Media titan Harold Mitchell’s girlfriend sues for greater slice of his $60m fortune

The girlfriend of late media titan Harold Mitchell is challenging his will in a bid for more of his $60m fortune after being gifted $5m cash.

Nadia Taylor is challenging Harold Mitchell’s $60m will. Picture: Getty Images

The girlfriend of the late media titan Harold Mitchell is challenging his $60m will, calling for a greater slice of his fortune for her “proper maintenance and support” after being gifted $5m cash.

Nadia Maree Taylor is suing the executors of Mitchell’s estate seeking “further provision” after his will, which described her as his “friend”, left her the greatest cash sum of any beneficiary.

In a fresh writ filed earlier this month against executors Gavin Debono, from Pitcher Partners, and Mitchell Family Office chief executive Gregory Solomon, Ms Taylor claimed that at the time of his death, Mitchell “had a moral duty to make provision out of his estate for (her) proper maintenance and support”.

In documents filed with the Supreme Court on October 10, Ms Taylor described herself as Mitchell’s “domestic partner” and sought court orders “for further provision for her proper maintenance and support from the estate of the deceased”.

Media mogul and humanitarian Harold Mitchell signed his will just 10 days before his sudden death. Picture: Stefan Postles

The will of the media mogul listed Mitchell’s two adult children as his greatest benefactors, to share in an estimated $40m of assets to be put in trust.

But Ms Taylor was the beneficiary of the estate’s greatest cash sum of $5m, while a handful of his staff were gifted between $150k and $1m, and his five grandchildren given $500k to be put into trust until they reach the age of 21.

It comes as Mitchell’s $10m+ property portfolio was understood to have been broken up, with his sprawling Spring St apartment believed to have had smaller titles already sold.

His Park Tower penthouse home, made up of the 11th floor and half of the 10th floor, had been listed earlier this year for more than $6m before it was withdrawn for sale, but was believed to have been sold in part.

Another multi-title property, a Merrijig country retreat, was also due to be sold for about $3m while his former York St South Melbourne offices were auctioned off earlier this month for $2.7m.

Mitchell’s $55.6m will listed his Victorian properties as being valued at $5.5m, but asking prices were set to net his estate a much larger sum.

The media mogul and humanitarian — who founded Mitchell and Partners, once the nation’s largest media buying agency — left his mass estate to be divided between his adult children, friends and colleagues.

He signed his will just 10 days before his sudden death in February from complications after a knee surgery.

Mitchell’s children — Stuart and Amanda — were ordered to flip a coin for many of his belongings to decide who got first pick. Picture: Stefan Postles

In a typically eccentric move, his children — Stuart and Amanda — were ordered to flip a coin for many of his belongings to decide who got first pick.

Mitchell’s wife of 50 years, Bevelly, wasn’t listed as a beneficiary.

The influential businessman’s estate consisted of $5.5m in Victorian properties, $1.3m in art and antiques, $73k in jewellery, a fleet of luxury cars, shares, cash and yet-to-be clawed back loans.

The majority of his assets, $34.5m, was made up of loans and unpaid beneficiary entitlements that Mitchell was due from his Harold Mitchell Group.

The philanthropist, who was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for giving away tens of millions of dollars to charity throughout his life, died on February 10 this year, aged 81.

He was farewelled in a state funeral on May 13, what would have been his 82nd birthday.

Lawyers for Ms Taylor did not wish to comment.

Originally published as Media titan Harold Mitchell’s girlfriend sues for greater slice of his $60m fortune