more than $100 million in 1998. This deal was also the best earner that Andrew Kroger, younger brother of Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger, enjoyed during his investing career.
Bevan Slattery: co-founder and managing director of
PIPE Networks, Australia's largest peering provider who owned 8m shares before it was sold. Now owns shares worth about $200 million in listed company Megaport, where he is executive chairman.
The Australian vaued at $450 million in 2022.
Terry Smart: a long time executive at JB Hi Fi who has made more than $30 million out of his shareholding which was 1.7m shares or 1.63% of the company in 2010. Later returned as CEO after the Good Guys purchase.
Peter Smedley's family: the late former CEO of Mayne and Colonial made about $25 million out of the CBA takeover and then went on to be a professional director. His son Nicholas has run into some trouble in as a property developer so not sure the family fortune is intact.
Daniel Smetana: largest shareholder in ASX listed Joyce Corp which installs bathrooms and wardrobes. The company produced a solid $25m EBIT in 2023-24 after which his 37% stake was worth around $46m.
Ian Gowrie-Smith: pharmaceuticals entrepreneur best known for establishing SkyePharma and Medeva. Appeared on
A Current Affair in 2022
seemingly threatening to sell some islands he owns off PNG to the CCP, given his concerns about turtle conservation.
Greg Smith: former managing director of Clive Peeters electrical discount chain who owned 41.7 million shares worth $140 million when the stock peaked at $3.50 in May 2007. Business subsequently collapsed after a $20 million fraud by a female payroll officer so not sure the fortune is above $20 million.
Laurie and Gail Smith: the Brisbane-based couple paid $16.2 million for 32 Noosa Pde in 2022
according to this story in
The Courier Mail. Also own the property next door at 34 Noosa Pde and plan to demolish the one at 32 and create one house across the two blocks.
Mark Smith: former exploration manager of Mt Martha-based Karoon Gas who owned 2m shares worth about $20m when the stock peaked above $10 in 2009-10 before falling away. It finished 2022 just above $2.
Mike Smith: British import who was paid more than $40 million to run ANZ and then decided to stay in Australia on retiring,
splashing $10 million purchasing the Spray Farm vineyard, overlooking Bellarine Peninsula with its seven-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion. He also
reportedly owns a winery in Bordeaux.
Richard Smith: owner of PFD Foods which he has worked with for 60 years.
The Australian valued at $917 million in 2019.
Rod Smith: former director of
Windimurra Vanadium who sold up his 11.4 million shares in the 2007-08 financial year before the business later went broke.
Tony Smith: former Sydney Swan and co-founder of resort management company BreakFree, which he vended into doomed property company MFS. Much of the price was paid in MFS shares subject to a margin loan, and when MFS collapsed he lost around $60 million. This prompted a fire sale of assets including two harbour front properties in Sydney for $11.3 million, plus his half-built Gold Coast mansion.Smorgon family: Ukraine migrants that have built a $2 billion-plus empire, spanning meat processing, packaging, glass and plastics, after opening a single butcher shop in Melbourne. The
BRW claimed $2.44 billion in 2010.
Michael Smurfit: was a part-owner of Melbourne Cup winners Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle. Smurfit bought half of Kevin Bamford's Label Makers business in the early 1990s.
Terry Snow: an influential and charitable member of the Canberra community, in 1998 he purchased the city's airport and surrounding sheep paddocks from the Federal Government for just $66 million before embarking on a huge redevelopment program. The
BRW claimed $675 million in 2010.
The AFR valued him at $1.86 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.51 billion in 2019
Kong Chong Soon: former chairman of the WA-based property development company
United Overseas Australia whose stake in the business was worth more than $50 million at the peak.
Nicole Sorbara: joined Macquarie Group in 1996 and the executive committee in 2013. Currently
chief operating officer. Total 2018-19 statutory pay of $7 million, rising to $7.26m in 2020-21 and $9.56m in 2021-22. Also made many millions on her shareholding which in 2022 comprised 9384 ordinary shares and around 200,000 incentive grants (see
p141 of 2022 annual report).
Michael Soucik: investment banker
profiled here in
Business News who popped up in the top 20 as an 11% shareholder in the ASX listed A-Cap Energy.
David Southon: co-founder and former joint managing director of the Charter Hall property group who owned 8.7m shares when the stock peaked at around $3.20 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $25 million, before it fell badly.
Roy Spagnolo: the former Parramatta Eels chairman is quite a property player and sold an industrial site tenanted to Bunnings in the Sydney suburb of Rockdale for $25 million in 2009.
The AFR reported that Roy is known for his links with “the Italian Connection”, a group of Sydney developers including Tony Zappia, Vince Lombardo and George Gaitanos.
Tony Spanos: his father made the family name in the meat export business from a processing factory in Botany Road, South Sydney. Sold his waterfront property known as the Boatshed at McMahons Point for more than $7 million and later
popped up talking about losing lots of money helping street battlers.
Peter Spargo: the former Melbourne Football Club chair was
reportedly seeking $24 million in early 2021 when trying to sell his Towers Rd Toorak mansion. He bought it for $11 million in 2008.
Rob Speedie and Annabelle Mooney: the Sydney power couple listed their trophy Sydney home in September 2024 with a price guide of $20m,
according to The AFR. Speedie is CFO of Novotech and Mooney is a former MD of JP Morgan.
Spencer family: made plenty through the Stargate group, a mortgage origination business, although suffered a hit during the GFC.
Vernon Spencer: former Chairman of Interstar Securities, one of the largest non-bank finance originators in the country. He sold out to Challenger in 2004 for a rumoured $85 million. Before that, he was easily making $10 million a year. Has one of the biggest boats moored in Melbourne.
Spooner family: owner of Melbourne's Caribbean Gardens markets and surrounding business park, it has been a solid contributor to the family's wealth. More recently, the family has interests in boat manufacturing and the St Kilda marina in Melbourne. The
BRW claimed $519 million in 2010.
Howard Stack: a Brisbane-based property investor who once sold a Surfers Paradise beachfront property for $15 million, and then turned around and purchased a neighbouring property for $6.8 million. Paid a record $14.25 million for a Mirvac waterfront penthouse. He was also a former Flight Centre director and The AFR dubbed him "the God-father" of Brisbane's dealmaking scene in
this 2011 piece.
Gary Stafford: the former managing director of PanAust owned 11m shares in the company. The stock peaked at $1.25 in May 2008 when he was worth more than $13 million.
Trevor St Baker: controls Queensland-based
ERM Power and also made hundreds of million picking up cheap power station assets off the NSW Government.
The Australian valued at $556 million in 2019.
Russell Staley: former executive director of
Worley Parsons, and still holds a large share parcel, is now chairman of Benthic Geotec. The stock peaked at almost $54 in June and again in December 2007 when he was worth more than $40 million, bottomed at $11 in December 2008 but recovered to almost $24 in January 2010. The
BRW claimed $265 million in 2010.
Guido Staltari: executive chairman of Saracen Minerals and largest individual shareholder with a stake of around 8% which in July 2010 equated to $15m.
Harry Stamoulis: property developers with a penchant for disused and un-loved commercial properties across metropolitan Melbourne. The business was started by patriarch Spiro Stamoulis before his death in 2007, so son Harry is now in charge. The
BRW claimed $411 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $769 million in 2019.
Clive Standish: successfully ran the Australian operation of UBS in the 1990s and was promoted to be finance director of the Zurich-based banking giant before getting fired in 2007 for his part in the sub-prime disasters that required a bailout from the Singapore Government and then the Swiss government.
Martin Stanely: head of Macquarie Asset Management. Total 2018-19 pay of $5.5 million and also made millions from his shareholding.
Steele family: has an interest in 355 Victorian poker machines generating more than $30 million annually from gamblers a few years back.
Stehr family: controls 80% of the listed
Clean Seas Tuna and owns about 87m shares. The stock peaked at almost $2.10 in February 2008 when they were worth more than $170 million, before tumbling. The
BRW claimed $271 million a few years back.
Malcolm Steinberg: the one-time king of pinball machines, his wealth grew from the establishment of the Timezone amusement arcades.
Darren Steinhardt:
ran financial planning business Infocus, and builds the brand around the motto to keep your financial status healthy. There are also two other companies integrated into Infocus, Platformplus and Portfoliofocus, which both concentrate on selling software to companies. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
David Stevens:
co-founded Brennan, a leader in telecommunications and information technology services which focuses on the mid-market. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Dominic Stevens: former CEO of
Challenger Financial Services, who was pocketing more than $3 million a year and owned about 7.5m shares. The stock peaked at almost $6.60 in October 2007 when he was worth more than $42 million, bottomed at $1.20 in December 2008 and then recovered. Went on to make many more millions as CEO of the ASX and then
reportedly offloaded his Bellevue Hill mansion for more than $50 million in 2022.
Mark Stevens: former non-executive director of Jeanswest, which went broke in 2020. Was going to move to a newly built mansion in Toorak a few years back before deciding against relocating his family from their Park Orchards property, and instead selling the Toorak property for more than $6 million.David Stewart: the former chief executive of Leighton Holdings who has made plenty over more than 20 years with the construction giant.
