Rich list more of a male bastion

Women’s numbers dive 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Richest women 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

THERE are just 22 women on the list of Australia’s 200 richest people, with Gina Rinehart still the highest ranked, followed by her estranged daughter Bianca.

Paper, packaging and recycling magnate Anthony Pratt tops the 2017 Financial Review Rich List with a fortune of $12.6 billion, propelled to No.1 by the growth in America of the Pratt Industries packaging business.

Property tycoon Harry Triguboff has been knocked down to second spot, despite his wealth increasing to $11.45 billion, while stronger commodity prices boosted Ms Rinehart’s fortune by more than $4 billion to an estimated $10.41 billion, putting her in third spot.

The 2017 list features 60 billionaires — the most ever in its 34-year history — and the total wealth of all rich listers has soared to $233.1 billion.

But the number of women on the list is down from a record 23 in 2016. Women have comprised about 10 per cent of the list for some time, Financial Review Rich List editor John Stensholt said.

“It’s disappointing, quite frankly, and it just shows you how difficult it is for female entrepreneurs in this country to make the big money,” he said.

The second richest woman in Australia, Bianca Rinehart, controls 23 per cent of Hancock Prospecting and has an estimated wealth of $2.74 billion.

The combined wealth of the list’s top five males is $46 billion, compared to the combined wealth of $18.37 billion held by the top five females.

Multiplex heir Tim Roberts, now the operator of Perth Jet Centre and hedge fund manager Warburton Group, is the list’s highest ranking new entrant, sitting at No. 62 with a $986 million fortune.

The youngest person, 33year-old Owen Kerr, who runs private foreign exchange broker Pepperstone Group, slips in at 200 with wealth of $342 million.

Departures from the list include the late James Fairfax and Zip founder Michael Crouch.