Nick Politis

Last updated

Nick Politis

AM
Born
Nicholas George Politis

(1942-08-25) 25 August 1942 (age 81)
Kythira, Greece
NationalityAustralian
Other names
  • The Godfather
  • Uncle Nick
Education Ipswich Grammar School
Alma mater University of Queensland
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1974–present
Board member of
Awards

Nicholas George Politis AM [1] (born 25 August 1942) is an Australian businessman and chairman of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. Politis is also responsible for the first sponsorship on a professional rugby league team's jersey.

Contents

Early life

Politis was born in Kythira, Greece. In the late 1940s, Politis and his family immigrated to Australia, settling in Ipswich, Queensland. [2] The family moved to the town of Blackall, living there for a number of years before returning to Ipswich. Politis attended Ipswich Grammar School for his final four years of high school, graduating in 1962. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Queensland. [3] [4]

Business interests

Politis ran and expanded WFM Motors Pty Ltd from March 1974, rebranding its marketing name as City Ford and transforming it into one of the largest Ford dealerships in Australia. [5] The business has been sponsors of the Roosters since 1976, when the club set a new precedent of having major sponsors' names appearing on their jerseys – making Politis the first sponsor in rugby league. [6] As controlling shareholder of Australian Health Care Ltd., he was responsible for its failed sorties into the Australian hospital market, including the celebrated LaTrobe Regional Hospital fiasco, where tens of millions were lost in disastrous contract management. [7]

In March 2014, Politis' NGP Investments (No.2) purchased Barloworld's Australian car sales business for $130 million. [8]

In 2016, Politis sold the site of his Thomson Ford business in Parramatta to property developer Dyldham for an estimated $70 million. [9]

Sydney Roosters

Since May 30, 1993, Politis has been the chairman of the Sydney Roosters. After the Roosters won the 2002 NRL Grand Final, he joined the players in getting a premiership logo tattooed on his arm. [10] He has been described as being ranked "among the most powerful, influential and ruthless figures in rugby league since taking over as Roosters chairman". Politis is sometimes affectionately known as "The Godfather" or "Uncle Nick".

Politis was responsible for getting Sonny Bill Williams to return to rugby league with the Roosters after his five-year ban from the NRL, for walking-out on the Bulldogs mid-season in 2008, expired in 2013. Politis reportedly made a handshake agreement with Williams to this effect years prior. [11] According to prominent player agent, Sam Ayoub, "there’s no doubt Sonny would not have returned to the NRL if not for Nick Politis." [12] That year, the Roosters achieved the trifecta of winning the minor premiership, NRL premiership and World Club Challenge.

Politis was chairman when the Roosters won back-to-back premierships in 2018 and 2019.

Personal life

His father was a vet in his homeland of Greece, before moving to Australia. [10] Politis is a member of the Greek-Australian Sports Hall of Fame. In 2014, Politis was appointed a Member of the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to rugby league football as an administrator. [13] [14]

Net worth

Politis first appeared in the BRW magazine Rich 200 in 2010 when his net worth was estimated at A$182 million. [10] In 2017, the list was rebranded as the Financial Review Rich List. As of May 2023, Politis' net worth was assessed at A$2.14  billion. [15]

Year Financial Review
Rich List 		Forbes
Australia's 50 Richest
Rank Net worth (A$)Rank Net worth (US$)
2010 [10] $182 million
2011
2012
2013$200 million
2014 [16] 117$410 million Increase2.svg
2015 [17]
2016 [18] 86Increase2.svg$594 million Increase2.svg
2017 [19] [20] $733 million Increase2.svg
2018 [21] 55Increase2.svg$1.35  billion Increase2.svg
2019 [22] 74Decrease2.svg$1.23 billion Decrease2.svg
2020 [23] 79Decrease2.svg$1.31 billion Increase2.svg
2021 [24] 54Increase2.svg$2.02 billion Increase2.svg
202250Increase2.svg$2.20 billion Increase2.svg
2023 [15] 58Decrease2.svg$2.14 billion Decrease2.svg
Legend
Icon Description
Steady2.svgHas not changed from the previous year
Increase2.svgHas increased from the previous year
Decrease2.svgHas decreased from the previous year

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Lowy</span> Australian businessman, founder and chairman of Westfield

Sir Frank P. Lowy is an Australian-Israeli businessman of Jewish Slovak-Hungarian origins and the former long-time chairman of Westfield Corporation, a global shopping centre company with US$29.3 billion of assets under management in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. In June 2018 Westfield Corporation was acquired by French company Unibail-Rodamco.

Lindsay Edward Fox is an Australian businessman. In 1956, Fox founded the Australian logistics company Linfox, where as of 2015 he serves as non-executive chairman.

Gerry Harvey is an Australian entrepreneur best known for being the executive chairman of Harvey Norman Holdings, a company which runs Australian retail chain Harvey Norman. He co-founded it with Ian Norman in 1982.

Bruce Gordon is an Australian businessman. He is the owner of the Australian television network, WIN Television through his ownership of WIN Corporation, the largest shareholder of Network 10 & the largest shareholder of the Nine Network, and holds a significant stake in Nine Entertainment Co.

