Property mogul, bosses, $1.16b fortune: Qld’s richest socialites named
Queensland’s elite socialites are also among some of the wealthiest VIPs in the state, boasting fortunes up to $1.16 billion and multimillion dollar riverside mansions. Some of the richest 23 socialites revealed. Full list.
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They’re the glamorous faces frequenting Queensland’s social scene and waving their paddles at gala fundraisers, adorned in high-end fashion and expensive jewels.
From established rich-listers and entrepreneurs to emerging influencers, fashion moguls and members of Queensland’s most prominent families, The Courier-Mail has taken a deep dive into the lives of the state’s wealthy socialites.
The individuals and couples were selected considering their estimated wealth, the frequency of their appearances at social events and their connections to society circles.
CATHIE REID AND STUART GILES
Entrepreneurs and rich listers
Brisbane’s inner circle would not be complete without prominent rich-listers Cathie Reid and Stuart Giles.
The Brisbane entrepreneurs have been well-known philanthropists in the state for a number of years, with strong connections to business and arts sector dignitaries, meaning they are sought after VIPs and often keynote speakers.
The charismatic couple made their money and reputations through the Epic Pharmacy chain and Australia’s largest cancer care provider, Icon Group, which they co-founded a decade ago.
They sold their majority stake five years later and in early 2020 they made The Australian’s
Richest 250 list with a $550m combined fortune in healthcare. They have since focused on a suite of investments outside the industry from cricket to data storage.
In November they sold the remaining stake in Icon for a reported $125m payday.
They also founded the Epic Good Foundation, through which they conduct their portfolio of philanthropy. It is through the foundation that they became well-connected and respected members of Brisbane’s social scene, raising funds at annual events such the Gambaro Moet and Chandon Gala.
The foundation supports a number of organisations including Queensland Ballet, as members of the artistic director’s circle, meaning they are fixtures in the arts scene.
Reid is also a director at Brisbane Lions, further expanding the couple’s influence in the city.
A lover of fashion, she recently attended the Guggenheim International Gala in New York after visiting Necker Island to catch up with close friend Sir Richard Branson.
Reid and Giles are co-owners of Queensland’s Makepeace Island with Branson and several others, buying into the resort just in time for their 50th birthday bash.
Reid has also booked a seat on Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceship that is expected to start commercial flights next year.
MARGOT McKINNEY
Jeweller
Adorned with her signature jewels, glamorous jeweller Margot McKinney is certainly a social high flyer.
McKinney is the fourth generation to work in the family business that started in 1884, with the McKinney name becoming synonymous with fine, luxury jewellery in Australia.
From Brisbane she regularly travels overseas to socialise with her affluent buyers, for instance being invited as a guest of Neiman Marcus to a luncheon in Houston. She also routinely attends the G’Day USA gala as a co-host of the cross-Pacific business initiative.
Back home she steps out for business galas and Brisbane Fashion Festival events, posing for a snap with Gina Rinehart this year.
McKinney also makes the most of events at her 1000 Ann St store, acquiring a London cab last year and repurposing it as a courtesy vehicle for McKinney’s Jewellers and rolling out the pink carpet for a Christmas event in November.
In May she supported the inaugural McKinney’s Jewellers Charity Polo Day, supporting The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund, which was well attended by Brisbane society’s inner circle.
In 2017 McKinney and husband Peter Kedwell sold their historic riverfront home in New Farm, where they had lived for more than a decade, for $4.9m.
She and her two sisters have recently listed the luxurious Hamilton Hill home of their father, the late retailer, John McKinney.
KERI CRAIG-LEE
Fashion designer and retailer
Keri Craig-Lee has lived in a world of high fashion for the better part of 40 years.
Considered as somewhat of the style empress in Queensland, Craig turned her fashion label into an empire – with the Keri Craig Emporium to prove it.
She now lives a life of super-yachting and first class flights and boasts a sprawling designer dressing room in her Ascot mansion, named Sutherland, which has its own staff and indoor pool.
She would once arrive to social events around Brisbane, such as art exhibition openings, in her chauffeured car and designer outfits. And while these days she doesn’t attend many official social events around town, she is known to host exclusive parties for Brisbane society members at her lavish property.
It began when she launched her own fashion label at 19.
Her parents, Dianne and Peter Craig, had produced womenswear under the label Fifth Avenue Frocks at a factory in Fortitude Valley.
In 1977, she launched the Keri Craig label and opened boutiques in Brisbane and Sydney – becoming so successful she was soon designing and co-ordinating Sir Elton John’s Sydney wedding. She was the first inductee into the National Retail Association Hall of Fame in 1987 at age 28.
Craig married successful cattleman Trevor Lee, who has since amassed 35 cattle stations totalling more than two million hectares as one of Australia’s top private landholders.
The couple established Australian Country Choice in 1995, one of Australia’s largest meat supply chains as well as Keri Lee Charters and Sutherland Aviation.
This year Trevor Lee was ranked 154 on the Australian’s Richest 250 list with a fortune of $753m.
KATE GREER
Lawyer and non-executive director
A member of Queensland’s prominent Wagner family, Kate Greer is a notable figure at glamorous events around town.
