Australia’s dynasties go toe-to-toe with new money as society insiders reveal the REAL hierarchy of our elite families… and the prestigious names that have fallen from the A-list

For a nation descended from convict labourers, Australia sure is a snobby place.

While we fool ourselves into thinking we are the country of the battler, the truth is we’re just as obsessed with wealthy, landowning families as our British cousins.

While the term ‘Australian dynasty’ may seem like a misnomer, there are in fact plenty of families who match the description perfectly – and some of them have been fixtures of high society for generations.

But there’s nouveau riche upstarts snapping at their heels, from industries like tech, construction and the rag trade, threatening to upend the strict social order.

Our high society snitch passed on a list doing the rounds ranking all the big families from the top end of town – and it exposes who the real power players are and which dynasties are fading in the modern era…

THE A-LIST

The Forrests are seen with daughter Sophia (centre left) and her fiancée Zara Zoe (centre right)

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest is seen with his estranged wife Nicola on September 25, 2013, in NYC

The Forrests 

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest is a prominent businessman with his fingers in the mining pie, but with a strong vision for a clean energy future.

He is best known as the former CEO of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), and currently serves as the company’s non-executive chairman.

Twiggy, 63, is a descendent of respected Western Australian politicians David Forrest (great-grandfather) and Mervyn Forrest (grandfather).

He has three adult children with his ex-wife Nicola, Grace, Sophia and Sydney, and has previously said he won’t be leaving them his $33.29billion fortune.

The Hays

Heiress Lou Hay united two of Australia’s wealthiest families in 2022 when she tied the knot with property developer Jake O’Neil.

Heiress Lou Hay united two of Australia’s wealthiest families in 2022 when she tied the knot with property developer Jake O’Neil

Her father Donald Hay, who died aged 76 in 2019 from melanoma, founded Hayco after working with his father Frederick Dean Hay at the South Australia Brush Company (SABCO)

Donald was survived by his wife Maribi Hay (left) and their children Christopher, Lou (right) and Simone (centre)

The couple welcomed their first child a year later, a son named Otis Donald. 

Lou is the daughter of the late Donald Hay, brush pioneer and founder of Hayco, while Jake works for his family’s property investment and development business, Addenbrooke.

Jake and Lou, a beauty and fashion content creator, previously dated in high school before reuniting in 2020. 

Lou’s father Donald, who died aged 76 in 2019 from melanoma, founded Hayco after working with his father Frederick Dean Hay at the South Australia Brush Company (SABCO).

The father-son duo took over SABCO from Donald’s grandfather William E. Hay, who had established the business in 1892.

Donald was survived by his wife Maribi Hay and their children Christopher, Lou and Simone. 

The Symonds 

Lou isn’t the only wealthy outsider to marry into the O’Neil family.

Aussie Home Loans heiress Deborah Symond tied the knot with eldest son Ned O’Neil in 2018 in a lavish ceremony in the Whitsundays. 

The daughter of financier John Symond welcomed her first child with Ned, son Beau, in 2019. They later had a daughter, Violet, born in 2021. 

Aussie Home Loans heiress Deborah Symond tied the knot with Ned O’Neil in 2018 in a lavish ceremony in the Whitsundays

The daughter of financier John Symond welcomed her first child with Ned, son Beau, in 2019. They later had a daughter, Violet, born in 2021 (pictured: John and Deborah Symond in 2015)

‘Aussie John’ Symond is pictured with estranged wife Amber in May 2019

John, 77, is an entrepreneur best known as the founder of Aussie Home Loans.

He is married to wife Amber McDonald but reports indicate they are separated.

He has two children from his previous marriage to Kerrie Fox, daughter Deborah and son Stephen, who is married to marketing executive Ed Smith.

The O’Neils 

Millionaire superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O’Neil is the patriarch of the savvy property-developing O’Neil dynasty. 

The O’Neils make their millions under the auspices of family company Addenbrooke, which Denis founded in the 1990s after selling off his business Hymix Concrete. 

Hymix Concrete was founded by the O’Neil family in 1956 and quickly became the largest private quarrying, transport and concrete business in Australia.

