Rich List 2024
Featured
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
- 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
This Month
- 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
$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
- 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
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
Packer in $120m payday as big bets on Nvidia, Meta pay off
The billionaire’s private investment vehicle Consolidated Press Holdings recorded a profit of more than $590 million last year, new accounts show.
- Primrose Riordan
Westpac splits from ABA; Attempted kidnapping; Next battle for offices
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Crypto casino Rich Lister victim of attempted kidnapping
Billionaire Tim Heath was attacked in his home in Estonia in July by a group of foreign nationals who attempted to abduct him.
- Yolanda Redrup
The brothers making a fortune revolutionising healthcare with AI
Aengus and Dimitry Tran’s Harrison.ai wants to help 1 million people every day through its AI diagnostic technologies.
- Yolanda Redrup
Richard Pratt’s love child free to sue family for slice of the fortune
Paula Hitchcock, 27, is the child of the late packaging billionaire and will be allowed to continue her legal pursuit for access to the family trust.
- Max Mason
September
- Exclusive
- Rich families
How the wealthy daughters of Westfield co-founder John Saunders invest
Previously unreported filings for Terrace Tower, owned by the late businessman’s family, reveal assets worth $1.85 billion. But it has been a bumpy two years.
- Primrose Riordan and Ronald Mizen