Anthony Pratt: from albatross to amigo in one weekend

Businessman Anthony Pratt with newly re-elected federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and a copy of The Australian. Picture: Supplied.

Billionaire Anthony Pratt’s social curse has finally been broken.

The evening after the packaging magnate jinxed Bill Shorten ’s election night party - after performing a similar trick at Malcolm Turnbull’s equivalent function in 2016 - Pratt was on the guest list for the wedding of Tony Gray and Emily Ross at The Prince in St Kilda.

Pratt’s attendance on Sunday night naturally lead to some concern that disaster might strike.

Would the groom, a longstanding Pratt family confidante, get lost and not arrive? Would the bride, a former journo-turned PR adviser, have second thoughts?

So it is with some relief that Margin Call can confirm that, in contrast to Australian voting public’s cold feet for Shorten on Saturday night, the two participants went through with it.

Furthermore the celebration - attended by a flotilla of billionaires and their hangers on - was a great success.

Political albatross Pratt came along with his partner Claudine, his mother Jeanne, his sisters Fiona Geminder and Heloise Pratt, along with Visy director and HWT chairman Penny Fowler and Pratt Foundation trustee Sam Lipski.

Long-time Lowy consigliere Mark Ryan gave the best man speech, revealing why Gray was given the nickname “Spider”.

Barrister-turned Real Housewife of Melbourne Gina Liano presided over the wedding ceremony before the crowd of 350 guzzled 110 magnums of French champagne specially imported for the occasion by Alex Waislitz’s right hand man, former Macquarie banker Peter Landos.

Waislitz, in his trademark hat, was along with his romantic partner Rebecca Behbahani and business partner Antony Catalano.

Also among the crowd were a few other Waislitz favourites, notably Melbourne investor Sam Brougham, Bell Potter principal Hugh Robertson and Thorney Opportunities director and former Packer lieutenant Ashok Jacob.

Other rich-listers in the crowd included businessman Peter Scanlan and Sussan boss Naomi Milgrom, while there was a sprinkling of CEOs including Mesoblast boss Silviu Itescu and BetEasy chief Matt Tripp.

Given Gray and Ross were both hacks (in different eras) on the now extinct Business Review Weekly, there was a roll-call of the fourth estate led by BRW’s founding editor Robert Gottliebsen, his modern day successor John “The List” Stensholt and his partner in wealth-watching, Damon Kitney.

Ever the pragmatist, on Monday Pratt popped around to see the Liberals ascendant treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Pratt even brought a copy of The Oz - with the Margin Call inspired “Messiah from The Shire” headline - to show he was back on board.

No doubt the Visy cheque book will soon ensure that all is forgiven.