Ron Brierley a captain of industry who likes to splash the cash

Ron Brierley projected an image of success and philanthropy — using the term ‘Lionheart’ to brand many aspects of his life.

Sir Ron Brierley with Dianne Thorpe, and Julia Schaeffer at a race meeting at Sydney’s Randwick racecourse.

Ron Brierley projected an image of success and philanthropy — using the term “Lionheart” to brand many aspects of his life.

The 82-year-old multi-millionaire, who lives on one of Sydney’s most affluent streets, is known to regularly host parties on his luxury yacht, Lionheart, is a charity patron and a financial supporter of many organisations, including the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Sir Ron, a bachelor who was born in New Zealand, is a cricket fanatic and avid stamp collector with a penchant for dining in the restaurants of Double Bay.

He is secretive about his private life, even with his friends. He built a fearsome reputation as a transformer of underperforming companies, often seizing control of firms, reviving their fortunes and selling for a profit.

Having launched, in his late teens, a stockpicking newsletter, Sir Ron started his eponymous company, RA Brierley Investments, in 1961. Later listed on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges, the company, which came to be known as Brierley ­Investments Ltd, started with little to no capital but grew into an ­Australian-New Zealand conglomerate with global investments.

It was at one time the largest company in New Zealand.

Sir Ron stood down as head of Brierley in 1989 but retained a board seat with the title of founder president. Since then he has taken on the chairmanship and directorships of several companies.

Earlier this year, Sir Ron left his position as chairman of Mercantile Investment, citing age and ill health and saying he could “no longer give the full commitment to the company which it requires and shareholders deserve”.

Sir Ron is a former trustee of Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, and is known to spend most southern winters at his home in England where he likes to watch Wimbledon and cricket Test matches.

He has reportedly in the past flown members of the 1948 Invincibles Australian cricket team to Lord’s to watch the Ashes.

Earlier this year, the first scholarship in his name was given for cricket players from regional and rural Australia.

He is allegedly one of the largest buyers and sellers of stamps in the world. He was involved in a legal stoush over a $3.5m stamp collection in 2014.

He is also a lover of Australian shiraz and was thanked by the Australian Chess Federation for his “generous” financial support of the 1995 Australian Chess Grand Prix.

He was knighted in 1988 for “services to business management and the community”.

A spokesman for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “It would not be appropriate for the Prime Minister to comment on the possible forfeiture of honours at this stage.”

Knighthoods can be revoked under “very rare” circumstances.