The pandemic has shaken rich listers with rapid-fire public offerings, cryptocurrencies and moving stock prices.
The adage that with every disaster comes opportunity could be seen on the Forbes’ 25th annual list of the world’s wealthiest which exploded to an unprecedented 2,755-660 more than a year ago.
In Australia, Gina Rinehart, Chair of Hancock Prospecting, continues to dominate the list with her wealth at $31.06 bilion, and her family members are also scattered along the list with her eldest daughter Bianca and Ginia and Hope at 47 , 48 and 49 with $2.31 billion apiece.
The richest Greek Australian was Nick Politis, founder of WFM Motors and Chair of the Roosters, from the retail and property sector who came in at number 54 on the Australian list with his worth at 2.02 billion. With a 27 per cent stake in Eagers Automative, Mr Politis cashed in on the car sale boom during the pandemic. His stake is worth more than a billion compared to $127 million last March, reports the Australian Financial Review. His wealth is also boosted privately by car dealerships.
Further down the list at number 91 are the Makris family who had their humble beginnings in the Chicken Barbeque business which has grown to be a sprawling property group with retail assets across South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Con Makris arrived in Adelaide in 1964 when still a teenager and got to work creating his empire. Several years ago he put forth an independent advisory board to guide expansion and stepped back from day-to-day operations. Most of the business focus has been in Queensland, and he has a total wealth of $1.26 billion.
A neck’s breath away from Makris are Nicholas Paspaley and family with last year’s worth at $1.26 billion sitting at 92 of the Top 100. The group’s pearls, worn by celebrities such as Meghan Markle, account for less than half of the revenue in the border group. The interests of the Paspaley Group are vast and cover a fleet of planes, livestock, wineries and property. The late Nicholas Paspaley senior fled Kastellorizo during WWI and set up a pearling company which is now owned by his three children: Nicholas Paspaley Jr, Rosslyn Bracher and Marilynn Paspaley.
