2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand—As the sun rises over the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, it illuminates not only natural wonders but also the extraordinary wealth amassed by a select few individuals who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s economic landscape. In the year 2024, the top echelons of wealth in New Zealand are dominated by titans of industry, pioneering entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders who have shaped and defined their respective sectors.
In this article, we unveil the top 10 richest individuals in New Zealand for the year 2024. From seasoned business magnates to innovative disruptors, these individuals have accumulated staggering fortunes through their ingenuity, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Join us as we delve into the lives, achievements, and fortunes of these remarkable individuals, shedding light on the secrets behind their success and the industries that have propelled them to the summit of economic prosperity.
Here are the 2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand and their Net Worth
These individuals represent the pinnacle of success and achievement in New Zealand, demonstrating the diverse paths to wealth and influence in the island nation’s vibrant economy. Here is a countdown of the 2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand and their net worth.
10. Sir Michael Fay: Net Worth $800 Million
As a prominent businessman and investor, Sir Michael Fay’s net worth solidifies his status as one of New Zealand’s wealthiest individuals. Known for his contributions to finance, philanthropy, and yachting, Sir Michael Fay remains a respected figure in both business and society.
Sir Michael Fay is a partner in the merchant bank Fay Richwhite in New Zealand. He is one of the richest people in New Zealand. His personal wealth was mostly amassed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, at which time he played a key part in New Zealand’s Fourth Labour Government’s structural adjustment of the economy. He is estimated to be worth more than NZD 920 million, making him New Zealand’s tenth richest citizen in 2017.
Richwhite and Midavia Rail Investments, a business owned by Richwhite and Fay, were charged with insider trading by the New Zealand Securities Commission in October 2004. Richwhite was accused of informing Midavia to sell $63 million worth of Tranz Rail stock, despite the fact that Richwhite was aware of Tranz Rail’s secret financial troubles. Midavia paid $20 million to settle insider trading charges related to Tranz Rail in June 2007. The payments were provided “without any acknowledgment of wrongdoing,” according to the commission. The village is the most massive of its sort in Australasia.
9. Goodman and Family: Net Worth $850 Million
The Goodman family’s net worth of 850 million underscores their success in the property development and investment sectors. With a focus on commercial and industrial real estate, the Goodmans have established themselves as key players in New Zealand’s property market.
The net worth of the Goodman family is $850 million. The Goodman Group is owned and controlled by the family. The group is Australia’s largest industrial property company, with shares listed on the ASX. The majority of the Goodman family’s business operations are based in Germany. In sixteen nations, the Goodman family owns, develops, and administers industrial real estate. Business parks, logistics centers, and warehouses all fall under this category. Institutional investors can access their specialized management services as well as industrial and commercial property assets through their investment partnerships.
The company has 28 offices in sixteen different countries. They also serve over 1,600 consumers around the world. The Goodman family was placed sixth richest on the yearly list, with a fortune of $1.8 billion, up from $750 million four years ago. The family took over the leadership of property investment company Macquarie Goodman and renamed it Goodman International, resulting in a $300 million increase from the previous year.
8. Stephen Jennings: Net Worth $980 Million
Stephen Jennings’ net worth of 980 million is a testament to his achievements in finance and investment banking. Known for his entrepreneurial ventures in emerging markets, Jennings continues to make significant contributions to global finance.
Bachelor’s in Business, Massey University; MPhil (Hons) in Economics, University of Auckland. Formerly with: New Zealand Treasury; Credit Suisse First Boston, New Zealand, London, Moscow. 1995, co-founded Renaissance Capital; has pioneered foreign investment and capital flows to Russia, leading numerous financings and M&A transactions in Russia and the CIS; has held various positions, including Head, Investment Banking, Head, Sales and COO; currently, CEO, Renaissance Group, responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Group and its companies; Chair, Executive committee and Board of Directors.
7. Michael Friedlander: Net Worth $1.2 Billion (2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand)
With a net worth of 1.2 billion, Michael Friedlander is a prominent figure in New Zealand’s real estate sector. His successful property investments have contributed to his substantial wealth and influence.