Denis O’Neil had three sons and one daughter: (from left to right) Toby, Poppy, Jake and Ned

Poppy lives in Bellevue Hill with her freight heir husband Anthony Tzaneros, from the famous Tzaneros logistics family

Denis is also linked to the new-money Gazal family through his nephew Adam, who is married to Real Housewives of Sydney star Nicole Gazal

Ned O’Neil and Deborah Symond share children Beau and Violet

Property developer Jake O’Neil is married to heiress Lou Hay, with whom he shares son Otis

Addenbrooke’s baton has been taken up by Denis’ three sons: Ned (married to Deb Symond), Jake (the husband of Lou Hay) and Toby (who has yet to wed an heiress).

The O’Neil boys also have a sister, Poppy, who lives in Bellevue Hill with her freight heir husband Anthony Tzaneros, from the famous Tzaneros logistics family.

Denis is also linked to the new-money Gazal family through his nephew Adam, who is married to Real Housewives of Sydney star Nicole Gazal.

The Waterhouses

The Waterhouse family has a long history of being big-shot bookies Down Under, with the late Bill Waterhouse reigning as patriarch until his death aged 97 in 2019.

Bill had three children, Robbie, Louise and the estranged David. Robbie married horse trainer Gai Waterhouse (née Smith), who has since become the most high-profile member of the family.

Robbie and Gai share children Kate and Tom Waterhouse, and the four of them are considered to be Australian racing royalty.

Gai now helms the family empire as the so-called ‘first lady of Australian racing’, with Tom next in line to inherit the throne. 

Gai and Rob Waterhouse attend the 2018 Spring Carnival Launch at Ormond Hall in Melbourne

Tom and Kate Waterhouse celebrate after Fiorente, the horse trained by their mother, wins the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in 2013 

Tom is married to Hoda Vakili (centre)

Tom seamlessly transitioned from on-track bookmaker to business innovator when he grew his online gambling business then sold it in 2014 for $34million.

The racing heir, now CEO of venture capital fund Waterhouse VC, is married to Hoda Waterhouse (née Vakili), whose family are new-money tech titans.

Meanwhile, Kate has made a name for herself as a fashion writer, socialite and regular TV commentator.

She married Roosters NRL great Luke Ricketson, a premiership winner with the foundation club, on the Italian coast in 2012. 

The Inghams 

The Ingham siblings Katie, Tamie and Johnny made headlines in 2023 when they all jetted off to Europe to wed in lavish ceremonies within weeks of one other.

Johnny tied the knot with socialite Rey Vakili, the sister of Hoda Waterhouse, in Italy on June 30. 

Only weeks earlier, Tamie had said ‘I do’ with celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi in Paris.

Johnny tied the knot with socialite Rey Vakili, the sister of Hoda Waterhouse, in Italy on June 30

Only weeks earlier, Tamie had said ‘I do’ with celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi in Paris

The last Ingham to marry, shortly after Johnny, was Katie, the founder of plant-based lubricant Tussle, who wed her long-term girlfriend Ali Rosenberg in Tuscany

The last Ingham to marry, shortly after Johnny, was Katie, the founder of plant-based lubricant Tussle, who wed her long-term girlfriend Ali Rosenberg in Tuscany.

The Ingham company was founded by Walter Ingham Sr. in 1918, when the family-owned business purchased 42 acres of bushland in Liverpool, western Sydney.

The acreage was initially farmed by Walter Ingham Jr. for fruit and vegetables before the family turned to the poultry business, for which they are now famous.

Walter Jr handed the enterprise down to his sons Bob and Jack who grew the poultry business into the largest in Australia and New Zealand.

In 1983, the brothers made The Australian Financial Review’s first-ever Rich List and were reported to have a combined wealth of $150million.

The Triguboffs 

Known as the ‘apartment king’, billionaire Harry Triguboff founded property development and construction company Meriton in 1963. 

Harry, 92, is now ranked as Australia’s fourth-richest person, with the father-of-two worth about $23.8billion, according to the 2024 AFR Rich List.

Known as the ‘apartment king’, billionaire Harry Triguboff founded property development and construction company Meriton in 1963

While New South Wales is his home state, ‘high-rise Harry’ has previously said he prefers to work in Queensland.

He has two children with his wife Rhonda Triguboff, Orna and Sharon.

The Lews

Self-made rag trade success story Solomon ‘Solly’ Lew started off as a plucky teenager selling dresses to Myer Emporium in Melbourne.

He went on to become a retail tycoon with a reported net worth of almost $4billion, according to the AFR’s 2023 Rich List.