Andrew Stewart: long time CEO of Brisbane-based firm BSD Robotics which also has solid investments in some ASX listed companies.
Stillwell family: started their Melbourne car dealership business in 1949 and then, after 75 years, they finally sold it for $55m to listed rival Autosports in August 2024. See
ASX announcement.
Charles Stinger: owned more than $10 million worth of shares in Probiotic at one point.
Linda Stipanicev: a Perth-based company director who in 2011 placed her Peppermint Grove mansion near the Swan River on the market expecting about $10 million.
Paul Stoddart: the founder of the failed OzJet airline, he moved into formula one and successfully sold his Minardi team. His big break came from a mega spare parts purchase from the Australian Defence Forces in the late 1980s. The
BRW claimed $230 million in 2010. The Coburg boy who was born in 1955 and started out in car dealerships is now
living in Herefordshire, England.
Kerry Stokes: well known for his media interests with Seven Network and, more recently, WA News. Biggest earner over the years has been the Caterpillar franchise in WA, which has now extended to NSW and Northern China. The 2010
BRW claimed $2.29 billion.
The Australian valued him at $5.384 billion in 2019.
The AFR said $5.69 billion in 2019.
Josh Stollman: made his first fortune out of IT in Germany and
then arrived in Australia in 2004 and was the founding CEO of payments disruptor Tyro. Now lives in Sydney and retains a 4% stake worth about $70 million in September 2020.
Casey Stoner: worth more than $20 million after a career riding motorbikes.
Ric Stowe: the Monaco-based owner of Griffin Coal, which was one of only two coal producers on the west coast. In 2009 the BRW claimed $875 million, but in 2010 he fell off a cliff when his company went into in liquidation.
Dino Strano: founded the successful Melbourne-based civil contractor Winslow in 1985.
Terry Streeter: the former Western Areas chairman made a fortune on a 1998 nickel tenement deal with his old colleagues but in July 2009 the WA Supreme Court ordered he pay $66 million in compensation suggesting all was not right with the deal and his wealth may be in decline. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $152 million.
Stilo brothers: successful
real estate agents in the Keilor area in Melbourne who have also been astute property and share market investors over many years.
Charles and Wes Stringer: together owned 14m shares in
Probiotic when the pharmaceutical manufacturer
agreed to a takeover in early 2024 by Indonesian company PT Pyridam Farma Tbk which values the business at around $260 million or $3 a share. They've done well generating more than $40 million in wealth in a tough industry.
Horst Struve: appeared on the
Silex Systems register with a handy 2.8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $13 in June 2007 when his stake was worth more than $30 million, but in early 2019 it was wallowing at 18c.
Grant Stuart: with the assistance of Russ Becker, R.A. Becker & Co the importers of B and C grade movies, documentaries and the
Bold and the Beautiful, purchased Broadcast Rentals from the liquidators of ISIS - a failed dot com venture. Grant is one of the biggest players in the lucrative broadcast equipment hire business, and he resides in rural Victoria in Hepburn Springs, in a house that he paid $6 million for.
Manny Stul: CEO of
Moose toys,
The AFR valued him at $1.6 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.01 billion in 2019.
Sukkar family: publicans who
reportedly bought Orange's historic Canobolas Hotel for $25 million from the Laundy family in 2021.
Brendan Sullivan: successful property investor based in Melbourne who came into the public eye when his wife, Tessa Sullivan, was sexually harassed by former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.
Sullivan family: wealthy farmers who sold their 1426 hectare Boggabilla property Mullala to listed Prime Ag for $15.1 million in 2008.
Alex Sundich: former director of
Eastern Star Gas who owned about 10m shares when Santos launched a 90c takeover bid.
Tony Sunman: a wealthy Sydney landlord who rejected a $9m offer to sell the Queen Street building which houses the most famous butcher in swanky Woollahra, according to
this AFR story in September 2024.
Sutton family: opening his first car dealership after WWII, Sir Frederick Sutton began building towards owning the largest network of Holden dealerships in Australia. Sir Frederick passed away in 2004 and his daughter Laurie Sutton inherited. The
BRW claimed $328 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $802 million in 2019.
Gillian Swaby: former company secretary of Paladin Energy had a share wealth of $60 million before the Lift Capital administrators controversially sold her up. Paladin shares later crashed so this might have been a good thing, although they came bouncing back after COVID.
Sam Swanell: the CEO and co-founder of ASX-listed Pointsbet whose 3.2 million shares were worth about $40 million in September 2020 before tumbling to less than $10 million. He cut his teeth running Tote Tasmania and Tomwaterhouse.com.
Jonathan Sweeney: former managing director of Trust Company Limited who owned 594,344 shares when the stock peaked at almost $15 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $20 million.
Swick family: Kent and Rosanne Swick ran the Perth-based
Swick Mining Services and owned 26m shares worth around $50m when the stock peaked at almost $2.20 in November 2007.
John Symond: in 1992, Symond introduced himself to mortgage broking. Sensing Australians were fed up with big banks' disdain for service, he pounced on the opportunity and established Aussie Home Loans. The
BRW claimed $454 million although he's taken a hit through the credit crunch and partially sold out to the Commonwealth Bank. During the post-GFC downturn he purchased Wizard Home Loans for just $26 million then sold it to GE for $400 million in 2004.
The Australian valued at $691 million in 2019.
John Szangolies: the hospitality entrepreneur
reportedly set a then record price for a Palm Beach beachfront in 2021 when he paid $27 million for the double-fronted holding of Virginia Nelson, widow of the wholesale tobacco tycoon, Arthur Nelson.
Mazen Tabet: hotelier who owns The Royce hotel in Melbourne and recently spent $30.5m buying the recently renovated Lyall Hotel in South Yarra and in 2021
acquired St Kilda's popular Village Belle Hotel in inner Melbourne for $31 million .
Collis and Cyan Ta'eed: The Australian valued the husband and wife team at $600 million in 2019 but then cut this to $454 million in 2021, with each getting their own entry. They co-founded Melbourne-based digital design business Envato in their Bondi garage in 2006 and it now generates around $20 million a year in operating profit on revenues of more than $200 million.
Anton Tagliaferro:
arriving from Malta in 1984 he had stints at Perpetual and Prudential before moving on to set up his own business, Investors Mutual. The
BRW claimed $240 million in 2010.
Talbot family: the late mining entrepreneur Ken Talbot died in a 2010 air crash when visiting an African mine. His family inherited a wide range of stakes in a variety of mining companies which in total has left them with more than $1 billion.
Basil Tambanis: former managing director of Melbourne-based gold explorer, Goldminex Resources, he owned about 8.8m shares when the stock peaked at almost $1.80 in August 2008.
Tan family: have owned and run
the successful Slades soft drink business in the Melbourne suburb or Thomastown
since 2001.
David Tang: a private property investor who in 2009 paid $44 million to buy the office tower at 82 Northbourne Avenue in Canberra.
Andrew Taplin: managing director of Adelaide-based Taplin Group which added to their commercial property interests by purchasing the Mawson Lakes town centre for a reported $26 million.
Sam Tarascio: owner of Salta Constructions which developed the old Mercy Hospital site in East Melbourne and also owns the Preston market, which he is threatening to close. The
BRW claims $621 million.
The AFR valued him at $1.72 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.38 billion in 2019
Roy Tashi: sold his Melbourne-based glass business to Pilkington for a tidy sum in the 1990s and then was occasionally
mentioned in The AFR as a "Melbourne property investor".
Ben Tapp and family: after many years bull catching and contract mustering, Ben and his family are settled on Mountain Valley station. The station covers more than 1500sq km on the edge of Arnhemland and they own more than 11,000 head of Brahman cattle. Sold another smaller station for more than $50 million.
Steve Targett: was a main board director of Lloyds TSB in London responsible for wholesale and international banking, but then returned to ANZ in 2004 but has since moved on after missing out on the top job, sparking a $57 million lawsuit against the bank.
Tony Tartak and family: founder of waste management company
Bingo Industries. Was valued at $421 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $493 million in 2019.
Ron Tatarka Estate: founder of the successful Scott Winton insurance broking business who passed away in 2018 at the age of 58.
This obituary noted that he was a generous philanthropist.
Greg Tate: the managing director of listed
Fleetword Corp, which provides temporary accommodation for the likes of mining companies. Owned about 5.4m shares when the stock peaked at almost $11 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $55 million.
Michael Tate: CEO and key driver of Storage King which was
bought by listed property group Abacus in 2020.
Taubman family: made their fortune in paint and have hung onto some of it. One of the descendants
reportedly sold a Kirribilli property for around $12 million in late 2022.
Nick Burton-Taylor: former chair of one of Australia's oldest enterprises the
Australian Agricultural Company, his family still owned around 3% or 7.45m shares despite being ousted by the aggressive former 43% shareholder Futuris, which now trades as Elders and subsequently sold down. The stock peaked at almost $3.60 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $21 million, and recovered to around $1.33. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $110 million.
