Kerry Stokes

$7.02 B

Ranked #535 in World

About Kerry Stokes

Kerry Stokes, an influential Australian businessman with notable ventures in media, construction, and mining, chairs the prominent Seven Network and holds a significant media influence. With a reputation for strategic leadership and philanthropy, Stokes was honored with top national awards, including Officer and Companion of the Order of Australia. Born into challenging circumstances in Melbourne and dropping out at 14, Stokes remarkably climbed to a net worth of A$7.45 billion by May 2023, per the Financial Review Rich List. Valued for his business acumen and charity, he's also faced controversy, notably over quarantine exemptions during the pandemic.

Born

September 13, 1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Age

85 years

Source Of Wealth

Construction Equipment, Media

Industries

Diversified

Citizenship

Australia

Residence

Perth

Spouse

Dorothy Ebert (1960-1970), Denise Stokes (1988-1988), Peta Toppano (1992-1995), Christine Simpson (1996-present)

Children

Born John Patrick Alford on September 29, 1937, in Melbourne, Victoria, Kerry Stokes had a challenging upbringing. His unmarried mother, Marie Jean Alford, gave him up for adoption, and he was raised by Matthew and Irene Stokes in Camp Pell, a slum housing area. Despite these hardships, Stokes showed resilience and determination from an early age.

Kerry Stokes: Family

Kerry Stokes has been married four times. His first marriage was to Dorothy "Dot" Ebert, with whom he had two children. His second marriage was to a receptionist named Denise, and they had two sons together. In 1992, he married Australian television actress Peta Toppano, but their marriage lasted only three years. In 1996, he married Christine Simpson (née Parker), a newsreader, and they have three grandchildren.

Kerry Stokes: Career Highlights

Kerry Stokes' career is marked by several significant achievements. He started by installing television antennas in Perth and later ventured into property development in the 1960s and 1970s. He formed partnerships with Jack Bendat and Kevin Merifield, developing shopping centers in Perth and regional Western Australia. Stokes also established Australian Capital Equity, a private company with diverse interests in property, construction, mining, and petroleum exploration.

In 1988, he invested in the Caterpillar franchise in Western Australia (Wigmores Ltd), which later became known as WesTrac, expanding its equipment dealer franchises to several regions. Stokes also formed a joint venture with The Carlyle Group in 2007 to acquire the equipment hire group Coates Hire. Additionally, he acquired Napier Downs station in the Kimberley, expanding his privately owned cattle empire in Western Australia.

Kerry Stokes: Companies

Kerry Stokes has been involved with several notable companies throughout his career. He commenced his media interests in Western Australia with the development of Golden West Network, a regional television network. He acquired Seven Canberra, Seven Adelaide, and the third commercial station license in Perth, as well as radio stations in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

These assets were later sold to Frank Lowy in 1987.

In 1996, Stokes acquired a strategic stake in the Seven Network, eventually holding approximately 43% of the company. He established Pacific Magazines, a major magazine publishing business, and Yahoo!7, an online venture, in partnership with Yahoo!. In 2006, he created Seven Media Group, a multi-faceted media company, with KKR. West Australian Newspapers Ltd. merged with Seven to form Seven West Media in 2011.

Kerry Stokes: Major Achievements

Kerry Stokes has achieved significant success in various fields. He held Australian broadcasting rights for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and provided broadcast feeds for swimming and diving events globally. Stokes has also made notable contributions to the arts and community service. He served as chairman of the National Gallery of Australia and made multimillion-dollar donations. Additionally, he was awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award and holds life membership of the Returned and Services League of Australia.

Kerry Stokes: Awards & Achievements

Kerry Stokes has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to business, the arts, and community service. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006. Stokes was named Western Australia's Australian of the Year in 2012 for his philanthropic contributions. He delivered the Boyer Lectures in 1994 and the Andrew Olle Media Lecture in 2001.

Kerry Stokes: Personal Life & Legacy

Kerry Stokes has had a colorful personal life, with four marriages and three children. He is known for his philanthropic efforts and has made significant contributions to the arts and community organizations. Stokes has acquired three Victoria Crosses and a George Cross medal set for the Australian War Memorial, demonstrating his commitment to preserving Australian history.

