Bill Foley already owns 10 other New Zealand restaurants and bars, including Auckland’s Soul Bar & Bistro and Jervois Steak House in Auckland and Queenstown.
He also owns Bannockburn’s Mt Difficulty vineyard and luxury Wairarapa lodge Wharekauhau Country Estate.
Mr Foley, through Foley Hotels LP, bought Eichardt’s from Melbourne-based Imperium Group’s Andrew Cox, who acquired the exclusive hotel in 2010 then added The Grille in the new building next door in 2016.
It is understood Christchurch-raised Mr Cox retains his other local interests, including The Spire Hotel and superyacht Pacific Jemm, which hosts scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu.
Mr Foley, who Forbes magazine estimates has a net worth of $US2.6 billion ($NZ4.4b), also owns the Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team in the United States. — Philip Chandler