Alan Taylor: the executive chair of radiopharmaceutical company Clarity Pharmaceuticals saw the value of his shareholding push through $100m in October 2024.
Phillip Taylor: founder of catalogue publisher Franklin Web who runs the Taylor family investment office, Pressroom Partners. In early 2021 was offering his full floor penthouse at 99 Spring St for
more than $6 million.
Brian Taylor: of Perth based
Plan B Group Holdings, who owned about 18m shares worth $25m when the stock peaked at almost $1.70 in August 2007 before later tumbling.
Jesse Taylor: the Perth-based former chairman of Midwest Corp collected about $20 million selling to the Chinese Government.
Bruce Teele: former long-serving boss at blue-blood stockbroking firm JB Were who still chairs some of their associated listed investment companies such as Amcil and owns shares in them worth more than $30 million.
David Teoh: founder of TPG Telecom.
The Australian valued him at $2.531 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued him at $2.03 billion.
Angela Teplitski: the ex wife of
colourful Sydney property developer Michael Teplitski who in 2018
reportedly sold her Vaucluse mansion for $21 million.
John Terpu: managing director of Conquest Mining who owned more than 19m shares worth $15m when the stock peaked at almost 90c in May 2007 before falling away.
Julian Tertini: the founder of Freedom Furniture and managing director of
Fantastic Furniture who owned a 40% stake. The stock peaked at almost $4.60 in November 2007 when he was worth more than $160 million. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $135 million.
Ian Testrow: the long term CEO of mining contractor Emeco Holdings who owned 15m performance rights at one point. The stock has
dived from a high of more than $3 in 2018 to less than $1 in 2023 and he retains about 12m shares.
Teys family: run Australia's second largest beef processor, Teys Bros, which mainly operates out of Queensland.
Joel Thickins: received a lot of press when TPG was making bids for Fairfax but is now something of a private equity veteran after 6 years running TPG's Asian operation out of Melbourne and spending 8 years at CHAMP before that. Made
The AFR's top 25 dealmakers list in 2022.
Thomas family: the SA family are the founders of T&R Pastoral, Australia's third-largest meat processor. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $180 million.
The AFR valued Chris Thomas at $1.39 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued Chris at $1.1 billion in 2019
Gavin Thomas: former CEO of mining company Kingsgate whose stake was worth more than $30 million in late 2010.
George Thomas: a Sydney-based publican whose pub, the Meridian Hotel, regularly is at or near the top of turnover rankings for pokies in NSW. Andrew Thomas was spruiking the sale of the family's Oaks Hotel on Military Rd with a
reported asking price of $175 million in late 2022.
Peter and Rowina Thomas: reportedly sold their recently renovated Lyall Hotel in South Yarra for $30.5 million in 2022 to the Melbourne-based pokies publican Mazen Tabat.
Susan Thomas: A technology entrepreneur who build Flexiplan before selling it to MLC and then popped up in this
Director Deeds column for her big investment in RoyalCo Resources.
Barry Roberts-Thompson: the former Hutchison Communications CEO used to be worth more than $200 million before the shares tanked.
Craig Thompson: owner and managing director of Fremantle-based Seacorp shipping, and
owner of the Mount Hallowell horse stud south of Perth. Paid $700,000 in January 2010 for a mare, suggesting he's got a few dollars.
Stephen
Thompson: Peter Cooper's 2IC since the start (2002) at booming boutique
fund manager Cooper Investments. Owns equity in the business and has received
millions in fully franked dividends, salary and bonuses.
Barry Thornton: former chairman of Brisbane-based
GWA International who owned 16 million shares worth more than $60m when the stock peaked at $4.70 in April 2007. Was trading around $3.50 in early 2020.
Bob Thorpe: founder and large shareholder who owns about 11.4m shares of mining services giant
Ausenco, when the stock peaked at almost $17 in June 2008 valuing his stake at almost $200m.
The
BRW claimed $444 million in 2010.
Evan Thornley: together with wife Tracey Ellery, they began the internet search engine LookSmart and were briefly paper billionaires at the peak of the dotcom bubble. Ran Better Place Australia and then globally before the business went bust. In 2020 was working on real estate system reform in Melbourne.
Tim Throsby: a global Australian banker from Sydney who did 7 years across 2 stints at Macquarie Bank and rose via Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Lehman Bros to be JP Morgan's global head of equities before spending 2 years running the Barclays International operations out of London where he was
reportedly an old school swearer. Now running his own fund and a professional director, including sitting on the board of Las Vegas-based pokies giant Light & Wonder (the old Scientific Games) with a
bunch of other Australians.
Craig Thrupp: is
estimated to have made more than $100 million from the circa $500m worth of offshore detention contracts on PNG's Manus Island that his Paladin Group won during the last Federal Coalition government.
Nick Thyssen: migrated from Greece and was co-founder of the Patra orange juice business in the 1970s who did it all again with Original Juice in the 1990s before selling out for $35 million to Golden Circle. Later launched the Procal milk business which is now run by his daughter Eleanor.
Tieck family: largely involved in Sydney commercial property and other investments, their wealth was built by their father Norman Tieck who was a partner of the Franklins supermarket chain. The
BRW claimed $989 million in 2010.
Ben Tilley: a friend of the Packers, he owns various properties through his company Linkshore and Greenacre Property Holdings and at one point pocketed more than $40 million by selling his Point Piper mansion.
Mike Tilley: the former CEO of
Challenger Financial Services made plenty as an investment banker over the years and boasts about owning two properties in Toorak. Currently the chair of Latitude Financial.
Simon Tilley and Nick Wills: joint partners in various pubs including the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney, the Clovelly Hotel, Verandah Bar in the Sydney CBD and The Elephant Hotel in Brisbane's Fortitue Valley which they bought for more than $20 million in early 2020.
John Timbs QC: successful Sydney barrister who has accumulated multi million dollar property and share market investments.
Tobin family: have successfully run Victoria's Tobin Brothers funeral business for more than 80 years.
Paul Tolomeo: was one of three shareholders in Sydney-based Sasso Pre-cast Concrete which was sold to Brickworks for $35 million in March 2010.
Gianfranco Tomasi: founder and chairman of
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering owns about 61m shares or 51%. The stock peaked at almost $1.85 in December 2007 when he was worth more than $110 million.
Neil Tomkinson: former director of Red Hill Iron, who owned more than 3 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $7.30 in May 2008 when he was worth more than $20 million, before it fell away.
Alvin Toms: former director of
Straits Resources who owned about 30.6m shares. He sold his stake in 2007 for more than $90 million.
Steve Tomsic: the Fox Corp CFO went to Melbourne University originally and then joined Boston Consulting Group. Has worked all over the world for the Murdochs and his total salary was $US6.9m in 2019-20, $US7.47m in 2020-21 and $US6.14m in 2021-22. See
page 52 of 2022 Fox Corp proxy statement.
Jonathan and Patricia Tooth: Jonathan
retired as a director of Generation Development Group in 2021 and 3 years later Patricia Tooth remained a large shareholder with 7.26 million shares worth $16.4 million with the stock at $2.25 in June 2024.
Robert Topfer: former boss of Babcock & Brown's corporate and structured finance activities worldwide and went on to become the controlling shareholder in struggling broker Tricom. Torrance family: floated their NSW-focused under ground mining service provider Alfabs Australia in July 2024 by raising $18m at 25c, whilst retaining control with 52%, capitalising the company at $72m. See debut investor
presentation. Stock opened around the offer price.
Ian Trahar: former director of the
CO2 Group who owned 117m shares worth around $100m when the stock peaked at 93c in December 2007. Also a major investor in Avatar and the prawn company Seafarms. Profited nicely when Boart Longyear overpaid $134 million to purchase Drillcorp ahead of its 2007 float, delivering
this big capital return to Trahar.Michael Traill: made his initial pile working in Macquarie's private equity team for 15 years but then went on to start Social Ventures Australia and became a prominent player in the philanthropic space, including as chair of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
Roy Travers: the former tax lawyer for the likes of Alan Bond, Abe Saffron and Abe Goldberg, NSW chess champion and bigwig at Accor Asia-Pacific, who our reliable snout estimates is worth more than $150 million. Graduated in law from UNSW in 1976 and finally
retired in 2015. The fortune mainly came his development partnership with David Baffsky in the hotel space.
Joseph Treacy: former executive director of Perth based Kagara Zinc , who owns about 3m shares or 1.5%. The stock peaked at almost $7.60 in September 2006 when he was worth more than $20 million, but then took a tumble.
Ken Tregonning: former managing director of AED Oil, who owned about 27m shares worth $270m when the stock peaked at almost $11.50 in October 2007 before going south and later going broke.Julie Trethowan: Kerry Packer's former lover operated the Hyde Park gym in the basement of ACP's old Park Street headquarters. She
reportedly sold her $22.5m Toft Monks, Elizabeth Bay apartment to Bob and Margaret Rose and bought into One Barangaroo Crown Residences for $24 million. Also has a property at Whale Beach.
