Bolter claims rich list spot

A FEW weeks ago, not many had heard of Glencore chief executive Ivan Glasenberg, or even knew he was an Australian citizen.

That all changed last week when the South African-born Jewish businessman was named the country’s second-richest person, worth an estimated $8.8 billion.

The 53-year-old’s debut on the BRW Rich 200 list came after Glencore, the world’s largest commodities trader, recently decided to float on the stock exchange.

Often described as fiercely private and enigmatic – calls by The AJN to request an interview with him went unanswered this week – Glasenberg has lived in Switzerland for the past 20 years.

BRW said he was only recently considered for inclusion on the list when it discovered in filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission last month that Glasenberg had taken Australian citizenship after a brief stint living in Australia in the late 1980s.

Other reported tidbits known about the billionaire is that he was once a race-walking champion of both South Africa and Israel.

He missed competing in the 1984 Olympics only because of a technicality relating to his then-Israeli nationality. Of his wealth, he recently said in a rare interview with a London newspaper: “Haven’t thought about it – I’m too busy with the float, but it’s not going to change my life.”

West Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart, meanwhile, claimed this year’s mantle with a net worth of $10.3 billion, pushing out last year’s number one, Jewish shopping centre magnate and philanthropist Frank Lowy, who slid five places to sixth position with a net worth of $4.98 billion.

Other Jewish achievers who rounded out the top-10 included Rich 200 stalwarts Anthony Pratt and family ($5.18 billion) in fourth position, Harry Triguboff ($4.3 billion) in seventh position and John Gandel ($3.45 billion).

Jewish families also took out the top positions in the wealthiest family list – Smorgon family ($2.69 billion), Liberman family ($2.23 billion) and Besen family ($2.08 billion).

This year’s BRW Rich 200 saw a $167.3 billion, or 23 per cent, increase in wealth on last year under the influence of a flourishing resources sector.

To earn a place in the BRW Rich 200 list this year, the entry level jumped from $185 million to $215 million, with NSW netting themost (66) entries followed by Victoria (51).

CHANTAL ABITBOL

Frank Lowy (pictured) came in at number six