Michael Friedlander‘s wealth stems from his massive investments in Ponsonby and Grey Lynn, as well as Remuera, Parnell, Mt Eden, and Onehunga. He began a promising career about 50 years ago, and there has been no turning back since. This family is also well-known for its charitable endeavors. Michael Friedlander is a difficult landlord with a big empire of over 220 homes spread over Auckland.
Over the years, the portfolio of commercial and residential real estate has grown to encompass a large block of land in the Waikato valued at more than $18 million. He is one of the richest people in New Zealand. His two sons, Jason and Daniel, run the family business, which includes Samson Corporation and Sterling Nominees. The family is tight-lipped about its various investments in the media, but the Friedlander Foundation, it reveals more about its long-standing and significant generosity.
6. Rod Drury: Net Worth $1.3 Billion
Rod Drury’s net worth of 1.3 billion stems from his entrepreneurial prowess in the tech industry. As the founder of Xero, a leading accounting software company, Drury has revolutionized the way businesses manage their finances.
Rodney Kenneth Drury (born 1966) is a New Zealand technology entrepreneur, predominately known for his association with accounting software company, Xero. Drury was CEO of Xero until 2018, after founding the company in 2006.
Drury made his initial fortune through Glazier Systems, a New Zealand software development and consulting company, which was sold in 1999. He subsequently established Context Connect and an email technology company called Aftermail. He is a former director of Trade Me, and was involved in the now-defunct Pacific Fibre project.
5. Todd Family: Net Worth $1.3 Billion
With a net worth of 1.3 billion, the Todd family has solidified their status as key players in New Zealand’s business landscape. Their diverse portfolio includes investments in energy, healthcare, and real estate.
Todd Corporation is owned by the Todd family in New Zealand. The Todd Family is involved in the extraction and refinement of petroleum products. Todd’s has also assisted in the assembly of a wide range of automobiles as well as light and large commercial vehicles. The Todd Corporation, located in Wellington, New Zealand, is a big private New Zealand firm worth $3.3 billion that is owned and controlled by the Todd family. Henry Tait, chairman of the board, and Jon Young, Group Chief Executive Officer, currently lead the company.
In addition, the company currently employs 800 people in 20 locations across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. This group contains eight members of the Senior Management Team and nine members of the Board of Directors. Todd Corporation is thought to have started in Central Otago in 1885 when Scottish immigrant Charles Todd formed and operated either a wool scouring business or a country goods store. After the company began importing motor vehicles in 1929, it evolved into a car sales and servicing business operated by his son and namesake Charles Todd.
4. Sir Peter Robert Jackson: Net Worth $1.5 Billion (2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand)
As a world-renowned filmmaker, Peter Jackson’s net worth of 1.5 billion reflects his immense contributions to the entertainment industry. Known for directing blockbuster hits like “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Jackson has garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success.
Sir Peter Robert Jackson ONZ KNZM (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known as the director, writer and producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) and the Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), both of which are adapted from the novels of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. Other notable films include the critically lauded drama Heavenly Creatures (1994), the horror comedy The Frighteners (1996), the epic monster remake film King Kong (2005), the World War I documentary film They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) and the documentary The Beatles: Get Back (2021). He is the fourth-highest-grossing film director of all-time, his films having made over $6.5 billion worldwide.
Jackson began his career with the “splatstick” horror comedy Bad Taste (1987) and the black comedy Meet the Feebles (1989) before filming the zombie comedy Braindead (1992). He shared a nomination for Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh for Heavenly Creatures, which brought him to mainstream prominence in the film industry. Jackson has been awarded three Academy Awards for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. His other awards include three BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy Awards and four Saturn Awards among others.
His production company is WingNut Films, and his most regular collaborators are co-writers and producers Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Jackson was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002. He was later knighted (as a Knight Companion of the order) by Sir Anand Satyanand, the Governor-General of New Zealand, at a ceremony in Wellington in April 2010. In December 2014, Jackson was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Mowbray SIblings: Net Worth $ 2.8 Billion
The Mowbray Siblings boast a net worth of 1.8 billion, thanks to their success in the business world. Mowbray are prominent entrepreneurs, with ventures spanning technology, fashion, and entertainment.