Peter Trew: Sydney property developer who in 2011 placed his North Curl Curl beachfront mansion on the market expecting $10 million.
Alan Tribe:
Owner of IT firm
Cebas and franchisee for
furniture retailer IKEA. Was valued at $361 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $418 million in 2019. Wrote a cheque for $24.6m to back a capital raising for PYC Therapeutics in March 2024.
John
and Michael Tricarico: founded the successful Melbourne-based business Silvan
(“The Spraying Specialists”) in
1962 and still own the large operation which specialises in manufacturing and
selling farm equipment, sprinkler systems, wheelbarrows and the like across
Australia and New Zealand.
Harry Triguboff: billionaire Sydney apartment builder through his controversial Meriton group. The 2010
BRW claims $4.20 billion. Forbes valued at $US3bn in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $12.31 billion in 2019.
Nic Trimboli: director and founding shareholder of Fremantle-based
Littleworld Beverages, he owns about 4.6m shares. The stock bottomed at $1.15 in December 2008 and recovered to around $2.09.
Matt Tripp: the son of Bob Hawke's former bookmaker Alan Tripp who pocketed an estimated $40 million in late 2010 when Irish firm Paddy Power paid $132.6 million for the 39% of Sportsbet it didn't already own. Made another fortune selling out of Betseasy to The Stars Group in 2020 and is now going against as a major shareholder in the News Corp-backed BETR Group.
Simon Tripp: investment banker who
reportedly set a Duffys Forest suburb record in Sydney when he and his wife Brenda sold their 2-hectare, six-paddock semi rural estate for $14.5 million in September 2023.
Karl and Luke Trouchet: these Brisbane-based brothers purchased their parents' humble campervan business, Apollo Motorhome Holidays, and have turned it into a highly successful venture pushing their wealth above $60 million.
Graham Tuckwell: Canberra born Chairman and CEO of ETF Securities Limited. Was valued at $575 million by
The AFR in 2019.
The Australian valued at $683 million in 2019.
Aidan & David Tudehope:
in the telecommunications business through
Macquarie Telecom. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Danielle Tudehope: the
sister of Macquarie Telecommunications founder David Tudehope pops up on the Pilbara Metals top 20 with 3.6m shares which were worth more than $10m in early 2024.
Tuder family: Graham Tuder founded mining software company Micromine in the 1980s and it was
partially bought in 2018 by Sydney-based private equity firm Potentia and then reportedly on-sold to US firm Aspen Technology for $900 million in 2023, although there were
doubts about the deal settling.
Stephen Tull: co-founder of Perth-based IT out-sourcing company
ASG Group who no longer works for the firm but still owns about 12.2m shares or 10% of the company. The stock peaked at almost $1.90 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $20 million, bottomed at 40c in December 2008 and recovered to around $1.29.
Gavin and Sylvia Tulloch: directors of
Dyesol with a joint holding of around 21.3m shares. The stock was at $2.10 in July 2007 when they were worth more than $40 million.
Malcolm Turnbull: Australia's richest politician when serving as PM, he built his wealth through share entitlements as the head of the Australian arm of the US investment bank Goldman Sachs and the sale of OzEmail in 1999.
Graham Turner: the founder and major shareholder who owns about 15.7m shares of booming discount travel agency
Flight Centre. The
BRW claimed $380 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $872 million in 2019
David Tweed: renowned for offering no-value deals to shareholders, although he has broken no law, he has been quoted as saying " I didn't do morals at school". An appalling scavenger worth more than $20 million who owned property near the Queen Victoria Market.
Max Twigg: landfill entrepreneur who sold out to Terry Peabody's
Transpacific Industries and owned about 2.8m shares. The stock peaked at almost $14.50 in July 2007 when this stake was worth more than $30 million. Overall wealth tops $100 million as he concentrates on racing Porsches in retirement. Sold The Beach hotel in Byron Bay for $70 million in 2018.
Tyrrell family: into their fourth generation owning and running the popular
Tyrrell's Wines in the Hunter Valley since it all began in 1858. Bruce Tyrrell
told The OZ in early 2023 that Elton John's promoters had ordered up to 400 cases of their sparkling for his recent tour.
Daniel Tzvetkoff: this Queensland-born millionaire made his fortune from an on-line payment system Instabill. Now business interests are divided between IT and property sub-division and at one point shelled out $28 million for a partially built mansion on the Gold Coast.
Richard Uechtritz: the former CEO of booming retailer
JB Hi-Fi who owned about 3m shares or 2.94% of the company at the peak. When he retired in as CEO in 2010 he
owned 1m shares and 622k options but largely sold them after retiring and only held 402k options when he
returned to the board in April 2011. Left plenty on the table but still worth more than $20 million. Retired to Byron Bay where he helped get a
$12m commercial laundry up.
John Uhrig: the former chairman of CRA and Westpac recently also retired from the board of Adelaide-based communications technology company
Codan Ltd after 20 years and owned about 12.1m shares at the time. The stock peaked at almost $1.60 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $40 million, bottomed at 46c in December 2008 before recovering to more than $15 in October 2024 when he was mentioned in
this Rich List story.Patrick Upfold: Macquarie Group Chief Risk officer and former CFO. Total 2018-19 pay of $7 million and also made many millions on his shareholding.
Robert Upfold: first came to prominence in 2000 with
a Tasmanian property play when working as a tax partner at Blakes in Sydney, then featured in this
2011 ATO battle as Macquarie's in-house tax lawyers and was one of Macquarie's 3 nominees on the board of Boart Longyear when it was floated for $2.35 billion shortly before the 2007 GFC, delivering a $1 billion-plus profit for the Millionaires Factory.
John Upham: career publican who grew up near Warrnambool, made plenty when pokies were legalised in Victoria in 1991 and in 2009 came out of retirement to buy the Lorne Hotel for almost $20 million. He then sold it to Justin Hemmes' Merivale group for $38m in 2021.
Keith Urban:
singer and songwriter who was born in New Zealand and now lives in Australia with his wife, Nicole Kidman, has a string of recording successes earning him north of $30 million.
Phil Usher: started Brisbane-based
Phil Usher Constructions in 1987 and made
The Courier Mail's top 30 Queensland Rich List in December 2022. Whilst the core operation is volume building Queensland residences, News Corp reckons "the business has almost $500 million in assets on its balance sheet, including a substantial pastoral business encompassing about 1.2 million hectares of cattle properties across five Queensland stations".
Robert Vagnoni: former executive director of
Murchison Metals owned about 6.8m shares worth more than $25m when the stock peaked at almost $6 in July 2007 before falling away.
Jim Vais: founded the Capital Smart car repair business in 2007 and then sold it Suncorp in 2010 which later sold it to AMA Group for $420 million before COVID pole-axed the business. In March 2024,
The AFR reported that he was negotiating to buy it back.
Valmorbida family: after migrating to Melbourne in the 1950s, four brothers, Saverio, Mariano, Carlo and Terry, established Conga foods, Valcorp Fine Foods and the Casama Group. Food wholesaling was coupled with ownership of Italian newspapers in Melbourne and Sydney and a national Italian radio network. The
BRW claimed $501 million in 2010.
Peter Vanderspuy: a successful geologist who floated Delta Gold in 1993, according to this
1991 piece in The AFR. Comfortably retired in a multi-million dollar Sydney property managing a solid share portfolio
Nick Van de Merwe: a former Pacific Brands marketing guru who bought the Golden Fleet surfwear label in 1999. Listed his Armadale mansion in Melbourne's leafy suburbs to sell for $5.5 million in mid-2010.
John Van Lieshout: ten years after migrating to Brisbane from his native Holland, the Dutch businessman began the furniture chain Super A-Mart in 1970. Slowly building the business over the next 40 years into a large retail chain in Queensland and much of northern NSW. Forbes valued at $US840m in March 2010. The 2010
BRW claims $1.39 billion.
The AFR valued him at $2.51 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $1.62 billion in 2019
Mark Vartuli: co-founder of
recently floated engineering business Tasmea who owns 18% after the IPO, giving him a net worth exceeding $50m.
Rod Vawdrey: CEO of newly floated Nuix who
owns 1.58 million shares worth $12.6 million based on the $8.01 closing price on day one before it later tanked amidst a slew of scandals.
David Veal: the former head of aviation at Allco Finance Group owned 11.35 million shares that peaked in value at $146.2m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless. Went on to form boutique firm KV Aviation and remains CEO to this day, overseeing a global team in the aviation leasing space.
Robert Velletri: long time managing director of the listed
Monadelphous Group, which soared to a record $25 in 2013.
Mario Verrocchi: Co-owners of Chemist Warehouse. Say no more.
The Australian valued at $1.47 billion in 2019.
Steve Versteegen: co-founder and CEO of Perth-based contract mining company Pit N Portal which was sold to Emeco Holdings for $72 million in 2020. He was partly paid in equity and will stay with the business.
Will Vicars: Sydney fund manager who owns a big stake in the Caledonia business.
