Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Australia's Richest People Revealed in 2013 BRW RICH 200

  • Gina Rinehart remains the richest Australian – topping the 2013 BRW Rich 200.
  • # 2 is Frank Lowy, and # 3 James Packer.
  • Total wealth of the Rich 200 is down $4.4 billion to $176.8 billion but when Rinehart is excluded, total wealth rises by $2.7 billion to $154.8 billion.
  • The average wealth per person on the Rich 200 has fallen to $884 million, down from $906 million last year.
  • Cut-off rises $25 million to $235 million.
  • Chinese-based property developer Hui Wing Mau debuts at 7th spot on the list with a $4.82 billion fortune.
  • 14 women make the cut-off for 2013 BRW Rich 200. Therese Rein drops off after debuting last year.

After riding the resources boom into the top spots of the Rich 200, the country’s mining magnates have taken hits to their wealth in 2013 and allowed some BRW Rich List veterans to take starring roles in the 30th anniversary edition of the BRW Rich 200.

The biggest fall has been felt by the richest Australian of all time: Gina Rinehart.  Rinehart retains her firm grip on the top spot despite the fall in her wealth to $22.02 billion from $29.17 billion last year.

All of the five biggest falls on the 2013 BRW Rich 200 (on both dollar value and proportional bases) are from the mining sector.

Among them are Fortescue Metals Group’s Andrew Forrest, who is down $2.23 billion to $3.66 billion and political aspirant Clive Palmer, down to $2.2 billion from $3.85 last year.

“It’s been a tough year for the miners, with falling commodity prices and concerns about the Chinese economy weighing heavily,” Rich 200 editor Andrew Heathcote said.

“But strong equity markets have allowed some of the best-known members of the list to boost their fortunes and regain some ground on the miners.”

A former number one, Frank Lowy, moves from third last year to second on the 2013 BRW Rich 200 after gaining about $400 million. His $6.87 billion valuation is underpinned by some modest growth at his shopping centre business Westfield Group.

One of the big movers on this year’s BRW Rich 200 is James Packer. His wealth has risen to $6 billion from $5.21 billion on the back of strong growth in his gambling interests taking him to the #3 spot.

Anthony Pratt has had another good year at #4 on the BRW Rich 200. The family-owned flagship business Visy continues to achieve strong results here and Pratt’s US-based box making business Pratt Industries is growing quickly. 

Last year’s number two, Ivan Glasenberg – CEO of Glencore Xstrata – falls to fifth spot on the BRW Rich 200 this year. His wealth is down to $5.61 billion from $7.40 billion last year.

Thirty-year list veteran Harry Triguboff has boosted his wealth to $4.95 billion from $4.85 billion last year.  He is ranked #6.

The highest ranked debutant this year is Chinese-based property developer Hui Wing Mau whose $4.82 billion fortune pushes him into 7th position on the 2013 BRW Rich 200. Mau is chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Shimao Group and has built a property empire on the back of China’s property boom.
Hui Wing Mau is reflective of a growing trend on the Rich 200. 

“The 30th Rich 200 provides an opportunity to look back at how the list has changed and one of the clear trends is that Australian wealth has become more global,” Heathcote says.

“There are 16 members of the list based overseas and, as always, the Rich 200 features many great migrant stories, with members who were born in Nepal, China, Malaysia and throughout Europe.”

John Singleton, whose ugly spat with horse trainer Gai Waterhouse has created weeks of headlines, has finally got some good news. He is up $35 million on last year to $355 million and #135 on BRW’s Rich 200.

The most notable departure from this year’s list is Nathan Tinkler. This year, he falls below the $235 million cut-off for the Rich 200.

There are 14 women on this year’s Rich 200. Yenda Lee, from the Bing Lee retail empire, joins the BRW Rich 200 after previously appearing on BRW’s Rich 50 Families list.
In the 30th anniversary year, BRW’s editorial team reviewed the combined list of brilliant business people – 977 names – who have qualified for the Rich 200 over the past three decades to choose the greatest entrepreneur: Kerry Stokes. 

Best known for his role as chairman of the Seven Network, Stokes is one of only 19 business people to feature on every list since 1984, when his personal wealth was estimated at $30 million. Today, he has a business empire worth an estimated $2.47 billion and the title of Australia’s 12th richest person.
He stands out not just for his incredible rags-to-riches story, but for his ability to pick two of the great trends in Australian wealth in the last three decades: media and mining.

This year, BRW has also compiled the top “30 moments from the past 30 years” of the Rich 200. Kerry Packer features prominently; he dominated the list for many years and built the basis of a family fortune that continues to feature prominently. 

Top of the “30 Moments List” is Packer selling his Channel Nine stations to Alan Bond in 1987 before regaining control three years later. It was a moment that spawned one of the most memorable lines in the history of Australian business: “You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime.”

Top 5 Rich in Australia
     NAME                         WEALTH      INDUSTRY
 1) Gina Rinehart              $22.02 b       Resources
 2) Frank Lowy                 $ 7.40 b        Property
 3) James Packer             $6.00 b         Gambling, investment 
 4) Anthony Pratt & family $5.95 b         Manufacturing, investment
 5) Ivan Glasenberg           $5.61 b         Resources

   Residences of Top 200 Rich in Australia
STATE
NUMBER
New South Wales
61
Victoria
52
Queensland
28
Western Australia
19
Overseas
16
South Australia
6
Tasmania
2
Australian Capital Territory
1


 

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