Ita Buttrose ‘proud’ of her convicted drug dealer nephew Richard

Fours years after her nephew Richard was released from jail for drug trafficking, his aunt Ita Buttrose says she’s “very proud of him”.

Former publishing powerhouse turned ABC chairwomen Ita Buttrose has spoken for the first time about her nephew Richard Buttrose almost four years after he walked free from Silverwater jail after serving close to a decade for drug trafficking.

“I am very proud of him … he has turned his life around,” Buttrose tells Confidential of her nephew – now 46 – who is now studying a law degree.

“Richard has a terrific mind and I think he will make a great lawyer.

“He has a very sharp mind. A very sharp, legal mind.”

Known around Sydney’s swanky eastern suburbs as ‘the man’ at the height of his reign, Richard Buttrose was sensationally arrested and charged in 2009 after police found more than 7kg of cocaine (worth a street value of $10.8 million) during a raid on his properties.

Police also discovered more than $1.3 million in cash stashed at his Paddington and Darling Point homes.

Ita Buttrose with her niece Eve (left) and nephew Richard Buttrose. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

It was a stunning fall from grace for the then-aspiring TV producer however it’s understood he maintained the constant support of his famous aunt who visited her nephew in Silverwater jail many times during his nine years and six month sentence.

Buttrose ultimately walked free in 2017 and has since made a complete about-face – embarking on a law degree as well as a relationship with public relations executive Tiffany Farrington, who oversees the popular media networking service Social Diary.

“They make a great couple,” says Buttrose, seemingly approving of the match.

“They’re both very smart and very similar and I think that’s good for the pair of them.”

However friends close to the Buttrose clan say that while Richard and Ita are ‘extremely close’, their political views are poles apart.

“We all have the right to agree to disagree,” Ita said.