The Australian valued at $485 million in 2019.
Mark Viduka:
soccer player who did many years earning top dollar in the English Premier League.
Charlotte and Ervin Vidor: realising a need for travellers, they have made their wealth through the Medina chain of serviced apartments. The
BRW claimed $500 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $1.25 billion in 2019.
Charles Viertel estate: according to this
Equity Trustees profile, Charles was a "a true-blue, rags-to-riches success story. Born in Brisbane in 1902, the eighth of eleven children, he would not own his first pair of shoes until he was 15". He died a widower without children at the age of 90 in 1992 when
BRW valued him at $95 million thanks to a lifetime of canny real estate and share market investing. Upon his death he bequeathed more than $60 million to the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, which provides medical research grants and today has a corpus of about $165 million.
Arnold Vitocco: Property developer.
The Australian valued at $750 million in 2019.
Steve Vizard: a canny wheeler dealer who made his first fortune selling Artist Services to Granada but then enjoyed another windfall through the sale of his Toorak mansion for a record $17 million. Suffered reputationally when pleaded guilty to civil insider trading charges related to his time on the Telstra board.
Vincenzo Volpi: successful North Queensland farmer who has built up a solid share portfolio.
Ben Voltz: the co-founder of e-commerce marketing technology company Rokt
paid $50m for a Point Piper waterfront mansion in 2024, prompting the sale of his
$7m Toorak home.Darrell Wade: co-founder of Melbourne-based Intrepid Travel which has sales of more than $150 million a year.
Peter Wade: former executive chairman of
Mineral Resources who owned about 6m shares at the peak. Retired from the board in 2022 with
an exit holding of 350,492 shares which were worth $27.4 million at year end with the stock at $78. See impressive CV on page 78 of the
2021-22 annual report. Wagner family: they are based in Toowoomba, Queensland, and control the recently floated construction materials supply business, Wagners. The family also owns a substantial portfolio of commercial and pastoral property holdings. Also made a few million suing toxic shock jock Alan Jones. The
BRW claimed $350 million in 2010.
Alex Waislitz: legendary stock picker and formerly married into the Pratt family.
The AFR valued him at $1.56 billion in
2019.
The Australian valued at $1.46 billion in 2019.
Morry Waked: dubbed by The AFR as "the best Australian investor you've never heard of" after Magellan agreed to pay $138.5 million to buy a 29.5 per cent stake in Vinva Investment Management, an outfit he founded in 2010 which has grown to have $22 billion under management across a range of systematic equity strategies. See
ASX announcement on the deal.
Nick Wakim: made his pile out Phoenix Lithium and then plunged into 3 trophy Melbourne homes spending a total of $143 million, according to this February 2024
piece in The AFR.
Tony Wales: throughout the 1990s, he was
Computershare's chief financial officer which helped make the company a global success and boosted the value of his large stake in the company. He owned 32m shares worth more than $400m at the peak. The
BRW claimed $276 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $475 million in 2019.
Doug Walker: Perth-based entrepreneur and founder of remote power station operator Zenith Energy whose business was privatised by private equity outfit PEP in March 2020 in a $250m deal which
reportedly saw Walker retain his 15% stake and
remain executive chairman.
Lang Walker estate: he joined his father's small earth moving and quarry business at Sandy Point, south-west Sydney, in the late 1960s. Selling the quarrying business, he gradually refocused the family business to property development, forming his private company, the Walker Corporation. Owning substantial residential and commercial properties in Sydney and Queensland, he first sold the Walker Corporation to Australand in early 2000 but then just kept on developing in a private capacity before largely selling out to Mirvac in 2007. The 2010
BRW claims $1.97 billion. Forbes valued at $US880m in March 2010.
The Australian valued him at $3.581 billion in 2019. He passed away in January 2024.
Kent Walker: Sydney publican who in 2024 paid around $35m for the Captain Cook hotel in Botany, adding to his other 10 NSW venues. Has also splashed out on luxury Sydney homes as
this AFR piece details.Ron Walker's family co-founder of Hudson Conway and Crown Resorts, former chairman of
Fairfax Media and a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Died in 2017. Biggest pay day was Melbourne's Crown Casino. The
BRW claimed $427 million in 2010.
Ian Wall estate: Ian was co-founder of the Adelaide-based communications technology company
Codan Ltd who owned 35m shares at the peak. First joined the board in 1959. His widow Pamela Wall was mentioned in this October 2024
Rich Lister article as now owning shares worth $550m with the stock soaring in recent months.
Jim Wall: executive chairman of
CBH, he is not one to take a backward step when faced with a challenge. When heading junior zinc company Savage Resources, he took on resources giant WMC over the massive Ernest Henry deposit.
Rowan Wall: his Eclipse Property Group sold an office building in Sydney's Ultimo for $31.4 million in 2008.
Ian Waller: the co-founder and former CEO of insurance comparison website Iselect had a stake estimated at $30-$50 million after a capital raising in early 2011 valued the whole business at about $300 million. Business subsequently struggled.
Chris Wallin: this Brisbane-based geologist by trade, has made his wealth from mining royalties. He discovered the Copabella mine that was the cornerstone asset for Macarthur Coal. In 2009 he sold his stake in Byerwen Coal to Japan's JFE Steel for a reported $624 million. The 2010
BRW claimed $2.59 billion.
The Australian valued him at $2.181 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued him at $1.88 billion.
Danny Wallis: CEO of IT consulting company
DWS who owned 54m shares at the peak. The stock peaked at almost $3.40 in January 2008 when he was worth more than $150 million.
Wallis family: live in Brighton and have amassed a solid portfolio of shareholdings.
George and Paul Wallner: have been away from the Australian business scene since 1990. In 1982 they founded Hypercom which manufactured point-of-sale products for banks and retailers. They moved the headquarters to Arizona in the US, and have now sold the majority of their stake in the company.
Tony Walls: Owns 66% of listed
software firm Objective which he started in Port Kembla in 1987 and is now
worth more than $1 billion. Has also pumped millions into car racing.
The AFR
valued at $783 million on debut in 2020.
David Walsh: known as “every casino owner's nightmare”, this eclectic Tasmanian has amassed a fortune on the blackjack tables using his mathematical probability skills. Additionally, he also owns an eclectic art collection of over 300 contemporary works worth more than $100 million. Owns MONA in Hobart too and hates the pokies so he's a favourite of ours.
Sam Walsh: Rio Tinto's former Perth-based iron-ore boss saw his pay rocket to a staggering $7.7 million in 2007 alone as profits soared.
Andrew Walsh: the long standing CEO of IRESS who founded one of its predecessor companies and has held shares worth more than $10 million over the years, on top a healthy salary.
John Walstab: former
director of Melbourne-based renewable energy product manufacturer
Quantum Energy, who owned 77m shares. The stock peaked at 15c in December 2006. Later shifted into healthcare and also got
caught up with the Manly Sea Eagles.Julian Walter: former home building partner of the late West Australian billionaire
Len Buckeridge. Sold a WA farm for
$100m in early 2023.
James Wan: creator and director of the
Saw series of films which have taken over $400 million at the box office.
Ron Wanless: founder of Wanless Enviro Services specialising in waste recovery and environmental services, the former scrap metal dealer, also has interests in speedcar driving, boxing and polo. He owns an expansive piece of land used solely for his Beaudesert Polo facility which hosted the 2008 Motorline BMW Polo tournament. See this
Speedway hall of fame entry.
Martin Ward: auto giant Eagers Automotive has boomed since COVID struck and its CEO owns 2.5 million shares which are now
worth more than $30 million.
Greg Ward: long time Macquarie Group finance director who was paid tens of millions and made more again on his shares.
Ward family: the
late Robert Ward was a legend of the film and cinema industry and owned The Dendy in Bayside Melbourne which finished up being successfully developed in joint venture with the Knowles family.
Brian Singer and Doug Warbrick: with beginnings in a garage on the Victorian surf coast town of Jan Juc, these two went from building surfboards, to building the Rip Curl empire. The
BRW claimed $300 million in 2010. Business was sold to Kathmandu for more than $300m in 2019.
Gemma Ward: a catwalk model who commanded up to $200,000 a show and was making $4 million a year at the peak. Also made a successful transition into Hollywood, starring in the horror film
The Strangers and other movies.
David Warren: a co-founder of Altium in Hobart back in 1985 who then
spent 27 years on the board before retiring in February 2018. Exited
with 456,184 shares but not known how many of these were retained when the $68.50 a share offer came out of Japan.
Ken Warriner: Kerry Packer's long time pastoral manager retained a 10% stake when the giant cattle business was sold for $425 million to UK private equity firm Terra Firma in March 2009.
Len Warson: A Melbourne-based property developer who sold his grand Prahran mansion for $16m in 2020,
according to The AFR.
David Waterhouse: the estranged member of the famous racing clan
reportedly sold his iconic Rose Bay harbourside home Villa Biscaya for about $28 million in 2023 after buying it for $10.25m in 2020. Made his money as an arts dealer and through options trading.
