Australia's wealthiest 200
Businessman Richard Pratt died just four weeks short of being named the richest person in Australia. His son Anthony now tops BRW's Rich 200 list.
Opposition leader and Liberal top-dog Malcolm Turnbull re-entered the BRW Rich 200 list this year after a four-year absence, ranking number 182 with wealth of $178 million based on his property and funds investments.
The Federal Opposition Leader, who is the MP for Wentworth based in Sydney's richest eastern suburbs, wouldn't comment on his net worth when he spoke to reporters today.
Read the full Rich 200 list story
''They have no idea. It is a speculative figure,'' he told reporters in Canberra.
''It's flattering but there are many people in the parliament that have done well in their business lives.''
''Probably few have done as well as Mr (Prime Minister Kevin) Rudd and his wife Therese Rein. I wish them well for it, I applaud them for their success.''
When Mr Turnbull took over as leader of the Liberal party last year, he made much of his childhood living with his divorced father in a rented flat.
"What an unfortunate time in this country’s political history to be cited on a rich list," said Monash University professor of politics Nick Economou.
"It’s known in the community that Mr Turnbull comes from substantial means," he said.
However, "there might be greater scope for the Labor Party to make mischief with this given the proximity of this release during the midst of the global financial crisis".
czappone@fairfax.com.au
BusinessDay with AAP
