Seven Australians of Greek descent feature in the BRW 200 Rich List published this week, the annual inventory of Australia’s two hundred wealthiest individuals and families.
Leading the charge is veteran South Australian property developer Con Makris and family, ranked at 47, with an estimated worth of $1.03bn, up from $940m in 2014.
Former barrister and founder of Jubilee Mines, Perth’s Kerry Harmanis, is Australia’s second wealthiest Greek, coming in at 83 with $617m, up $7m from last year.
Sydney car king Nick Politis, owner of WFM Motors and chairman of Sydney’s Roosters NRL club, is valued at $594m; a cool $184m increase on his 2014 standing.
Fellow Sydneysider Theo Karedis comes in at 91. The principal of Arkadia Property Services, who made a fortune in the liquor sector and diversified into property, saw his stock rise from $500m a year ago to $559m this year.
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s own Harry Stamoulis fared more modestly over the same period, with his 2014 estimated wealth of $540m increasing by just $1m. Mr Stamoulis, whose new mansion in Toorak said to be worth $60m is nearing completion, drops from his previous number 86 position on the Rich List to 95.
Victorian Spiros Alysandratos, chief executive of Consolidated Travel Services is estimated to have seen his net worth grow to $332m in 2015. Mr Alysandratos, who is ranked 174, down from his 163 ($320m) ranking last year, was reportedly inspired to start his wholesale air ticketing services in the 1960s after having trouble booking a flight to Europe.
Geneva-based George Koukis, who migrated from Greece to Australia in 1971, is in 175th spot. Mr Koukis’ wealth – estimated at $332m – is derived from his banking software company Temenos, a business which he bought for less than $1 million in 1993.
Named in the BRW Rich Families List, the Paspaley family ranked no. 15 with $891 million.