Perth’s property and technology guns feature heavily in this year’s BRW magazine Australian ‘Young Rich List’.
Perth property developer Paul Blackburne debuted on the List at number 3 – with $536 million in net worth.
Blackburne undertook and aggressive and optimistic strategy of acquiring property in Perth during the dark days of the global financial crisis– with his investment paying off over recent years with Perth’s booming apartment market.
“The GFC was a great time for the business,” he said. “But now we are just happy to keep doing what we are doing. I don’t want to get too big; I’m happy to keep doing what we are doing and doing it well.”
Paul Blackburne told BRW part of his success was selling the idea of a unique cosmopolitan lifestyle to people in Perth.
“We’re not just selling apartments,” Mr Blackburne said. “We’re trying to sell a lifestyle change to people.”
Other Perth entrepreneurs to make the top 100 under 40 rich list include Ronnie Elhaj of Nicheliving. Elhaj is also a talented singer.
Founders of graphic design platform Canva – originally from Perth- hit 40 and 41 spot. Obrecht and Perkins have the backing of many investors like Own Wilson.
Luker Herbert, founder and MD of Linkforce Engineering is on the list – his company is a long-term supporter of Telethon Perth an PMH.
Northern Start Resources Gold Mining MD Bill Beament gets into the top 50; Rory Vassallo is Perth’s youngest on the list, after borrowing $100,000 in 2003 to start childcare business, he making a fortune last year selling to G8 Education last year.
10 Perth entrepreneurs make Australia’s wealthiest people aged 40 or under.
People with inherited wealth don’t make the list.
Perth’s Young Rich List for 2015
3 – Paul Blackburne – Age 39 $536 million
34 – Ronnie Elhaj – Age 38 $73 million
38 – Luke Herbert – Age 38 $65 million
40/41 – Cliff Obrecht (29) + Melanie Perkins (28) $60 million
48 – Bill Beament – Age 40 $51 million
60- Rory Vassallo – Age 31 $46 million
68 – Marcus Gilmore – Age 40 $35 million
87 – John Palermo – Age 39 $26 million
88 – Zhenya Tsvetnenko – Age 35 $26 million