The stylish daughter of Henry and Mary Wagner has been snapped at luxury events such as the Magic Millions carnival, Polo by the Sea, and annual charity events such as It’s A Bloke Thing, which she attends with her mother.
The Australian’s Richest 250 list this year estimated Toowoomba’s Wagner family as having an estimated net worth at $1.01bn.
A lawyer by profession, Kate Greer is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She married legal eagle Damien Greer, who established family law firm Damien Greer Lawyers in 2012, the couple throwing a lavish first birthday company at their home for 150 guests the following year.
REZA ADIB
General and laparoscopic surgeon, chief executive
While Reza Adib has enjoyed a raised profile since his relationship with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk went public this year, he’s been a well-known face in Brisbane’s social circle for a number of years.
Born and raised in Iran, Dr Adib moved to Australia in 1991, when he was 25, and worked at the Royal Brisbane Hospital as an intern.
After studying in Scotland, France, Austria and England, he returned to Australia in 2004 and has become one of Australia’s most known Laparoscopy specialists as well as the chief executive of Brisbane Obesity Clinic.
Through charity work, Dr Adib gained a circle of close friendships with Brisbane business identities and became a regular guest at annual soirees such as the Gambaro Moet and Chandon Ball and functions at Treasury Brisbane.
That included VIP invites to Brisbane race days, where he eventually met Ms Palaszczuk in the exclusive committee room at this year’s Winter Racing Carnival.
The couple have attended a number of social events together since.
While he is typically private, property records show Dr Adib owns a riverfront mansion in Indooroopilly, which sold in 2010 for $6.25m.
MATTHEW YOUN AND GINA KIM
Company director and fashion designer
A perfect union of business of fashion, Gold Coast couple Matthew Youn and Gina Kim have become prominent guests in social circles across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
From arts opening nights to fashion shows, business galas and restaurant openings, the pair – who got engaged this year – are routinely mingling and networking among high profile crowds, always well dressed in designer threads, vintage fox shawls or Kim’s own label.
Youn, an alumnus of London Business School, holds eight directorships in both public and private companies.
He has been the chief executive of Credit Counsellors Australia since 2011, is the Managing Director of Tavalon Australia & New Zealand and the Managing Partner of Unity Equity Partners.
Kim, meanwhile, has run her successful fashion label, Gina Kim, since launching it in Brisbane in 2003 and also co-founded and directs Skines body tape.
They are invited to spend the upcoming holiday season in Paris and London while they are busy planning a luxury wedding in 2022, with an equally impressive guest list.
NATHAN AND REBECCA MITCHELL
Entrepreneurs
Former Brisbane model Rebecca Mitchell and her entrepreneur husband Nathan Mitchell are regulars at some of Queensland’s most glamorous events.
Nathan is executive chairman of Mitchell Services, a leading provider of drilling services to the global exploration, mining and energy industries, while Rebecca is an earnest supporter of fundraising events such as Youngcare.
Property records show the Mitchells own a riverfront mansion in St Lucia, which sold in 2012 for $4.8m.
Nathan’s parents Peter and Deirdre founded Mitchell Drilling in 1969 with $11,500 of savings and a single second-hand rig.
Nathan joined the firm as an 18-year-old in 1989 and drove a period of unprecedented growth, expanding operations internationally.
ROD AND JUDY PILBEAM
Company director
Among Brisbane’s best-dressed couples, Rod and Judy Pilbeam are often spotted at A-lister events in complimentary luxury designer outfits.
Rod is co-director of ASM Global group, which manages more than 350 major venues worldwide, including Suncorp Stadium and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
While typically private, the pair are both huge supporters of the arts, particularly the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, of which Rod is deputy board chair.
STEPHEN AND JUDY GOSLING
Property developers
These notable property developers attend Brisbane’s most glittering events and fundraising galas.
Founding directors of Verde Property (with Jim Goldburg) in 2009, they have created, managed and owned environmentally sustainable buildings for occupation by governments or blue chip companies.
Verde has expanded its expertise to include the development of buildings designed to best deal with natural disasters.
While they are private and avoid the spotlight, they entertain a powerful circle of friends.
MARISA VECCHIO
Hanworth House owner
A respected philanthropist and ambassador for women, Marisa Vecchio is a well-regarded member of Brisbane’s social scene.
Having worked in Postgraduate Medical Education in Cambridge and as manager of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Qld, Vecchio was a prominent businesswoman and chief executive and was awarded the 2004 Qld Telstra Businesswoman of the Year.
In 2012, she and her husband, Dr Phillip Vecchio – a Brisbane rheumatologist – bought Hanworth House and committed to using their wealth to restoring it after it was destroyed by arson.
Now a renowned residence and function space, Vecchio hosts a number of functions and charity occasions at Hanworth House, particularly in the support of women through charities such as the Women’s Legal Service, for which she was the first ambassador.
Through her philanthropy and friendship circle she has become a fixture on guest lists around town.
The couple live in a multimillion dollar riverfront home in East Brisbane.
