Graeme Hart.
New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart ranks 144th in
Forbes' annual list of billionaires with an estimated net worth
of $US5.3 billion ($NZ7.56 billion).
Forbes describes Mr Hart as a self-made businessman who made
his money from investments.
"Master of the leveraged buyout, once drove a tow truck. Now
the richest person in Australia and New Zealand," the authors
of the list said.
The commentary explains how Mr Hart's wholly owned investment
company Rank Group has turned into a global packaging
powerhouse since buying Carter Holt Harvey.
"Though Hart was not doing much dealmaking in the last 12
months, he did restructure some of his holdings," the
commentary says.
Mr Hart is 54. He has an MBA from Otago University and is
married with two children and lives in Auckland.
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is the new richest person in the
world, knocking Microsoft founder Bill Gates into second spot
on the list. There are 1011 billionaires around the world in
2010, up from 793 last year. Of those 89 are women, up from
72 in 2009.
Mr Hart rates equal with Giorgio Armani and ahead of Ralph
Lauren.
Australia's wealthiest person is Andrew Forrest, who is 208th
on the list. James Packer is 258th. Richard Chandler, who has
New Zealand citizenship, is 307th equal on the list with a
fortune of $US3.1 billion.
He is described as a beekeeper's son who is now one of Asia's
biggest philanthropists and most innovative investors. The
Singapore-based New Zealander made his first fortune when he
and brother Christopher, also a billionaire, invested
proceeds from selling their parents' retailing business in
Hong Kong real estate.
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