Helen Watkins: pops up on the Elders share register as one of the biggest retail shareholders which may have a farming connection back to the Futuris days, although we're not sure.
Alison Watkins: the CEO of Coca Cola Amatil picked up a payout worth
close to $20 million when the business was taken over by its European cousin in April 2021, although the Feds will pick up a fair whack of tax from this.
Malcolm Watkins: an executive director of Australian Finance Group (AFG) who sold 6m shares for $15.5 million in late 2019, according to
this Eureka Report Director Deeds column. Fast forward to 2023 and remained the largest shareholder with a 6.2% stake worth about $25 million.
David Watson: former executive chairman of Perth-based
CTI Logistics, who owned 10.4m shares going into the GFC. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in December 2006 when he was worth more than $20 million, but was back at 75c in early 2020. Retired as a non-executive director in 2006.
Naomi Watts:
another Australian success story in Hollywood.
Bill Wavish: the former Woolworths finance director made a small fortune from 1.2 million options issued in 1999 at an exercise price of just $5.11. Also made more than $10 million knocking Myer into shape for private equity giant TPG.
Karrie Webb:
the best female golfer Australia has ever produced who has cashed in big time on the professional tour.
Phillip Webb: he established Phillip Webb Real Estate in 1972 and grew it to recognised as one of the industry leaders throughout the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. After a stellar career, he finally
sold to local Manningham rival Barry Plant in 2022 and retired.
Graeme Webb's family: Graeme passed away in early 2021. He had been a long term director of PPK who owned 9.7 million shares. The stock hit $20 after it was added to the ASX300 in September 2021.
William (Bill) Webb: former vice chairman and chief operating officer of Philip Morris where he worked for 35 years, including a stint in charge of the huge international division from 1993 to 1997. Retired to Portsea.
Mark Webber: former Australian F1 racing driver who was earning around $8m a year at the peak.
David Wee: founder and CEO of Carepoint Industrial Health Services and of Oceanside Securities, WA, he has interests in Abuzz Technologies, Global Mall Media and Property & Hospitals. Medibank reportedly paid $8 million to buy David Wee's occupational health business Carepoint which was settled in August 2010.
Paul Weightman: long time boss of Queensland-based property investment company
Cromwell Corp whose 12m shares have added nicely to his hefty salary.
Amiram and
Helen Weinstock: Sydney property investors and furniture retailers who in
2020
paid $7.5 million for a
Bellevue Hill property as an investment whilst retaining their Vaucluse
waterfront mansion.
Sam Weiss: a professional director who has chaired booming listed company Altium for many years and owns shares worth more than $50 million.
Gary Weiss: a long-time right hand man to Sir Ron Brierley at corporate raider
GPG who is now one of Australia's busiest professional directors.
John Wellam: owner of South Geelong firm Wellam Constructions made his cash in the earth moving business and was
rejected when offered $18 million to buy the Geelong Golf Club site in 2010
.
Ian Wells: What Twiggy didn't say in this
send off announcement on January 9 2023 is that his outgoing Fortescue CFO Ian Wells was paid $3m in 2021-22 and owns 774,961 shares worth around $17 million in early 2023. Who needs to put up with Twiggy with that much equity? Time to smell the roses. He's done super well.
Jeromy Wells: floated his cloud communications systems company Whispir in 2019 and his 15% stake was worth more than $30 million in May 2020.
Harvey Went: a former founder of Mincom cashed in his shares pocketing $26.3 million before tax when the mining IT firm was sold to a US buyout firm.
Neil Werrett: veteran property fund manager who did 20 years at AMP, then founded Galileo Funds Management in 2006 where he remains CEO. Serves on the board of the VRC, which
points out he was an owner of Black Caviar.
Nathan Werdiger and family: property has driven the riches through his investment company, Juilliard Corporation. The
BRW claims $541 million.
The
AFR valued the Werdiger family at $1.34 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued at $874 million in 2019
Leanne Wesche: founder and managing director of Fremantle-based Pacco Group. Established in 2004, it is now one of Australia's leading fruit and vegetable packing houses.
Chris West: the former co-head of corporate finance at Allco Finance Group owned 10.43 million that peaked in value at $135.5m when the stock cracked $13 in early 2007. Allco collapsed in late 2008 so shares are worthless.
Christopher Westphal: co-founder and CEO of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, he teamed up with David Sinclair and developed the business which was then sold to global giant GlaxoSmithKline in 2007 for a reported $1.1 billion.
Chris Weyers: paid $23.5m in 2021 for Horizon, a mega-mansion on King St in Flinders. He hails from England and is now an author and corporate investor. See
author profile.Leigh Whannell: integral to the hugely successful
Saw movies. Leigh began on
Neighbours and has risen quickly up the Hollywood ranks.
Vernon Whatley: founder of City Motors Holdings in 1952, he has grown the company into the listed
Automotive Holdings Group of which he owned a 26% stake or around 16m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.50 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million. In 2010 the
BRW claimed $182 million.
Alex Wheeler: a large grain farmer from Coonamble in NSW who held a solid stake in AWB shares before the business was taken over.
John and Glen Wheeler: John
was the managing director of stockbroker Austock which later morphed into ASX-listed Generation Development Group, which has swimmer Grant Hackett as CEO. The brothers owned more than 6m shares worth about $22m in November 2024.
Tony and Maureen Wheeler: founders of Melbourne-based Lonely Planet, which has grown to be the world's largest independent travel publishing company, until the partial sale to the BBC in 2008. Later went on to start The Wheeler Centre.
Whelan family: long time Sydney publicans who decided to cash in by
selling the Strathfield Hotel in 2022 after more than 100 years of family ownership. Sam Arnaut's Iris Capital
reportedly paid about $80 million.
Whitbread family: started their Melbourne-based insurance broking business in 1978 and were into the second generation of management when they decided to
sell to Steadfast for $95 million in 2017.
Richard White: The Australian valued the Wisetech founder and controlling at $3.302 billion in 2019.
Peter and Lyndy White: own more than $20 million worth of shares in listed investment company AFIC.
White family: the owner of the Ray White franchise model, who skims the top in franchise fees from every Ray White sale and also made plenty through
REA Group, which runs wwwrealestate.com.au.
Terry and Rhonda White: as former President of the Pharmacy Guild, Terry, along with his wife Rhonda, founded the Terry White chemist franchise. They appointed their first franchisee in 1994 and now have over 100 stores from Cairns to Perth with a turnover exceeding $500 million.
Ronald White: lives in Brighton and has built up a large share portfolio.
Whiteley family: own the
successful Dandenong-based company Corex Plastics which in 2012 was
inducted
into the Victorian Manufacturing hall of fame.
Paul Whiteman: after obtaining a garbage dump for next to nothing, he turned the methane gas into electricity and sold it back into the grid, thus forming, alongside Walter Pahor,
Energy Developments Ltd.
Noel Whittaker and Cheryl Macnaught: they established Whittaker Macnaught Financial Planning which they sold to a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Scotland, St Andrew's Australia, for a rumoured figure that was north of $30 million. Noel still writes personal finance columns.
Adrian Whittingham: an executive director of listed fund manager Pinnacle Asset Management whose 3.1m shares were worth close to $50m in August 2021.
Kevin Whyte: founder and managing director of The Token Group which is a personal management firm and live touring business working with the finest comedians in Australia. Artists on the books over the years have included Dave Hughes and Rove McManus.
Robert Whyte: every bit a renaissance man who is fluent in several languages. His investment company Audant has made plenty out of property and banks stocks over the years. The
BRW claimed $340 million in 2010.
The Australian valued at $595 million in 2019.
John Wicking: survived a period as a POW in Germany and then, along with wife Janet, ran a successful property near Euroa.
Among his many professional achievements, John was a Director of Bowater Scott and Norwich Union Insurance, Chairman of Western Pacific Investments, Webster, Cheetham and Kiwi International. He died in 2002 leaving Equity Trustees to
manage his estate which distributes about $4m a year. See
this video about the John and Janet Wicking Trust.
David Wieland: co-founder of the Solo chain of petrol stations in the 1970s, he has also established Liberty Oil which supplies almost 10% of Australia's fuel needs. He is now a co-owner of the Direct Factory Outlet chain and is involved in other property developments. The
BRW claimed $610 million in 2010 although DFO business subsequently ran into trouble.
Richard Wiesel: paid $15 million for a Woollahra mansion in 2022 after a career in marketing roles with the likes of Universal and Paramount. See
profile accompanying a recent photo exhibition.
Michael Wiggins and Joanna Cassar: Sydney based hoteliers. In 2015, bought Oxford Hotel in Sydney for $34 million and later sold it in 2019 for $47.1 million.
Shemara Wikramanayake: CEO of Macquarie Group who has never sold a share and was worth more than $300 million by late 2023.
Mike Wilkins: former Promina and IAG CEO who did particularly well when Suncorp bought Promina. Later chaired boards such as Medicare Private, QBE and AMP.