Sarah Lucas (centre) is the former daughter-in-law of rag trade tycoon Solomon Lew. Her daughter Bella Lew (right) is considered a rising star of Melbourne high society

One of his sons, Steven Lew, was married to the socialite Sarah Lucas from 2003 to 2011. After their divorce, she went on to wed restaurateur Chris Lucas in June 2023.

Steven and Sarah’s daughter Bella Lew is considered a rising star of Melbourne high society.

THE B-LIST 

The Packers

The Packer family has played a significant role in the Australian media, politics and high society since the beginning of the twentieth century.

James and Gretel Packer, following the death of their father Kerry and a $1.2billion settlement in 2005, inherited investments in Crown Resorts and other companies. 

James, a tabloid fixture since his youth, took control of Consolidated Press Holdings Limited, and was named the richest person in Australian in 2006 and 2007. 

Following his father’s death, he turned his focus away from his family’s traditional media businesses in order to create a worldwide gambling empire.

But he resigned as executive chairman of Crown Resorts in 2018 and has since sold off all his shares in the company after a 2020 independent inquiry found Crown was unsuitable to hold a casino licence, which took some of the shine off his family name.

James Packer, a tabloid fixture since his youth, took control of Consolidated Press Holdings Limited, and was named the richest person in Australian in 2006 and 2007

James’ sister Gretel is mother to daughter Francesca (pictured) and son Ben from her first marriage to Nick Barham. She also shares son William with her second husband Shane Murray

James shares children Indigo, 16, Jackson, 14, and Emmanuelle, 12, with his ex-wife Erica Packer (née Baxter).

Meanwhile, Gretel is mother to daughter Francesca and son Ben from her first marriage to British financier Nick Barham. She has another son, William, with her second husband Shane Murray.

James and Gretel are the grandchildren of Australian media tycoon Sir Frank Packer, and the great grandchildren of journalist and proprietor Robert Clyde Packer.

The Playfairs

Nick Adams, the man who introduced Nadia Fairfax to high society, descends from the famous Playfair family, whose members were often spotted in the social pages in the ’50s and ’60s

Nick Adams’ surname doesn’t scream high society, though he has made quite the impression in Sydney’s elite social circles.

Many credit the New York-based sports media executive with being his ex-girlfriend Nadia Fairfax‘s ticket to fame after he introduced her to high society during their long-term relationship.

He was so successful in elevating her status that many were convinced – incorrectly – that she was a member of the renowned Fairfax publishing family (more on that later).

But here’s where his heritage comes in: Nick’s blue blood comes from the famous Playfair family.

The Playfairs were frequently spotted in the social pages in the 1950s and 1960s, with the patriarch at the time, Thomas Playfair, being a NSW politician and meat exporter.

The Onisforous 

Theo Onisforou was the chief money man for Kerry Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings before transitioning into property development where he would make serious money acquiring and revitalising unique and neglected buildings.

Among his many achievements as a developer, Theo is credited with transforming Paddington’s famous shopping district known as The Intersection.

The tycoon, who bought a harbour-front home in Elizabeth Bay with his then-wife Heidi for $23.5million in 2007, has since diversified from property and retail into large-scale cattle farming.

His exact net worth is unknown, although a Greek newspaper estimated it as between $100-120million in 2015. His fortune has likely swelled significantly since then.

Recently, his son Angus, who is set to inherit his millions, has been dating model and ‘It’ girl Megan Blake Irwin, who has a slew of famous exes under her belt.

Angus has a twin sister, Stephanie, who has been described as a socialite to watch. The Onisforous also have another daughter, Emerald.

Theo Onisforou was the chief money man for Kerry Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings before transitioning into property development where he would make serious money

His son Angus (left) is set to inherit the Onisforou fortune. Angus has a twin sister, Stephanie (right), who has been described as a socialite to watch

Recently, Angus has been dating model and ‘It’ girl Megan Blake Irwin (right)

The Abedians 

The Abedian family, particularly Soheil and his son Sahba, are prominent figures in Australian property development, particularly on the Gold Coast. 

The Iranian-Australian blue bloods founded Sunland Group, which has developed many notable projects, including the Q1 building and the Palazzo Versace hotel. 

Patriarch Soheil has been awarded a Centenary Medal of Australia and Order of Australia Medal, and been presented with the Keys to the City of the Gold Coast.

His son Sahba became a solicitor in 1998, the same year he became company secretary of the Sunland Group.

In 2010, Sahba proposed to Gold Coast eye stylist Amy-Jean Linnehan, but the pair called off the engagement just months later.

