The rarefied club of the unmarried multimillionaire aged 45-plus
CASHED up and single, they are the mega-millionaires looking for love. Could they be your perfect match? INTERACTIVE: WHO WOULD YOU PICK?
NSW
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SYDNEY is the richest and most vibrant and exciting city in the nation. It is home to some of Australia’s wealthiest and most driven entrepreneurs, property developers and investors.
In a town brimming with opportunity and adventure, the Silver Fox — the mature businessman who is in possession of a fortune but, either by design or through sheer carelessness, has no wife to share it with – flourishes. It’s a rarefied club for the unmarried multimillionaire aged 45 or over.
Annette Sharp profiles the most eligible older bachelors:
Crown Resorts major shareholder James Packer — $4.7 billion
Age: 50
The only son of media mogul Kerry Packer, Packer was born into great wealth and judiciously trained to step into his father’s shoes at Consolidated Press and PBL upon Packer Sr’s death in 2005. He has since swapped media for casinos and gaming. Twice-divorced with three children.
Enjoys: Travel, movies, watching television, cruising the Mediterranean on any one of his flotilla of private luxury yachts, smoking, the company of beautiful brunette models.
Dislikes: Public scrutiny, clubbing, gaming regulators, being told what to do by his mates, Mariah Carey music.
Former banker and investor Robert Whyte — $750 million
Age: 74
Born in Bellevue Hill to German Jewish migrants, the veteran private investor has interests in
property, shares, the short-term money and securities market. Separated with three adult children.
Enjoys: Smoking cigars, playing golf (once played with Tiger Woods), poker, travel, collecting art, dressing well, theology, the company of close, rich friends.
Dislikes: Being told what to do, playing bad golf, losing money, social chatter at parties.
Former adman, media proprietor and hotelier John Singleton — $450 million
Age: 76
Made and lost his first fortune in the advertising business before starting again. Is the majority
investor in Macquarie Radio Network, owner of 2GB, also owns a string of hotels, thoroughbreds. Has investments in racing and property. Five-time divorcee with eight children.
Enjoys: Punting, fishing, beer, listening to Willie Nelson, escaping to his horse stud on the Central Coast, Tommy Raudonikis and the Newtown Jets.
Dislikes: The Liberal Party, lawyers, backing losers, warm beer, getting old.
Investor Mark Carnegie — $400 million
Age: 56
The son of Melbourne mining legend and CRA boss Sir Roderick Carnegie, Carnegie followed in his father’s footsteps into business and wealth creation. He runs private equity firm MH Carnegie with investments in media, property, pubs and is a keen venture capitalist. Divorced father of three.
Enjoys: Travel, fly fishing, running his private “The Tragics” book club, cooking, social activism, philanthropy.
Dislikes: Non-fiction books, exercising without a personal trainer, the social divide, the impact of divorce on family.
Property developer Theo Onisforou — $300-$350 million
Age: 61
A Greek migrant shopkeeper’s son who studied commerce/law and science before meeting Malcolm Turnbull at university and going on to work for Packer’s CPH as an investment manager. Private investor with interests in property including The Intersections Paddington and Bowral. Divorced with three children.
Enjoys: Farming Angus cattle, travelling, paddle boarding, collecting classic cars.
Dislikes: His ex-wife.
Pub baron Kim Maloney — $350-$400 million
Age: 63
The Riverview-educated son of pub baron Cyril, Kim Maloney owns the Maloney Hotel Group and counts among his nine watering holes the Clock Hotel in Surry Hills, The Bondi Hotel and Starbar on George Street. Recently separated. Father of two.
Enjoys: Supporting the Wallabies, playing tennis, living at Bondi Beach, entertaining, Hawaii.
Dislikes: Justin Bieber music.
Yellow Brick Road boss Mark Bouris — $150-$200 million
Age: 61
Son of a Greek migrant, Bouris made his name as the founder Wizard Homes Loans before selling out and making $90 million. Now the major shareholder of finance company Yellow Brick Road with a lucrative property portfolio to his name. Two-time divorcee and father to four adult sons.
Enjoys: Boxing, working out, scrambled eggs, supporting the Roosters, routine, farming Brahman cattle.
Dislikes: Complaints from neighbours’ about barking dogs, banks, pastels in his wardrobe.
Nightclub impresario John Ibrahim — $80-$100 million
Age: 49
Kings Cross club owner said to have more than 20 venues to his name as well as prestige residential property and unspecified investments. Nicknamed the“King of the Cross”. Two children by two ex partners.
Enjoys: Keeping fit, holidays with radio jock Kyle Sandilands, employing a bodyguard, listening to Nina Simone, dating models, party season in Ibiza.
Dislikes: The lockout laws, police informants, drive-by shootings, a bad blow-dry.
Actor Russell Crowe — $80 million
Age: 54
Academy Award winning actor, property investor, rugby league club owner and movie memorabilia collector. Divorced father of two.
Enjoys: Supporting his South Sydney Rabbitohs team, escaping to his Nana Glen farm, listening to Johnny Cash, being in a band, a social drink.
Dislikes: Being shut down when he’s reciting poetry, poor telephone service, actor Peter Cousens, New Zealand millionaire Eric Watson, Virgin Airlines.