Michael Wilkinson: Melbourne publisher who also owns a tidy property portfolio.
Shane Wilkinson:
started as a tradie, then moved into what he found to be a more efficient job of buying houses and turning them into apartments. He now owns property development company Pace Development Group and operates mainly in Melbourne. Made
BRW Young Rich List.
Anthony Willemsen: boss of Canberra-based property developer Willemsen Group. In operation for the past 40 years, he has grown the portfolio to include a large number of Canberra office and hotel buildings.
Aidan Williams: listed AV networking business Audinate was on a tear and its CEO and co-founder had a $26 million holding when he sold 2.6% of his stake at $13.55 a pop in August 2023, as Rear Window
reported at the time.
Ashley Williams: Melbourne-based property developer has survived the downturn in the commercial property, building a diverse portfolio pushing his wealth north of $120 million. He co-owned, with the late Ron Walker, Evolve Development.
David Williams: Melbourne-based investment banker who enjoyed a tidy pay day from putting together the Tasmanian salmon giant
Tassal. Also made plenty as chair of Polynovo and some other medical plays.
Keith Williams: the now retired founder of Seaworld on the Gold Coast and Hamilton Island Resort in the Whitsundays built his personal wealth from nothing to
more than $150 million.
Lloyd Williams: his company, Hudson Conway, is best known as the property development company that developed and managed Melbourne's Crown casino. He also owns the highly exclusive Capital Golf Club in Melbourne, reserved for famous and wealthy, and has strong interests in the thoroughbred industry - owning more than 70 race horses. The
BRW claims $942 million.
Forbes valued at $US610m in March 2010.
The Australian valued at $902 million in 2019.
Peter Williams: former director of Ampella Mining whose stake was worth more than $20 million in late 2010.
Rohan Williams: former CEO of Avoca Resources whose stake was worth more than $10 million in late 2010.Andrew Willink: Cannex founder and current co-owner of Rate City which deals in retail banking products and has been looking to expand.
Glenn Willis: high-profile investment banker for 25 years, and co-founder of Grange Securities before it was taken over by Lehman Brothers in 2007. Later ran Moss Capital and previously headed the Australian arm of Lehman Brothers, the New York-based investment bank that collapsed last September in the biggest bankruptcy in US history.
Dean Wills: the Ferrari-loving former Coca Cola Amatil boss walked out with an $18 million retirement payout when he left in 1994 and made plenty as a professional director and investor ever since, including from sitting on boards such as Fairfax, Westfield, Transfield and National Mutual. He died in 2022 at the age of 89 and was survived by three children, Debra, Mark and Heather, eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. See
AFR obituary.Peter Willis: the former chief operating officer and chief financial officer of WiseTech for five years to 2010. Willis now has a $90m stake in the company, according to this October 2024
piece in The Australian.Wilson family: controlling shareholders in plumbing supplies company
Reece, which has performed brilliantly.
The Australian valued them at $3.48 billion in 2019.
Brett Wilson: a large grain farmer from Hannaford in Queensland who had a solid holding of AWB shares before the business was taken over.
Geoff Wilson: the fund manager has a direct equity interest in WAM, WLS, WIL and CAM to name a few, plus whatever the funds management business must be worth. His wife Karen Greer paid an eye-popping $28.5 million for a Sunshine Beach mansion in Queensland in 2022, according to
this story in
The Courier Mail.Frank Wilson: taxation lawyer who became founding chairman and major shareholder of Perth-based
TFS Corporation which was into forestry and fragrances. He owned 39.8m shares or 21.58% which was worth around $60m when the stock peaked at $1.50 in September 2008. Subsequently renamed Quintis and collapsed after a short selling campaign in 2017. ASIC then went after Frank.
Rebel Wilson: famous actress and comedian from Sydney, most famous for her role in the
Pitch Perfect movie franchise. Estimated net worth of $20 million.
Steve Wilson: executive chairman of Brisbane-based broker
Wilson HTM where he has worked since 1984. He owns about 15.3m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.60 in August 2007 when he was worth more than $60 million, bottomed at 80c in December 2008 and recovered to around $2.05. In 2024 he was the largest shareholder in Pinnacle Investment Management with 24.28m shares worth more than $400m.
Ross Wilson: the former Tabcorp CEO was paid about $15 million to run the privatised gaming company for its first eight years as a public company and left with about $60 million worth of shares which were debt free. With Tabcorp paying him fully franked dividends of almost $3 million a year, the net worth is rising at a solid rate.
Russell Wilson: the majority 70% shareholder in Melbourne-based crypto exchange Coinbase which reportedly paid its shareholders a $700 million dividend in 2023,
according to The Australian.
Mark Winder: along with his wife Emma Cowan, the Sydney neurosurgeon claimed a house price record in Wahroonga, where they paid $14.5 million in 2024 for the home of tech entrepreneur Dominic O'Hanlon,
according to The SMH.
Craig Winkler: the co-founder and largest shareholder in accounting software company MYOB until a private equity takeover.
The Australian valued at $657 million in 2019.
Chau Chak Wing: property developer was
valued by
The AFR at $1.55 billion in
2019.
The Australian valued at $1.32 billion in 2019
Hui Wing Mau: The Australian valued him at $8.630 billion in 2019.
Peter Wise: as non-executive director owns about 13.6m shares in IBA Health, trading as ISOFT, and is chairman of Tag Pacific, which has interests in electronics and componentry. The stock peaked at almost $1.55 in March 2007 when he was worth more than $13 million, bottomed at 40c in March 2008 and recovered to around 69c.
Mitch Wishnowsky: punted in his second Super Bowl in just four years for the San Franciso 49ers when he took he field against defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs, after losing to the same opposition on the National Football League's biggest stage in 2020.
AFR reports the former Perth glazier is earning $4m a year.
Withers family: the concentration of this Melbourne family's wealth is directed by the ownership of the 7-Eleven convenience store franchise in Australia. About 400 stores continue to build their wealth.
The Australian valued them at $2.085 billion in 2019, whilst
The AFR valued them at $1.33 billion. Put the business up for sale in 2023.
Mark Wizel: was the CBRE agent of choice during Melbourne's property boom between the GFC and COVID and then became an investor himself,
snapping up a former childcare centre site from the City of Melbourne for $7.5 million in 2023.
Phillip Wolanski: with his father leaving him a property portfolio worth more than $50 million, he has continued to build upon that wealth through prudent property investment and development. The
BRW claimed $200 million in 2010.
James Wolfensohn: the former World Bank president who passed in 2020. See
Wikipedia.
Philippe Wolgen: the CEO of Melbourne-based
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals was
paid
$20.6 million in 2018-19.
Kie Chie Wong: the billionaire Fortescue Metals shareholder
reportedly had a 37 year partnership with fellow Rich Lister and builder Robert Yazbek before it blew up over a Mascot development, forcing Yazbek to put his luxury waterfront six-bedroom palace in Stokes Point, Avalon Beach in Sydney's northern beaches on the market for $50 million in 2022.
Woobinda family: when Cobram Estates listed in 2021, they
appeared in the top 20 as third largest shareholder with 4.37% or 16.9 million shares which were worth $32 million based on the opening price of $1.90.
Andrew Wood: CEO of
Worley Parsons and has made more thane $20 million from salary and shares over the years.
Graeme Wood: founder and executive director of
wotif.com who owns about 50m shares. The stock turned around to $6.60 after it bottomed at $2.70 valuing his stake above $325 million. The
BRW claims $255 million.
Michael Wood: an innovative Brisbane-based insurance lawyer who moved to London in 1990 and set up a unique insurance underwriting agency with an internal law firm. After 9 years, he sold PI Direct Underwriting Ltd to Royal Sun Alliance for about $90 million in 2006. He then replicated the model on returning to Australia in 2011, called Woodina. Over 12 years it has established offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Woodina has Lloyd's capacity behind it and has plans to expand to London and Canada. Wood owns 100% of the profitable and growing company.
Roger Wood: a charismatic former Murdoch executive in Australia who went on to launch the international Newlink business in the early 1990s and in 2010 was selling his Balmoral home with expectation it would fetch more than $8 million.
Simon Woodfull: co-founded Bravura, a software provider for wealth management, after becoming frustrated at his previous job because of the lack of money being put into research, which Bravura now thrives on. Made BRW Young Rich List.
John Woodman: dodgy planning consultant and developer in Melbourne's outer east whose activities brought down City of Casey.
Children of Alan Woods: the late professional gambler died in 2008, leaving an estate worth more than $900 million, largely thanks to winnings from his computer betting program in Hong Kong. The vast bulk has gone to his son and daughter who are based in Australia.
The Australian valued at $542 million in 2019.
Anthony Wooles: is the founder and former Executive Chairman of maintenance company Pearl Street which was acquired in January 2010 by Australian Laboratory Services. He owned about 38m shares in the company which pushes his wealth north of $19 million.
Greg Woolley:
pops up on the Allco Equity Partners (now trading as
Oceania Capital Partners) top 20 with about 25m shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.60 in July 2007 when this investment alone was worth more than $100 million.