John Gandel, an Australian businessman, property developer and philanthropist, made his fortune in the development of commercial real estate as well as shopping centres located in Melbourne, Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Bonétt</span> Australian businessman

Shaun Bonétt is an Australian entrepreneur and property developer who founded and is CEO of Precision Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xu Rongmao</span> Chinese-Australian entrepreneur

Xu Rongmao, or Hui Wing Mau in Cantonese, is a Chinese-Australian entrepreneur and billionaire, and the founder and the chairman of Shimao Property. Xu is estimated to be one of the largest property developers in Shanghai. According to Forbes in 2021, his net worth is estimated at $10.3bn.

The Financial Review Rich List, formerly known as the BRW Rich 200, is a list of Australia's two hundred wealthiest individuals and families, ranked by personal net worth published annually in The Australian Financial Review Magazine, a supplement of The Australian Financial Review, published by Nine Publishing. The list provides a short summary on some of the known business activities of the individuals and families, together with commentary on how their ranking has changed from the previous year, if listed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Cannon-Brookes</span> Australian billionaire business magnate (born 1979)

Michael Cannon-Brookes is an Australian billionaire business magnate who is the co-founder and co-CEO of software company Atlassian.

David Hains was an Australian billionaire businessman, engineer, and horse breeder. He was the founder and once CEO of Portland House Group, Australia’s largest private investments management firm and hedge fund. According to Forbes, Hains had a personal net-worth of an estimated $2.89 billion, making him Australia’s 18th richest person.

Angela Bennett is an Australian mining heiress and businesswoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shesh Ghale</span> Australian Billionaire

Dr Shesh Ghale is a Nepalese born Australian businessman, billionaire and the former president of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Ghale is the CEO of Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT), which he co-founded with his wife, Jamuna Gurung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Farquhar</span> Australian billionaire business magnate (born 1979)

Scott Farquhar is an Australian billionaire business magnate who is the co-founder and co-CEO of software company Atlassian. Farquhar often carries the epithet of accidental billionaire after he and his business partner Mike Cannon-Brookes founded Atlassian with the aim to replicate the A$48,500 graduate starting salary typical at corporations without having to work for someone else.

Paul Lederer is the former CEO of Primo Group, and Chairman and co-owner of A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers.

William Robert ("Bob") Ell is an Australian property developer and businessman with interests in residential, retail, commercial and industrial property.

Geoff Harris is an Australian businessman and philanthropist.

Maurice Alter is an Australian billionaire property developer.

Leslie Alan Wilson, an Australian billionaire, is the executive chairman of Reece Group, Australia's biggest bathroom and plumbing supplies chain.

Salvatore "Sam" Tarascio is an Italian-born Australian billionaire businessman. Tarascio owns a portfolio of commercial and industrial real estate across Melbourne, including a business park, two distribution sites, a large shopping mall and a market. In 1972 Tarascio founded Salta Properties, a privately owned company, after buying swampland and constructing a warehouse for Hoechst. Prior to entering the property market, Tarascio worked in pharmaceutical sales.

Judith Neilson is an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist with a passion for visual arts. Neilson is the co-founder of the White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney. She is a significant shareholder in Platinum Asset Management, a company co-founded by her former husband, Kerr Neilson.

References

  1. ↑ Poulos, George. "Nicholas (Nick) George Politis". kythera-family.net. Kytherian Association of Australia & James Prineas. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Proszenko, Adrian. "I sit back, watch. You learn more that way". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Politis reaches 25 year milestone". Ipswich Grammar School. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Prenter, Geoff. "Slick Nick: How Politis kicked off at the Roosters". NRL. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "City Ford History". The Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ Crawley, Paul. "Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis' plan to keep Sonny Bill Williams in Bondi". Perth Now. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Wynne, Michael. "The LaTrobe Privatisation, Revelations of secret owner when FOI documents released". University of Wollongong . Retrieved 26 December 2016.; "Car Yard King Behind Hospital". The Age . 1 June 1999.
  8. ↑ "JWS acts for Barloworld in Australian disposal". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  9. ↑ McClymont, Kate (16 October 2016). "Parramatta Eels, Tax Office and widow chase property developer Dyldam". Goulburn Post. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Proszenko, Adrian. "I sit back, watch. You learn more that way". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Pandaram, Jamie. "Sonny Bill Williams regrets agreement to return to NRL". Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Cleary, Matt. "Sydney Roosters' Challenge". Inside Sport. nextmedia. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Mr Nicholas George POLITIS". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2020. For significant service to rugby league football as an administrator.
  14. ↑ "Nick Politis, Phil Gould, Ray Warren given Queen's Birthday Honours". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. 1 2 Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (26 May 2023). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "BRW Rich 200 list 2014: 117. Nick Politis". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  17. ↑ Stensholt, John, ed. (June 2015). "2015 BRW Rich 200" . BRW. Sydney. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  18. ↑ Stensholt, John. "BRW Rich 200 List 2015". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  19. ↑ Stensholt, John, ed. (25 May 2017). "Financial Review Rich List 2017". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  20. ↑ Mayne, Stephen (26 May 2017). "Mayne's take: The top 25 Australian billionaires, as claimed by Fairfax". Crikey . Private Media. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  21. ↑ Stensholt, John, ed. (25 May 2018). "2018 AFR Rich List: Who are Australia's richest people?". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  22. ↑ Bailey, Michael (30 May 2019). "Australia's 200 richest people revealed". Australian Financial Review . Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  23. ↑ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (30 October 2020). "The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed" . Australian Financial Review . Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  24. ↑ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (27 May 2021). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 28 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.