Ex-Adelaide geek rolling in riches

MEET Sydney's newest property tycoon, a 32-year-old self-confessed computer geek who started his career in Adelaide.

Simon Clausen and a house in Kirribilli in Sydney, one of a growing portfolio of homes in Sydney Harbourside suburbs that are owned by Simon and his wife Alexandra.

MEET Sydney's newest property tycoon, a 32-year-old self-confessed computer geek who started his career in Adelaide.

Simon Clausen, along with wife Alexandra, has built an imposing empire of multimillion-dollar properties, turning them into havens for the uber rich..

He has spent $45 million of his $180 million fortune on harbourside properties in the past 18 months.

With an enviable portfolio of 15 luxury holdings, he is believed to be turning them into top quality rentals.

Mr Clausen's latest purchase for redevelopment is his piece de resistance an opulent three-level luxury Mosman home on Sydney's upmarket lower North Shore, complete with decorative dome and columns, pool, gallery and library.

His rise to riches began with a two-man web business, started on a hunch and bankrolled by his credit card.

Relocating from Adelaide where he worked in a computer repair shop to Sydney in 1997, Mr Clausen launched PC Tools with partner Peter McKow.

In 2008, after the company had evolved into an anti-spyware software developer and taken on James Packer as a $20-million cornerstone investor, the pair sold PC Tools to US software giant Symantec for more than $300 million.

Mr Packer tripled his investment. Mr Clausen and Mr McKow were instant mega-millionaires.

If Mr Clausen's Mosman proposal is approved by Mosman Council, the $10 million redevelopment will require the existing $8.25 million Arbutus Rd mansion be demolished to make way for a home that will also span three adjacent blocks, which Mr Clausen has bought for $10 million.

The Mosman shopping spree adds to an Avalon beach cottage he bought last year for $2.78 million his second home in desirable Hudson Pde and properties in Balmain, Rozelle, Kirribilli and Birchgrove.

Friend Mark Rudder said Mr Clausen was currently developing new IT technology and would shudder at being tagged a property baron.

``Property is certainly not his main game. He's just a very astute investor and he has obviously seen the value there,'' Mr Rudder said.
``His is the classic story of hard work and good ideas. Initially, he worked 18 hours, seven days a week.''