‘Shocked’: Former Sydney Swans owner Geoffrey Edelsten dead at 78

Tributes have emerged for former Sydney Swans owner Geoffrey Edelsten, who passed away in his Melbourne apartment on Friday afternoon.

Former Sydney Swans owner and controversial businessman Geoffrey Edelsten has died aged 78.

The Herald Sun revealed Edelsten is believed to have passed away in his Melbourne apartment on St Kilda Road on Friday afternoon.

According to the report, the death is not being treated as suspicious.

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Edelsten was the first private owner of the Sydney Swans, purchasing the license of the club for a reported price of $6.4 million in 1985.

He was also a long-term benefactor of Carlton Football Club, and was awarded life membership in 2013.

According to 7News, the Swans are expected to wear black armbands in memory of Edelsten during Friday night’s game against Hawthorn at the SCG.

Geoffrey Edelsten dies in his apartment on St Kilda Road.

Geoffrey Edelsten dies in his apartment on St Kilda Road.

Edelsten’s controversial career

Edelsten started his career as a doctor, but he was deregistered in NSW and Victoria due to his unconventional medical practices.

He was also jailed in 1990 for paying a hitman to assault a former patient.

The colourful GP later founded Allied Medical Group with a business partner in the 2000s.

Edelsten made headlines for his high-rolling lifestyle, which included a fleet of Rolls-Royces and relationships with younger women.

His tumultuous three-year marriage to ex-wife Leanne Nesbitt ended in 1988.

The flamboyant entrepreneur married fitness instructor Brynne Gordon in November 2009 in a $3.3 million wedding at Melbourne’s Crown Casino which hosted 550 guests — said to be Australia’s most expensive wedding.

Margot Robbie, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and American actress Fran Drescher also attended the lavish wedding.

The couple’s 41-year age gap raised eyebrows, but Gordon insisted she married for love, not money.

However, the Edelstens divorced in 2014.

Edelsten then married 26-year-old model Gabi Grecko in 2015.

Edelsten was reported to have fathered a love child in the 80s with Isabel Beard, who was a former patient of the deregistered doctor.

Isabel Beard and son Matthew in 1994 taken from a New Idea magazine article.

A paternity test in 1994 reportedly proved that the boy, Matthew Beard, born in 1989, was 99.7 per cent likely to be Edelsten’s son - news that apparently came as a shock to Edelsten.

In a 1994 New Idea interview, Beard said Edelsten told her he was unable to have children when they embarked on their affair.

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Geoffrey Edelsten with Brynne Edelsten.

Geoffrey with Brynne.

Tributes flow for Edelsten

The former doctor’s second wife, Brynne Edelsten, released a statement through a spokesman saying it was of “great sadness to hear of the passing of Dr Geoffrey Edelsten.”

“On behalf of Ms Brynne Edelsten, we send our deepest and sincerest condolences,” he said. “Brynne and Geoffrey enjoyed some truly beautiful moments, including their wedding in 2009.

“While their marriage ended after 5 years together, Brynne remains grateful for the good times the couple shared and is deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news of his passing.”

His third wife, Gabi Grecko, posted an image of the pair to her Instagram but is yet tgo comment on her ex-husband’s death.

Former Swans player Greg Williams told 3AW on Friday evening: “He was a great man Geoffrey.

“People had an opinion of him but he was a lot different than the actual opinion. He was a great guy with a great heart and he loved the Swans even though he barracked for Carlton.

“He loved football and he couldn’t have looked after me any better than he did.

“I loved Dr Edelsten. All the blokes who played for the Swans I’m sure there’s great memories there.”

Former Carlton player David Rhys-Jones told the Saturday Herald Sun: “I went to his wedding to Brynne. He was a bit different and he loved the game. He grew up not far from Princes Park and would go to games with his mum.

“I always saw him at corporate functions and he was just a great supporter of Carlton”.

CNN journalist Amy Croffey tweeted: “Very sorry to hear this news, I had many a colourful conversation with Geoffrey Edelsten, including on his wedding day to Gabi Grecko. May he Rest In Peace in one of his eccentric, OTT suits.”