Rich List 2024
Featured
‘We’ll fight’: Alex Waislitz on family battles and bad bets
The billionaire investor is mired in clashes with his ex-wife, future sister-in-law and developer Tim Gurner. But he’s up for it, he says.
Accounts show billionaire Ed Craven’s private vehicle in revenue surge
The Stake.com co-founder’s Easygo Solutions also has hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency holdings, its financial statements show.
Court case highlights $31b at stake in Cannon-Brookes marriage split
With an estimated fortune of $31 billion on the line, there’s more to the wealth of Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes than Atlassian shares.
Bankers flock to Mecca as Rich List founders mull $2b exit
Sources told this column Flagstaff Partners’ Tony Burgess and Goldman Sachs’ consumer bankers have had Horgan’s number on speed dial for years.
Reclusive iron ore magnates $8b richer after selling to Japan’s Mitsui
The Bennett and Wright families are the heirs to the fortune made by Peter Wright, the business partner of mining magnate Lang Hancock.
February
Billionaire Nick Andrianakos picks up big mall stake in $385m deal
It is the fourth time in as many years that Andrianakos has swooped into the big-mall sector as he diversifies a fortune made running petrol stations.
Billionaire family backs Vitura’s purchase of medicinal cannabis firm
The ASX-listed company will acquire Candor Medical, a telehealth consultations provider, with the backing of wealthy businessman Charlie Shahin.
Billionaire Dennis Bastas has big plans to take MCoBeauty global
The businessman says the brand known for “duping” expensive popular products is the platform he needs to build a vast beauty empire.
Billionaire swoops on $1b MCoBeauty cosmetics empire
Shelley Sullivan’s cosmetics and skincare brand has stirred controversy, but she’s having the last laugh with a deal said to be worth $500 million.
January
Pratt denies she ‘abdicated responsibility’ to Waislitz
Billionaire Visy heiress Heloise Pratt rejects claims by her ex-husband that she failed to pay attention to the couple’s business affairs, new court documents reveal.
Private empire behind property developer Bob Ell suffers profit slide
Leda Holdings has reported a near-halving in annual profit due to a higher cost of sales, according to newly filed accounts.
James Packer dines with Trump, Elon Musk
New social media photos show the Australian billionaire seated with Elon Musk and the new president at dinner in Mar-a-Lago.
These founders with nothing to lose are coming back for a second act
A chance at being part of tech’s next wave was too great an opportunity for founders Sam Kroonenburg and Leigh Jasper to resist, even though they’ve already staged billion-dollar exits.
Alex Waislitz and Tim Gurner feud over luxury St Kilda tower
The wealthy businessmen are at loggerheads over problems at the Saint Moritz development. Mr Waislitz says Mr Gurner is trying to silence residents.
The secretive Saunders family is going all in on lending to the rich
The late John Saunders founded Westfield with Frank Lowy. The family investment vehicle sees plenty of opportunities in helping the cash-strapped wealthy.
December 2024
Rich Lister Sam Arnaout caps year with mega Sydney pubs deal
The real estate magnate has bought Sydney’s Cabramatta Hotel and the El Cortez Hotel in a transaction worth more than $180 million.
Smorgon stoush triggers gold mine fire sale
One of Australia’s most powerful families have pushed their Chinese partners in the Stawell gold mine into receivership.
‘A man is not a plan’: How Naomi Simson created an experiences empire
Naomi Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001 on a shoestring budget. Now she’s looking to expand the company into the international market.
I sent Andrew Forrest 50 hard questions. He invited me to have a talk
After months of reporting, and only carefully worded written responses from Fortescue, I found myself with the iron ore billionaire on the company jet in the Pilbara.
Inside the ‘unending chaos’ at Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue
After a frenetic world tour, the billionaire had to wind back his hydrogen plans. A Financial Review investigation looks at what led to an exodus of executives.
Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest in his own words
After The Australian Financial Review sent 50 questions following an investigation, the iron ore billionaire and green energy advocate sat down for an interview.
$3 hot dogs and a mini-shop behind $1.2b petrol bet
Service stations with the lot have arrived in Sydney as part of Viva Energy’s national rollout of the OTR brand, in a makeover that is 30 years overdue.
Late billionaire David Hains’ sons go their separate ways
People close to the family said that the split of assets was amicable. One son of the pioneering hedge fund manager has quietly started his own family office.
How a billionaire and government saved a key Sydney theatre
Griffin Theatre Company gave the world Cate Blanchett and David Wenham, but a soaring budget for a much-needed rebuild almost took it away.
November 2024
Billionaire John Van Lieshout backs sustainability investor Infragreen
Infragreen has secured a $40 million investment from Rich Lister John Van Lieshout’s fund to acquire a peaking power plant.