LIAM TALBOT AND CHARLI ROBINSON
Race car driver and presenter
It was a social scene perfect match when prominent millionaire Liam Talbot linked with Hi-5 star turned presenter Charli Robinson.
Talbot, a prominent race car driver, is the son of late Queensland mining mogul Ken Talbot, who reportedly left 30 per cent of his billion-dollar fortune to charity, through the Talbot Family Foundation, and the rest divided among his family.
Following a lengthy court battle, it was ruled this year that the foundation be split into two, with Liam Talbot to run one of the two charities.
Robinson meanwhile was a radio host on SeaFM on the Gold Coast in 2016 when Talbot asked her on a date, having read an article about her.
Given Robinson was a high profile former member of Hi-5 and also a radio and television presenter on Channel 9, she was already a fixture at local events courtesy of her profile and work commitments.
Once they started dating they regularly attended social events and fundraisers across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
They welcomed two daughters within two years from 2018 to 2020 but the altruistic couple still step out for charity events when they can.
Robinson was an ambassador for a recent Aussie Kidz fundraiser in Brisbane.
Talbot is a member of the board.
He also shaved his beard for the charity this year at an event on the Gold Coast, which they attended together, raising $31,000 for the stunt before also buying Chris Hemsworth’s Thor hammer to add to the fundraising total.
In 2020 the couple paid a suburb record $5.1m for a new family home in Chandler, where their neighbours include cricket great Matt Hayden.
TAMMY HEMBROW
Influencer and entrepreneur
Leading the way among the Gold Coast’s new tribe of successful influencers is Tammy Hembrow.
The 27-year-old has been a prominent influencer for the last decade, a status that saw her briefly become a member of the Kardashian guest list including a memorable night at Kylie Jenner’s 21st birthday bash in Los Angeles.
Now engaged to ironman Matt Poole, Hembrow – who boosts many designer outfits and drives a Bentley – often attends events around the Gold Coast, from the launch of Cali Beach to musical opening nights and parties at Poole’s restaurant, Maman.
Her attendance, along with sisters Emilee, Amy and Starlette, is a boost for event organisers considering her influence on social media.
Hembrow has leveraged her 13.6m Instagram followers into a successful business, running the Tammy Fit app and her clothing label Saski Collection as well as accepting profitable collaborations with related brands.
Some marketing agencies suggest she could ask for anywhere between $31,000 and $55,000 for one sponsored Instagram post.
The combined wealth saw her debut on AFR’s 2021 Young Rich List this year with an estimated worth of $38m.
EMILY SKYE
Influencer and entrepreneur
Emily Skye is another influential Gold Coast social media identity.
While welcoming her second child early this year has kept Skye busy at home, she is a name rarely left off a guest list in the city, attending events such as the Cali Beach launch and luxury store openings at Pacific Fair.
An ex-model and fitness instructor, Skye was a pioneer in the online fitness sector, posting fitness workout tips on a Blogspot account in 2011.
She now commands a successful subscription-based FIT App and 2.5m Instagram followers, a portfolio that saw her debut on AFR’s 2021 Young Rich List in 2017 with an estimated wealth of $32 million.
She co-founded beauty brand James Cosmetics with close friend Sam Mangan, who also runs brand agency Spin & Co, meaning the pair are well connected in Queensland’s social and events sector.
NATALIA AND STEPHANIE LAMPANTE
Business owners
Sisters Natalia and Stephanie Lampante are an emerging duo in Brisbane’s social scene.
Growing up on the Gold Coast inspired their successful swimwear brand Barbora, which caught the eye of Victoria Secret models Joan Smalls and Kelly Gale when it launched in 2020, turning the passion project into a profitable brand.
Natalia, a model herself, also dated affluent businessman and investor Ronnie Tarabay, who owns property development business Bekaa Group, for a number of years.
Along with her sister she regularly attended A-list events in both Brisbane and Sydney.
While she and Tarabay split in April they have remained close friends.
The Lampante sisters have settled in Brisbane and are often spotted at high-profile events in designer threads.
They have now purchased James St beauty business Brooklyn Beauty Bar, an acquisition that settled in mid-October, and are letting word filter through the social scene.
With another drop of their swimwear line on the way and a new business in town, their presence on the social scene will likely continue to rise.
ROB AND NATALIE NIXON
Entrepreneurs
The owners of Brisbane’s backyard golf club are also emerging names on Brisbane’s social scene.
Rob Nixon is an entrepreneur who has, since 1994, been specialising in helping accountants run better, more profitable businesses, with four published books on the topic.
While he is a member of the elite Royal Queensland Golf Club at Eagle Farm, Rob – who is a ticket holder on the Virgin Galactic – spent ten years creating an extravagant golf oasis at his family’s Highvale property offering exclusive memberships to his Yarravale Golf Club.
The couple recently held their second annual Yarravale Golf Club Championships at the home.
Meanwhile Natalie, a novelist, in the meantime has become a regular fixture at fashion and social events around Brisbane as they begin to network in the exclusive Brisbane society circle.
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Originally published as Property mogul, bosses, $1.16b fortune: Qld’s richest socialites named
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