Mark Worrell: was worth an estimated $30 million on paper at the top of the boom when a senior executive at Allco Finance Collapse but after the collapse wasn't forced into a fire sale of assets and moved on to Beacon Asset Finance Corp. It wasn't until mid 2010 that he listed his North Shore mansion to sell for $6.8 million, suggesting a degree of financial wealth remains.
Sam Worthington: having been a part of the Australian television scene, he set records in Hollywood with
Avatar and then did the
Terminator trilogy.
Les Wozniczka: the combative former CEO of Futuris (now Elders) has long retired but pops up with a multi-million share portfolio so he's obviously been a good investor.
Michael Wright: owns a half share in the Hanwright royalty, which clips the ticket on everything produced by Rio Tinto's Hamersley Iron subsidiary. The other half is owned by Gina Rinehart, based on the discovery by their fathers of the Hamersley iron ore deposit. With the insatiable Chinese demand for iron ore, the Hanwright royalty assures a substantial income for many years to come. The 2010
BRW claimed $2.09 billion.
The AFR valued his daughters Alexandra Burt and Leonie Baldock at $2.08 billion in 2019.
The Australian valued his daughter at $1.26 billion in 2019.
Simon Wright: has spent more than 30 years at Macquarie and in February 2024 was
appointed to replace Nick O'Kane after his shock resignation less than a year after it was revealed he was the highest paid Macquarie executive in 2022-23, having pocketed $59 million for running the Commodities and Global Markets division.
William Wu: born into money and went on a
$50 million property buying spree in Sydney in 2020-21.
Steve Wyatt : former general manager of
Mineral Resources who owned 16.7m shares worth more than $100m when the stock peaked at almost $7.50 in October 2008. It tumbled to $1.60 in December 2008 but is up near $18 in early 2020.
Rhonda Wyllie: The Australian valued at $464 million in 2019 and $465 million in 2021. Daughter of the late Perth entrepreneur Bill Wyllie who was a big wheel in Hong Kong for many years. Now married to Geoff Brown, a big player in the corporate sports space who is chair of listed pokies pub operator Redcape.
John Wylie: the $600 million in transaction costs relating to the Wesfarmers takeover of Coles should be enough to make $20 million in just one deal for the investment banker who in 2007 sold his Carnegie Wylie advisory business to Lazard and pocketed a reported $88 million. Now focused on civic work such as chairing the Victorian State Library, along with his funds management outfit Tanara which has about $3 billion under management.
Megan Wynne: founder of APM, Australia's biggest disability employments services provider, which in early 2020 was
sold by one private equity firm to another for a valuation of $1.5 billion. In 2017, a
partial stake was sold for a valuation of $400 million where the founder was reported to have retained a 40% stake.
The Australian valued her and husband Bruce Bellinge at a combined $500 million in 2021.
Wang Xiande: made his money in glass manufacturing and then set a suburb record in Sydney's Woolwich when he
paid $22.18 million for Phil Salter's (of Salmat fame) old house in 2017.
Harry Xydas: he founded the engineering and construction DORIC group in 1989 and holds a 62% stake. In 20 years, he has grown the company to an annual turnover of about $400 million.
Michael Yates: a property developer who focuses on apartment developments in Melbourne's ritzy South Yarra.
Oliver Yates: former co-head of Financial Products at Macquarie Bank and brother of former PBL CEO Peter Yates. Was CEO of Clean Energy Corporation and then ran against Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong in 2019.
Peter Yates: made plenty at Macquarie Bank and then collected another $10 million when fired as CEO of PBL before a brief but unsuccessful stint as CEO of the under-performing Allco Equity Partners.
Robert Yazbek: the builder spent four years doing a luxury rebuild on the waterfront six-bedroom palace in Stokes Point, Avalon Beach in Sydney's northern beaches and then put it on the market for $50 million in 2022,
reportedly because of a bitter legal dispute with his partner of 37 years, Kie Chie Wong.
Al and Rebecca Yazbek: the culinary duo behind the Nomad Group of restaurants,
splashed out $11 million in 2024 on Melbourne's grand mansion Hambleton House in Albert Park.
Karl Ye: founder of GMP Pharmaceuticals which produces healthcare products and dietary supplements and employs more than 1000 people at factories in Sydney and New Zealand.
The Australian valued at $479 million in 2021.
Angus and Malcolm Young: guitarists, songwriters, and co-founders of the Australian hard rock band
AC/DC. Check out this excellent
explanation of their business savvy by James Thomson on
Business Spectator. Malcolm died in 2017.
Bill Young: Sydney-based hotelier and ex-Wallabies rugby player. In 2019, bought
Glebe's Friend in Hand Hotel in an off market sale. Mr Young is a long-standing member of the “Fifteen Club”, a collection of high-powered Sydney publicans including Rich Lister Arthur Laundy and
veteran investor Kim Maloney, who meet for a lunch once a quarter. The club has been operating for more than 30 years, and the venue for the lunch is rotated across pubs owned by its members.
Dat Sri Johann Young: former CEO of Sydney-based telecommunications products and services group Nexbis, formally known as Entertainment Media & Telecoms Corp, of which he owned 32 million shares worth $15m when the stock peaked at 50c in August 2008 before declining.
John Young: he established
Great Southern Plantations as a tax effective agricultural investment for clients and was the largest owner with about 50 million shares. The stock peaked at almost $4.30 in April 2006 and collapsed in 2010, although he'd sold enough to retain a tidy pile.
John Young: mining veteran from WA who helped found Pilbara Metals and still retained 7.75m shares worth around $20m when the stock hit a record high of $2.35 in August 2021.
Shane and David Young: the two brothers founded Petspiration in 2002 and landed a big pay day late in 2022 when Woolworths
agreed to pay $586 million for a 55% stake in their business which has 276 stores, 65 vet clinics and 162 grooming salons. The brothers will continue to run the business. Shane's
Linkedin page suggests that he lives at Bells Beach and claims he wrote the business plan in the sand on Coolangatta Beach.
Spencer Young: former CEO of
HFA Holdings owned about 25.5m shares and has survived an earlier association with MFS. The stock peaked at almost $2.80 in July 2007 when he was worth more than $50 million, bottomed at 12c in December 2008 before recovering.
Stephen Young: co-founder of
recently floated engineering business Tasmea who owns 42% after the IPO, giving him a net worth exceeding $100m.
David Yu: was
reportedly on the right side of a Toorak property record in August 2021 when he sold Blair House, the so-called “ghost mansion”, for $80 million to a tech billionaire. Yu runs property developer Ausvest Holdings.
Zagame family: this Melbourne family is one of the 10 largest pokies operators in Victoria although did try to sell in 2019. Once in charge of a greengrocer's business, they expanded into car dealerships, pubs and restaurants before really cashing in on gaming with about 500 machines in Victoria.
Carla Zampatti:
the fashion guru and SBS chair lives in a $20 million Darling Point mansion and owns a string of residential properties in Sydney. Her Sydney CBD retail properties would be worth more than $20 million, including one on George Street opposite the Strand Arcade. She also owns property in New York and has firmly entrenched retail distribution through DJs and her own chain of stores.
Doug Zapelli: owner of one of Australia's oldest retailers, the Dimmeys/Forges chain of stores. He has worked in retail all his life as owner of discount chains including Best Buys, and is famed for being as frugal as the prices in the discount stores.
Joseph Zaresky: owns the Royal Arcade on Spring Street in Bondi Junction along with a multi-million dollar share portfolio.
Shi Zhengrong: arriving in Sydney more than 25 years ago as a student of laser technology, he joined a research team at UNSW to complete his doctorate. He changed to the solar technology field and set up a solar panel factory in China for his company, Suntech Power Holdings which was listed on the New York stock exchange in December 2005, confirming the founder as a billionaire. The
BRW claims $2.33 billion in 2010 although the company has struggled in recent years.
Peter Ziegler: Queenslander who rose up through EY to become a tax structuring expert. Fell out badly with Village Roadshow,
battled the ATO for years but bought Sydney property Berthong from Russell Crowe in 2003 and
solid it for $33 million in 2020.
Nicky and Simone Zimmermann: started their fashion label in 1991, designing dresses and selling them at Paddington Market in Sydney. The label's early push into swimwear helped accelerate its expansion into overseas markets. In 1993, they opened a small boutique on South Dowling Street, just off Sydney's Oxford Street, and now they are a global powerhouse
dealing with private equity partners.
John Zukerman: the long-serving CEO of Melbourne-based out-sourcing service provider Probe who
reportedly benefitted from a $1.1 billion private equity exit in 2021.
Frank Zullo: initially made waves as Eddie Groves' former brother-in-law who did most of the construction work for his ABC Learning child care empire. These days owns 4m shares in listed GDG which are along worth almost $15m.
Eric Zupp: he started out selling Volkswagens which he grew into Queensland's fourth biggest company holding 18 car dealerships. He sold out in 2007 to the
Automotive Holdings Group for $117 million. The
BRW claimed $144 million in 2010.
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