The homeschooled billionaire who built a fortune before turning 40

In 2007, Shaun Bonett was the country’s richest person under 40. Now a billionaire, he shares his story, including a humiliating $25 million mistake, in the AFR’s How I Made It podcast.

Julie-anne SpragueRich List editor

Apr 22, 2024 – 5.00am

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

When billionaire shopping mall owner Shaun Bonett was about 10 years old he refused to go to school. He simply hated it.

His parents investigated whether he had a learning disability as they searched for the reasons why it was so difficult to get Bonett to Adelaide’s Saint Ignatius’ College.

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

License article

Introducing your Newsfeed

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more

Julie-anne SpragueRich List editorJulie-anne Sprague co-edits our Rich Lists and covers entrepreneurs, wealth creation and investments. A senior journalist in our newsroom, Julie-anne has covered politics, property, agribusiness, retail and stockmarkets in both the UK and Australia.