Rugby league legend turned property investor Ben Elias — $60-$80 million
Age: 54
Post rugby league career the 1980s/90s Balmain Tigers’ star turned his hand first to investment in the burgeoning mobile phone industry and later to business with his friend, Manly Warringah saviour Max Delmege. Owns property in Sydney (owned the dormant Tigers club), Toowoomba and recently opened a Maroochydore gym. Divorced father of two.
Enjoys: Being a director of the Tigers’ and the Perth Glory boards.
Dislikes: Rumours he’s been having Botox injections (which he denies).
Real estate agent John McGrath — $50-$60 million
Age: 54
Major shareholder in McGraths’ real estate agency with investments in property and racing.
Unmarried.
Enjoys: Punting, supporting NRL team the Rabbitohs (or the Roosters..), collecting teddy bears, conducting motivational workshops, Gwyneth Paltrow films.
Dislikes: Indiscreet bookmakers, the stock market.
Property investor and poker playing raconteur Ben Tilley — $50 million
Age: 51
Son of property developer Barry Tilley, one of Kerry Packer’s golfing partners, Tilley started out running a Double Bay debt collection agency before turning to property development. Is presently James Packer’s paid companion. Separated father of two.
Enjoys: Playing high stakes poker, golfing, skiing, travelling, living the high life, rock and roll.
Dislikes: Being called the Billionaire’s Babysitter.
Banker and financial adviser Mark Burrows — $50 million
Age: 70+
Son of Children’s Medical Research Foundation founder Douglas Burrows and his model wife Valma, Burrows is an investment banker with Credit Suisse and senior adviser to the Global Green Finance Initiative. Ex boss of Sydney Theatre Company and Museum of Contemporary Art. Widowed father of two adult daughters.
Enjoys: Working as an adviser to create a green economy, gardening, the arts, carpentry, tinkering.
Dislikes: Publicity, people who are impressed by money.
Radio commentator Alan Jones — $40-$50 million
Age: 77
Sydney talk-radio stalwart who earns upwards of $4.3 million a year. Invested in lavish properties in Sydney, the Southern Highlands and Queensland. Is also a large stakeholder in Macquarie Radio Network and thoroughbred horses. Unmarried.
Enjoys: The finer things in life — attending Wimbledon and Ascot in June, horse racing, rugby, tennis, letter writing, Tony Abbott, entertaining, sponsoring male sports stars, pastels.
Dislikes: The Wagner family of Toowoomba, the prime minister, rugby boss Raelene Castle,
stablemate Ray Hadley, getting old, wearing one colour.
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating — $30 million
Age: 74
ALP leader who was Australian Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996. Property investor. Art collector. Chairman of a corporate advisory boutique. Divorced father of four.
Enjoys: Listening to classical composer Gustav Mahler at midnight, the study of architecture and urban planning, public speaking, reading, writing.
Dislikes: Feeling redundant, the tinnitus that plagues him, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s vision for Sydney.
Investment banker Michael Rothner — $30 million
Age: 50-ish
Ashe Morgan chief executive, a major donor and president of the Central Synagogue.
Recently separated father of three.
Enjoys: Hobnobbing with stars including Cate Blanchett, Aston Martin cars.
Dislikes: Looking like most conservative bankers, so has styled himself as rock star.
Cricket legend Shane Warne — $20-$30 million
Age: 48
Retired Australian cricket star, television commentator, part-time Sydneysider and notorious ladies man.
Enjoys: Player poker, punting, romantic conquest, golfing, a drink, listening to Coldplay, wearing underpants with silly motifs, sexting, London night-life, drinking vodka Red Bulls, eating ham and pineapple pizza..
Dislikes: A bald pate, an expanding waistline, getting old, non-smoking areas, ‘fancy’ food
Company director Taine Moufarrige — $30 million
Age: 48
CEO and director of Light Energy Australia and director of property management company Servcorp, founded by his father Alf, who is worth $600 million. Unmarried.
Enjoys: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, of which he is patron, being a Liberal Party donor, rowing.
Dislikes: Delegating so can be in control like his father.
Property developer and Labor Party donor Ron Medich — estimates vary from $1,000 to $100 million
Age: 70
The son of a Croatian migrant, Medich followed his father into property development transforming industrial land at Liverpool into residential land. Last month found guilty of the 2009 contract killing of business associate, Michael McGurk, over an alleged blackmail attempt, Medich currently resides in jail and awaits sentencing. Recently claimed to have less than $1,000 to his name though his estranged wife Odetta, mother of his six children, is living an affluent life on the French Riviera which suggests there might be some cash lying about.
Enjoys: Long lunches, horse racing, expensive suits, lending money to friends, Tuscany Ristorante in Leichardt, the hope he may one day enjoy a conjugal visit behind bars, Hollywood actor Rod Taylor.
Dislikes: His former friend turned snitch, boxer “Lucky” Gattellari, prison coffee, anyone holding out on a loan, his wife.
KPMG glamour banker Jon Adgemis — $10-$20 million
Age: 40
The son of Greek migrants, Adgemis has helped run KPMG since he was 28, and was recently appointed to a director-style position in mergers and acquisitions. Has a growing investment portfolio including property.
Enjoys: Driving his Maserati, expensive suits, beautiful women (dated Cheyenne Tozzi), travelling, cultivating an air of mystery.
Dislikes: Freeloaders, publicity.