Kerry Stokes: Trivia

Kerry Stokes' net worth has fluctuated over the years. As of 2019, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$2.90 billion.

In May 2023, the Australian Financial Review estimated his net worth at A$7.45 billion, making him the 12th richest Australian.

Stokes has been involved in several controversies, including being granted quarantine at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about exemption criteria. He also extended a line of credit to Ben Roberts-Smith, who was suing media outlets for defamation, to help fund his legal case. Roberts-Smith reportedly offered his Victoria Cross medal as collateral for the loan. The Australian federal court dismissed the defamation case, ruling that the papers had established substantial truth of allegations against Roberts-Smith.

Wealth History

Timeline

1954

Born John Patrick Alford in Melbourne, Victoria, to unmarried mother Marie Jean Alford.

1960s-1970s

Engaged in property development in Perth and regional Western Australia with partners Jack Bendat and Kevin Merifield.

1987

Sold media assets in Western Australia to Frank Lowy.

1988

Invested in Caterpillar franchise in Western Australia (Wigmores Ltd), now known as WesTrac.

1992

Third marriage to Australian television actress Peta Toppano.

1994

Delivered Boyer Lectures.

1995

Appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for contributions to business, strategic leadership, corporate social responsibility, arts philanthropy, and community service.

1996

Acquired a strategic stake in the Seven Network; fourth marriage to Christine Simpson (née Parker), a newsreader.

2001

Delivered Andrew Olle Media Lecture.

2006

Formed joint venture with The Carlyle Group to acquire equipment hire group Coates Hire; appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for contributions to business, arts, and community.

2007

Established Seven Media Group, a multi-faceted media company, with KKR.

2008

Held Australian broadcasting rights for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and provided broadcast feeds for swimming and diving events globally.

2011

West Australian Newspapers Ltd. merged with Seven to form Seven West Media.

2012

Named Western Australia's Australian of the Year for philanthropic contributions.

2019

Forbes estimated net worth at US$2.90 billion.

2020

Granted quarantine at home during COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about exemption criteria.

2021

Extended a line of credit to Ben Roberts-Smith, who was suing media outlets for defamation, to help fund his legal case.

2023

Australian Financial Review estimated net worth at A$7.45 billion, making him the 12th richest Australian.

Kerry Stokes : FAQs

What is Kerry Stokes's current net worth?

Kerry Stokes's current net worth is $7.02 billion.

What is Kerry Stokes's current global rank among billionaires?

Kerry Stokes holds the 535th position globally among billionaires.

What is Kerry Stokes's current ranking within the Australia?

Kerry Stokes holds the 9th position in Australia.

What was the change in Kerry Stokes's net worth compared to the previous year?

Kerry Stokes's net worth decreased by 791.08 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 7.81 billion dollars.

What are Kerry Stokes's main sources of wealth?

Kerry Stokes's main source of income comes from Construction Equipment, Media.

In which industry does Kerry Stokes primarily operate?

Kerry Stokes is primarily involved in the Diversified industry.

How old is Kerry Stokes?

Kerry Stokes is 85 years old.

How many children does Kerry Stokes have?

Kerry Stokes has 4 children.

Who is Kerry Stokes and what are his main business interests?

Kerry Stokes is an Australian businessman with main interests in media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is the Chairman of the Seven Network and heads Australian Capital Equity, which holds diverse business interests.

What awards has Kerry Stokes received for his contributions in various fields?

Kerry Stokes was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006 for his contributions to business, strategic leadership, CSR, arts philanthropy, and community service.

How did Kerry Stokes begin his career before becoming a prominent businessman?

Kerry Stokes started his career by installing television antennas in Perth and moved on to property development in the 1960s and 1970s. He later expanded into the mining, construction, and media industries.

What significant contributions has Kerry Stokes made to the Australian media industry?

Kerry Stokes has made significant contributions to the Australian media industry by developing the Golden West Network, acquiring stakes in the Seven Network, forming Seven Media Group, and establishing partnerships with companies like Yahoo!.

What philanthropic efforts and recognition has Kerry Stokes achieved?

Kerry Stokes has served as the chairman of the National Gallery of Australia, donated to various causes, acquired and donated Victoria Cross medals, and was named Western Australia's Australian of the Year in 2012 for his philanthropic efforts.