Gold Coast tobacco tycoon reveals his surprising new political aspirations

HE’S known for his outrageous partying and multiple girlfriends. Now, Travers “Candyman” Benyon thinks he should be mayor.

NOTORIOUS party-boy millionaire Travers “The Candyman” Benyon may soon enter the political race to be the mayor of the Gold Coast.

The former model, who helped his parents set up Australia’s lucrative FreeChoice tobacco store chain, revealed his surprising political aspirations during a recent interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The married father-of-four, who openly lives with his family and bevy of girlfriends in his lavish 15-bedroom, 19-bathroom “Candy Shop Mansion”, told reporter Ann Wason-Moore he was considering challenging current mayor Tom Tate for the top job.

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“I have thought about running for council, running for mayor. I’m still thinking it through but if the timing is right …” he told the publication.

“The Gold Coast has so much potential but we’re just not going down the right track. We could be the Miami, the South Beach, of Australia.

“We need to embrace our glitz and glamour, not pretend to be something that we’re not.”

Travers said he wanted to “celebrate who the Gold Coast is”.

“The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was the perfect example — we were too scared to be who we are and we were boring instead,” he said.

“That’s the worst thing you can be. I had everyone telling me I should have organised it — and you know what? I should have.”

Travers 'The Candyman' Benyon’s Instagram is filled with near-naked women. Picture: Instagram

Travers insisted he wasn’t criticising the current mayor, but said he had what it takes to help the Gold Coast reach its full potential.

“We just need more action,” he said.

With an estimated wealth of around $70 million and an Instagram feed featuring endless scantily-clad women — not to mention his infamously wild parties, including the annual Freaks Unleashed bash — Travers has long been described as “Australia’s answer to Hugh Hefner”.

The 46-year-old has sole custody of his two eldest children Valentino, 19, and Lucciana, 17, from his first marriage with former Miss World 1991, Ninibeth Leal.

He also has two younger children, Velicia and Serafina, with his second wife, Taesha Beynon.

Earlier this year, Travers again made headlines after revealing his plans to expand his harem by advertising for five “extremely attractive” women to share his bed at the Candy Shop Mansion, telling The Sun Online his three kingsize beds could fit “five more girlfriends”.

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