Sahba went on to marry Nava Moghbelpour in 2014, while his sister Mona is married to property developer Riaz Rezvani.

The Abedian family, particularly Soheil and his son Sahba, are prominent figures in Australian property development. (Pictured: Soheil and former Queensland premier Peter Beattie in 2002)

The Oatleys 

The late Bob ‘Popeye’ Oatley made a fortune selling coffee and cocoa beans in Papua New Guinea before he tried his hand at winemaking in Australia.

The yachtsman pocketed almost $1.5billion selling Rosemount to wine company Southcorp in 2001, which he used to buy Hamilton Island in 2003 for $200million. 

Bob’s eldest son Sandy inherited his holdings in 2016 when he died at the age of 87. 

Bob was also survived by children Ian and Rosalind, with all members of his family acting as directors of the family office Balmoral Australia.

Sandy’s daughter Nicky, the brand manager for Hamilton Island, has managed to become the most high-profile Oatley since the death of her grandfather.

Nicky, who shares two children with her husband Jonathan Pearce, has maintained Hamilton Island’s reputation as one of Australia’s most iconic resort destinations.

Among the world’s largest privately owned resort islands, Hamilton Island also served as the exclusive venue for Deb Symond’s three-day wedding to Ned O’Neil in 2018.

The late Bob ‘Popeye’ Oatley made a fortune selling coffee and cocoa beans in Papua New Guinea before he tried his hand at winemaking in Australia. Pictured with his eldest son Sandy

David Leckie, who died in 2021, was married to wife Skye, a prominent socialite-philanthropist

The Leckies

David Leckie, who died in 2021, was married to wife Skye and together they shared sons Ben and Harry.

He was a prominent figure in Australian television for more than two decades. He worked as the CEO of the Nine Network from 1990 to 2001 and later as CEO of Seven West Media from 2003 to 2012. 

His widow Skye made a name for herself as a Sydney socialite, and is considered and influential philanthropist. 

Though they are not a longstanding dynasty, their contributions to media and philanthropy earn them a spot in the B-list. 

The nouveau riche 

The Laundys 

Arthur Laundy Jr is the patriarch of the Laundy Hotels empire.

Arthur Laundy Jr is the patriarch of the Laundy Hotels empire. The family’s wealth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, with Arthur Jr’s son Stu Laundy (right) now CEO 

He inherited the million-dollar company from his father Arthur Sr, the founder, after he died in a plane crash in 1969.

Relatively new money when compared to others on this list, the Laundys didn’t get started in the hospitality game until 1945.

But Arthur Jr, along with his wife Margaret Paul, whom he married in 1970, thrived in the hotel business, with their family company now owning and operating a large portfolio of hotels and pubs across the country.

The family’s wealth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, with Arthur Jr’s son Stu Laundy now serving as CEO of the Laundy Hotel Group.

Outside of running the family business, Stu also has a reputation as a playboy and even had a winning role on dating show The Bachelorette, starring Sophie Monk. 

Arthur Jr’s other son, Craig Laundy, is a former Liberal Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for Reid from 2013 until his retirement in 2019.

The Gazals

The Gazals are a prominent business family in Sydney who made their name in the fashion and textile industries. 

Denis O’Neil’s nephew Adam is married to Nicole Gazal (centre right), whose grandfather Nasri is from Beirut and has three sons, Nabil Sr, Nazih and Nahi, and a daughter, Nina

Nicole’s father Nabil Sr, who is in construction and property development, continued the family tradition of giving his children names which start with the letter ‘N’

Their legacy is rooted in the Gazal Corporation, which was founded in 1958 by Joe Gazal, who immigrated to Australia from Lebanon in the 1940s. 

There also appears to be a second Gazal family that rose to prominence after immigrating to Australia in the 1980s. It’s unclear if the two Gazal clans are distantly related or if the shared family name is merely a coincidence.

Denis O’Neil’s nephew Adam is married to Nicole Gazal, whose grandfather Nasri is from Beirut and has three sons, Nabil Sr, Nazih and Nahi, and a daughter, Nina.

Nicole’s father Nabil Sr, who is in construction and property development, continued the family tradition of giving his children names which start with the letter ‘N’. 

He welcomed Nicole, Nora, Nabil Jr and Nicholas with his wife Maud. 

The Maloufs 

Ian Malouf earned himself the title of ‘Australia’s richest garbo’ after he sold his waste management service Dial-a-Dump, which he founded in 1984, for $577million in 2018.

