Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart
Gina Rinehart is an Australian billionaire businesswoman who was born on February 9, 1954, in Perth, Western Australia. She is the daughter of Lang Hancock, a highly successful mining magnate and political activist, and Hope Margaret Nicholas. Gina is the only child of her parents and inherited a multi-billion dollar mining empire after the death of her father.
Rinehart attended St. Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth before studying economics at the University of Sydney. After completing her degree, she worked as a graduate trainee with Hancock Prospecting, her father's company.
In 1979, Gina married Englishman Frank Rinehart, and they had two children together before their divorce in 1981. After the divorce, she returned to work at Hancock Prospecting, where she began to take on more significant roles within the company.
Under Rinehart's leadership, Hancock continued to expand its mining operations, primarily in iron ore and coal. The company also diversified into agriculture and has extensive land holdings across Australia.
In 2011, Forbes named Rinehart as the world's wealthiest woman, with an estimated net worth of around US$10 billion. She has been known for her conservative political views and criticism of Australian government policies that she believes hinder economic growth.
Aside from her business activities, Rinehart also supports various charitable organizations and causes, particularly those related to medical research and indigenous communities.
Despite her enormous wealth, Rinehart has faced some controversy over the years. In 2012, she was involved in a high-profile legal dispute with her children over control of a family trust. She has also been criticized for her conservative views on social issues and her stance against environmental conservation.
Today, Gina Rinehart remains one of Australia's most prominent and successful businesswomen, with a net worth estimated at over US$17 billion.