The Siblings are made up of Matt, Nicholas James Mowbray and Anna Jane Mowbray. Together, they co-founded a toy and consumer products manufacturer Zuru. The initial name of their company was Guru and this was changed to Zuru as Guru had been trademarked by another company. According to Mowbray, by the end of 2020 Zuru employed 8500 people, had 26 offices, and a turnover of over $1 billion. Successful toys were Robo Fish (the world’s fastest selling toy in 2013) and Bunch O Balloons (the top selling toy in the United States for three months in 2016). In 2018, Mowbray was awarded New Zealand Entrepreneur Of The Year by multinational professional services network Ernst & Young.
The Mowbray siblings bought Coatesville mansion in Coatesville in 2017 for NZ$32.5 million when they were in their early 30s. The mansion is one of New Zealand’s most expensive homes and is famous for the January 2012 raid when Kim Dotcom lived there. According to the National Business Review in 2021, the net worth of the siblings is NZ$3bn
2. Richard Chandler and Family: Net Worth $2.9 Billion
The Chandler family’s net worth of 2.9 billion secures their position as one of New Zealand’s richest families. Richard Chandler, a renowned investor, has made significant contributions to philanthropy and sustainable development through his foundation.
Richard Chandler is one of the richest people in New Zealand. He has a track record of buying struggling businesses and then rebuilding them. Hoan My Medical Corporation is 80 percent owned by him. Richard Chandler, a New Zealand native, moved to Singapore in 2006 to operate Clermont Group, his own investment firm. Clermont has holdings in the healthcare, financial services, and aerospace, among other things.
Chandler and his brother, Christopher, cofounded the investment business Sovereign Global, which he now controls as Legatum Group in Dubai. Clermont owns shares in SBFC, an Indian small business loan provider, and Hoan My, a Vietnamese healthcare company. Clermont Aerospace is the owner of MagniX, an aviation engineering company, as well as a controlling position in Eviation, an Israeli light electric aircraft manufacturer.
1. Graeme Hart: Net Worth $9.7 Billion (2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand)
With a net worth of 9.7 billion, Graeme Hart reigns supreme as New Zealand’s wealthiest individual. Known for his savvy investments and acquisitions, Hart has built an empire spanning various industries, including packaging and beverage.
Graeme Hart is a New Zealand business entrepreneur. After graduating from high school, Hart worked as a tow truck driver and a panel beater. Hart earned his MBA from the University of Otago in 1987. His research thesis explains the growth strategy for Rank, which was then a modest staffing firm. This method relies on well-performing companies’ cash flow to fund debt, which improves the equity value of the initial investors when the debt is paid off. In 1990, Hart got a significant break when he bought the Government Printing Office for less than its market value. The purchase price was 1.4 times earnings, and Hart was given favorable payment conditions.
New Zealand’s then-Prime Minister David Lange initially refused to approve the deal. The next year, he purchased Whitcoulls Group, which included a bookshop chain as well as office and stationery businesses. He has since sold these holdings. His trip began with a log cabin and ended with a gorgeous white villa. Because of his modesty and desire to keep a low profile, Hart is referred to as an undercover billionaire. In New Zealand, Graeme has homes in Auckland and Waiheke Island. He also has a 58-meter luxury motor yacht that attracts a lot of tourists. He is one of the richest people in New Zealand.
CONCLUSION: 2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand and their Net worth
As we conclude our exploration of the top 10 richest individuals in New Zealand for the year 2024, we are left awestruck by the sheer magnitude of wealth amassed by these extraordinary individuals. Their fortunes, built on a foundation of innovation, resilience, and unwavering determination, serve as a testament to the limitless possibilities that exist within the realm of entrepreneurship and business leadership.
Beyond their financial success, these titans of industry are pillars of progress, driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to the prosperity of New Zealand. Their stories inspire us to dream big, think boldly, and pursue our ambitions with unwavering determination, knowing that with vision and perseverance, anything is possible.
As we look ahead to the future, one thing remains clear: the legacy of the top 10 richest individuals in New Zealand of 2024 will endure, shaping the destiny of the nation and inspiring greatness in generations to come.
2024 Top 10 Richest People in New Zealand by Top Most 10