Malouf, who has a net worth of more than $1.13billion, has since gone on to splash his cash on sprawling beachfront properties in Sydney.

Ian Malouf earned himself the title of ‘Australia’s richest garbo’ after he sold his waste management service Dial-a-Dump, which he founded in 1984, for $577million in 2018

He also snapped up a record-breaking $60million penthouse on top of Sydney’s ANZ building in 2021. 

The Hemmes 

Justin Hemmes, the billionaire Merivale hospitality mogul and pub baron, can thank his business-savvy parents for a great start in life.

John and Merivale Hemmes first made their fortune in the fashion business in the 1950s before later transitioning into hospitality.

The Merivale Group now owns approximately 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Australia. 

Justin, who is known for his lavish lifestyle, shares daughters Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight, with his model ex Kate Fowler, the sister of Georgia Fowler. 

He is expecting his third child with socialite girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, who is the younger sister of Australia’s Next Top Model star Simone.   

Justin Hemmes, the billionaire Merivale hospitality mogul and pub baron, can thank his business-savvy parents for a great start in life. (Pictured with girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel)

Justin Hemmes is pictured with actress Amber L’Estrange and his parents, Merivale and John Hemmes, at Fox Studios in Sydney on July 31, 2009

Nadia Fairfax is an outlier in this list as she is commonly mistaken as a member of the Fairfax publishing dynasty. She’s actually the daughter of a rugby league player

Nadia Fairfax

Nadia Fairfax is an outlier in this list as she is commonly mistaken as a member of the Fairfax publishing dynasty.

However, it is mere coincidence that she shares a surname with the media empire now owned by Nine Entertainment.

Far from being old money, Nadia is actually the daughter of Russell Fairfax, a former rugby league and union star of the 1970s and 1980s.

While the former champion gymnast has no connection to the Fairfax dynasty, she managed to leverage her way into Sydney high society through her ex Nick Adams, whom she dated for five years before their split in September 2018. 

And finally… the tech titans

Melanie Perkins clawed her way into wealth when she co-founded the DIY graphic design platform Canva with husband Cliff Obrecht

Melanie Perkins 

Melanie Perkins clawed her way into wealth when she co-founded the DIY graphic design platform Canva with her husband Cliff Obrecht.

Dubbed Australia’s fifth-richest woman as recently as last year, Melanie first made money selling spray-on tattoos at a Perth fair.

She now leads a multinational tech powerhouse which was last valued at $48.7billion, making it worth more than Woodside, Rio Tinto and Woolworths.

However, Melanie and Cliff don’t intend to hold on to all that wealth.

In 2022, they signed up to Bill Gates‘ The Giving Pledge, committing to giving away the majority of their fortune to charitable causes during their lifetime.

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar 

Michael Cannon-Brookes and his mate Scott Farquhar became ‘accidental tech billionaires’ after they founded software company Atlassian in 2002.

The business partners started the company with the goal of earning the then-typical graduate salary of AU$48,500 without working for a large corporation.

Michael Cannon-Brookes (left) and his mate Scott Farquhar (right) became ‘accidental tech billionaires’ after they founded software company Atlassian in 2002

Since 2018, Michael has been involved in the Australia-Asia Power Link, a huge electricity infrastructure project to be developed in the Northern Territory by Sun Cable in a collaboration with businessman Twiggy Forrest.

Meanwhile, Scott has resigned as the joint CEO of Atlassian to focus on his family, philanthropy, and furthering the global technology industry.

The Vakili family

Harry and Jilla Vakili are an intensely private couple who built their wealth in the computer business with their company mcrIT. They live at a sprawling property in Castlecrag.

Harry and Jilla Vakili’s daughters Hoda and Rey are known for their high society marriages

Hoda, known as the ‘Persian Princess’ due to her Iranian background, wed racing royalty Tom Waterhouse in the Italian town of Taormina in 2011

Their daughters Hoda and Rey are known for their high society marriages. 

Hoda, nicknamed the ‘Persian Princess’ due to her Iranian background, wed racing royalty Tom Waterhouse in the Italian town of Taormina in 2011. 

They first met in university when he was studying commerce and she was an architecture student.

Rey, a Yale and Stanford graduate who once held the coveted job as assistant to U.S. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, tied the knot with chicken heir Johnny Ingham in the same town in 2023.

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