Rich List 2024
Featured
- Exclusive
- Richard Pratt
Pratt denies she ‘abdicated responsibility’ to Waislitz
Billionaire Visy heiress Heloise Pratt rejects claims by her ex-husband that she failed to pay attention to the couple’s business affairs, new court documents reveal.
- Patrick Durkin and Max Mason
Private empire behind property developer Bob Ell suffers profit slide
Leda Holdings has reported a near-halving in annual profit due to a higher cost of sales, according to newly filed accounts.
- Jenny Wiggins
James Packer dines with Trump, Elon Musk
New social media photos show the Australian billionaire seated with Elon Musk and the new president at dinner in Mar-a-Lago.
- Primrose Riordan
These founders with nothing to lose are coming back for a second act
A chance at being part of tech’s next wave was too great an opportunity for founders Sam Kroonenburg and Leigh Jasper to resist, even though they’ve already staged billion-dollar exits.
- Yolanda Redrup
- Exclusive
- Victoria residential property
Alex Waislitz and Tim Gurner feud over luxury St Kilda tower
The wealthy businessmen are at loggerheads over problems at the Saint Moritz development. Mr Waislitz says Mr Gurner is trying to silence residents.
- Primrose Riordan and Sarah Thompson
January
- Exclusive
- Commercial property finance
The secretive Saunders family is going all in on lending to the rich
The late John Saunders founded Westfield with Frank Lowy. The family investment vehicle sees plenty of opportunities in helping the cash-strapped wealthy.
- Primrose Riordan
December 2024
Rich Lister Sam Arnaout caps year with mega Sydney pubs deal
The real estate magnate has bought Sydney’s Cabramatta Hotel and the El Cortez Hotel in a transaction worth more than $180 million.
- Nick Lenaghan
Smorgon stoush triggers gold mine fire sale
One of Australia’s most powerful families have pushed their Chinese partners in the Stawell gold mine into receivership.
- Peter Ker
‘A man is not a plan’: How Naomi Simson created an experiences empire
Naomi Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001 on a shoestring budget. Now she’s looking to expand the company into the international market.
- Yolanda Redrup
- Opinion
- Governance
I sent Andrew Forrest 50 hard questions. He invited me to have a talk
After months of reporting, and only carefully worded written responses from Fortescue, I found myself with the iron ore billionaire on the company jet in the Pilbara.
- Primrose Riordan
- Investigation
- Governance
Inside the ‘unending chaos’ at Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue
After a frenetic world tour, the billionaire had to wind back his hydrogen plans. A Financial Review investigation looks at what led to an exodus of executives.
- Primrose Riordan
- Exclusive
- Governance
Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest in his own words
After The Australian Financial Review sent 50 questions following an investigation, the iron ore billionaire and green energy advocate sat down for an interview.
- Primrose Riordan
$3 hot dogs and a mini-shop behind $1.2b petrol bet
Service stations with the lot have arrived in Sydney as part of Viva Energy’s national rollout of the OTR brand, in a makeover that is 30 years overdue.
- Simon Evans
- Exclusive
- Rich Listers
Late billionaire David Hains’ sons go their separate ways
People close to the family said that the split of assets was amicable. One son of the pioneering hedge fund manager has quietly started his own family office.
- Primrose Riordan
How a billionaire and government saved a key Sydney theatre
Griffin Theatre Company gave the world Cate Blanchett and David Wenham, but a soaring budget for a much-needed rebuild almost took it away.
- Updated
- Michael Bailey
November 2024
- Exclusive
- Capital raising
Billionaire John Van Lieshout backs sustainability investor Infragreen
Infragreen has secured a $40 million investment from Rich Lister John Van Lieshout’s fund to acquire a peaking power plant.
- Yolanda Redrup
- Exclusive
- Philanthropy
Australia’s wealthiest women join forces to supercharge philanthropy
Women from Australia’s biggest philanthropic donors met in Canberra on Thursday for She Gives’ first roundtable, including Fiona Geminder and the Fox family.
- Yolanda Redrup
One of the few remaining building groups on the ASX hits the gas
Maas Group was founded by former Rabbitohs player Wes Maas two decades ago. With three acquisitions in one day, it is turbocharging its expansion plans.
- Simon Evans
This Rich Lister has a plan to save cinema (and his business)
Blackmagic Design’s Grant Petty hopes his new camera, which shoots at 16 times the standard image quality, can lift box-office sales and those of his company too.
- Michael Bailey
The stock set to propel one of WA’s richest back onto the Rich List
Alan Tribe’s net worth has soared in line with ASX-listed PYC Therapeutics, which after more than 23 years in businesses is finally on the edge of success.
- Yolanda Redrup
- Exclusive
- Philanthropy
Lonely Planet founders not content with giving away half their wealth
Tony and Maureen Wheeler are doubling down on their commitment to Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre with a big commitment to match donations.
- Yolanda Redrup
Nufarm entrepreneur Doug Rathbone a winner in $475m Elders buyout
The 79-year-old, who made his fortune via the crop chemicals business, will pocket a small windfall from the buyout of Delta Agribusiness by its larger rival.
- Simon Evans
- Exclusive
- Gaming & wagering
Laurence Escalante’s VGW bulks up exec ranks as casinos bristle
Virtual Gaming Worlds was one of the early beneficiaries of a US legislative loophole in states where gambling is otherwise banned. It’s now under attack.
- Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
‘If we lose everything, we can just get a regular job’
From a childhood that was “pretty tough” in parts, Dom Pym founded 22 companies including neobank Up, which he sold for $116 million. Now he wants to elevate Australia’s venture ecosystem.
- Yolanda Redrup
October 2024
Property downturn nips into Walker Group profit
The empire founded by the late Lang Walker is powering on, with a $36 billion development pipeline and landmark projects stretching from Sydney to Malaysia.
- Nick Lenaghan