Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey has today been named Australia’s 21st richest person, with a $1.55 billion fortune, according to BRW‘s annual Rich 200 list. Solomon Lew, who is significant shareholder of Breville Group through his Premier Investments company, is slightly higher on the list than Harvey, with a personal wealth of $2.04 billion.
Both Harvey and Lew, however, pale in comparison to wealth of Australia’s richest person, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, who is now worth a whopping $20 billion, which is almost three times as much as the #2 entry on the list, the Anthony Pratt and the Pratt family, owners of the Visy Group.
If Harvey does harbour ambitions to move up the list, it is fortunate that he has such a sanguine view of hard work. The 75-year-old told Jared Lynch at the Sydney Morning Herald that he wants to work forever:
‘‘The people I know who have retired, so many of them lose interest and die. They just become nobodies over night. Not everyone, but many of them,’’ he said.
The retail industry has contributed 25 entrants onto the BRW Rich 200, placing its third behind Property and Services. Other retailers making the list include Morry Fraid and Zac Fried from Spotlight, Geoff Harris from Flight Centre and former Sanity owner and current BridgeClimber Brett Blundy.
Joining Gerry Harvey on the list for the final time is Harvey Norman cofounder Ian Norman, who died in May 2014 with an estimated wealth of $735 million.
BRW Rich 200 Top 5
1. Gina Rinehard — $20 billion
2. Anthony Pratt & Family — $7.6 billion
3. James Packer — $7.2 billion
4. Frank Lowy — $7.2 billion
5. Ivan Glasenberg — $6.6 billion