The Australian’s annual The List – Australia’s Richest 250 has been released today delivering a comprehensive snapshot of Australia’s wealthiest individuals. Curated by wealth expert John Stensholt, the list provides valuable insights into the trends shaping Australia’s economic landscape, attracting both high-end advertisers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Australia’s richest continue to favour property as a key wealth driver, with 55 of The List – Australia’s Richest 250 making their fortunes in real estate proving the Great Australian Dream is still very much alive – for some of us.
Property’s enduring reign
Gina Rinehart tops the list with a staggering $46.34 billion, but it’s the dominance of property that continues to stand out.
“As long as we’ve got land to live on, property will always be strong,” Stensholt told Mediaweek. “It’s safe, steady, and certain.” While some billionaires amass their fortunes in other industries like transport or tech, they often reinvest in property as a reliable asset.
He highlights the scarcity factor and the tendency for wealth to find a safe haven in real estate. “But another point with property is that people will make their money in one industry like transport or technology, and then often park it in real estate as a safe investment,” he said.
Gina Rinehart
The rise of the digital generation
While property remains king, the rise of technology is undeniable.
Stensholt said the sector is reshaping the landscape of wealth creation in Australia, with 25 names on The List tied to tech – 10% of the total. While property remains king, the ability to build a global company from home soil is an undeniable trend.
“These days, you don’t need to go to Silicon Valley,” he said. “You can start a business in Australia, scale it globally in five or ten years, and make money much faster than industries like mining, which take decades.”
The younger generation is leading this shift, with entrepreneurs like Robbie Ferguson (Immutable) and Ed Craven (Stake.com) proving that blockchain, gaming, and fintech are major new wealth drivers. “They’re taking old industries – like banking – and reinventing them through blockchain and crypto,” Stensholt adds.
Ed Craven
Atlassian and Chemist Warehouse: Two very different success stories
Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar remain in the top five, highlighting the potential of software-driven wealth. However, Stensholt notes that their story is unique.
“Atlassian’s share price is incredibly high, but they haven’t delivered huge profits yet,” he explains. “There’s still a lot of potential priced into that.”
Meanwhile, Chemist Warehouse has emerged as one of the biggest financial shake-ups of the year. “With their ASX listing via a reverse takeover of Sigma Healthcare, they’ve crystallised a massive amount of wealth,” Stensholt says. “There was a lot of wealth there before, but because it was a private company, we didn’t know the full extent of it.”
Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar
Luxury brands and aspirational audiences
Stensholt is quick to remind readers that The List doesn’t just reveal who’s making money – it’s also a prime platform for luxury brands targeting Australia’s wealthiest. Advertisers in this year’s edition include Rolex, Tiffany & Co, Viking Cruises, Porsche, Harvey Norman, Abercrombie & Kent, and Omega.
“These brands are evolving to appeal to a younger, tech-savvy audience,” Stensholt notes. “Look at the Grand Prix – Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and others are tapping into this new audience that’s come along via Netflix and Formula One. But at the end of the day, the core factor is still wealth.”
While The List is a premium product aimed at high-net-worth individuals, it also reaches a wider aspirational audience. “People read these stories for the how-to factor,” Stensholt says. “It’s not just about wealth – it’s about the entrepreneurial journey, the ups and downs. Readers want to learn from these business leaders, whether they want to be like them or work for them.”
The List – Australia’s Richest 250 | Top 20 2025
- Gina Rinehart – $46.34 billion
- Harry Triguboff – $31.48 billion
- Mike Cannon-Brookes – $29.45 billion
- Scott Farquhar – $29.19 billion
- Anthony Pratt & Family – $28.57 billion
- Clive Palmer – $22.32 billion
- Nicola Forrest – $16.06 billion
- Andrew Forrest – $15.01 billion
- Richard White – $14.82 billion
- Cliff Obrecht – $14.02 billion
- Melanie Perkins – $14.02 billion
- Kerry Stokes – $13.56 billion
- Michael Dorrell – $13.54 billion
- Frank Lowy – $10.90 billion
- Vivek Sehgal – $10.10 billion
- Alan Wilson & Family – $9.59 billion
- Ivan Glasenberg – $9.44 billion
- Jack Gance – $8.77 billion
- Sam Gance – $8.77 billion
- Mario Verrocchi – $7.65 billion
The 2025 edition of The List – Australia’s Richest 250 is available online exclusively to subscribers
at richest250.com.au and as a large-format glossy magazine inserted into The Australian newspaper
today, Friday 21 March.