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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Gina Rinehart
| name         = Gina Rinehart
| birth_name = Georgina Hope Hancock
| birth_name   = Georgina Hope Hancock
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|2|9|df=y}}
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1954|2|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia
| birth_place = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia
| nationality = Australian
| nationality = Australian
| occupation = Mining executive, company chairman
| occupation   = Mining executive, company chairman
| known_for = Executive chairman of [[Hancock Prospecting]]
| known_for   = Executive chairman of [[Hancock Prospecting]]
| education = [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]]
| education   = [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]]
| children = 4
| children     = 4
| awards = Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women
| awards       = [[Forbes]] World's 100 Most Powerful Women
| website =  
| website     =  
}}
}}


'''Georgina Hope Rinehart''' (née '''Hancock'''; born 9 February 1954) is an Australian billionaire mining executive and businesswoman who serves as executive chairman of [[Hancock Prospecting]], a privately held mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father, [[Lang Hancock]]. Born and raised in [[Western Australia]], Rinehart inherited control of the company following her father's death in 1992 and oversaw its transformation from a mid-sized mining concern into one of Australia's most valuable private enterprises, capitalising on the iron ore boom that reshaped the country's economy in the early 2000s. She has been recognised as Australia's richest person for extended periods — from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2020 onward — according to both [[Forbes]] and ''[[The Australian Financial Review]]''.<ref name="brw-rich-2011">{{cite news |title=BRW Rich List puts Gina Rinehart Australia's richest person, the first woman at No. 1 |url=http://www.news.com.au/business/brw-rich-list-puts-gina-rinehart-australias-richest-person-the-first-woman-at-no1/story-e6frfm1i-1226063158215 |work=News.com.au |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="forbes-australia">{{cite web |title=Australia's 50 Richest |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/australia-billionaires/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2012, her estimated wealth reached approximately A$29 billion, at which point she was reported to have overtaken [[Christy Walton]] as the world's richest woman.<ref name="brw-richest-woman">{{cite news |title=Rinehart world's richest woman |url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/rinehart_world_richest_woman_JucE8ndw9hYfzDk5NuudTI |work=BRW |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Beyond mining, Rinehart has invested in media companies, agriculture, and, more recently, critical minerals and rare earth elements, positioning Hancock Prospecting within the global supply chains for lithium, copper, and rare earths.
'''Georgina Hope Rinehart''' (née '''Hancock'''; born 9 February 1954) is an Australian billionaire mining magnate and businesswoman who serves as the executive chairman of [[Hancock Prospecting]], a privately owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father, [[Lang Hancock]]. Born and raised in [[Western Australia]], Rinehart inherited the chairmanship of the company upon her father's death in 1992 and subsequently oversaw a dramatic expansion of the firm's operations, transforming it from a royalty-collecting enterprise into one of Australia's most significant mining conglomerates. Through the iron ore boom of the early 2000s and strategic diversification into agriculture, media, and critical minerals, Rinehart accumulated a fortune that has made her Australia's richest person and, at various points, the richest woman in the world.<ref name="brw-richest">{{cite web |title=Rinehart world's richest woman |url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/rinehart_world_richest_woman_JucE8ndw9hYfzDk5NuudTI |publisher=BRW |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her net worth has fluctuated considerably with global commodity prices, reaching approximately A$29 billion in 2012 before declining and then surging again to exceed A$37 billion by 2023.<ref name="theaustralian-brw">{{cite web |title=The $29.17 billion woman: Gina Rinehart tops BRW's Rich List |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/the-2917-billion-woman-gina-rinehart-tops-brws-rich-list/story-e6frg996-1226364335069 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In recent years, Rinehart has expanded Hancock Prospecting's investments into [[rare earth elements]], [[lithium]], and other critical minerals, as well as making notable forays into international equities markets.<ref name="inn-investments">{{cite news |title=Inside Billionaire Gina Rinehart's Key Mining Investments |url=https://investingnews.com/gina-rinehart-hancock-mining-investments/ |work=Investing News Network |date=2025-11-27 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Georgina Hope Hancock was born on 9 February 1954 in [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], the only child of [[Lang Hancock]] and Hope Nicholas (later Hope Hancock).<ref name="smh-newsmaker">{{cite news |title=Newsmaker: Gina Rinehart |url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/newsmaker-gina-rinehart-20101126-18ank.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2010-11-26 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her father was one of Australia's most prominent mining figures, credited with the discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the [[Pilbara]] region of Western Australia during the 1950s. Lang Hancock spent decades developing these holdings and building a mining enterprise that would ultimately become Hancock Prospecting.
Georgina Hope Hancock was born on 9 February 1954 in [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], to [[Lang Hancock]] and Hope Nicholas Hancock.<ref name="smh-newsmaker">{{cite news |title=Newsmaker: Gina Rinehart |url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/newsmaker-gina-rinehart-20101126-18ank.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2010-11-26 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She was Lang Hancock's only child. Her father was a prominent mining figure in Western Australia, known for his role in the discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the [[Pilbara]] region during the 1950s, which would later underpin one of the world's largest iron ore mining provinces.


Rinehart spent her formative years in the Pilbara, a remote and arid region of northwestern Australia defined by its vast mineral wealth and sparse population. The experience of growing up around mining operations in the Pilbara instilled in Rinehart an early familiarity with the resources industry that would shape her career.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
Rinehart spent her early childhood years in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, an experience that exposed her to the mining industry from a young age.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Georgina Hope Rinehart |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Georgina-Hope-Rinehart |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The Pilbara, characterised by its arid landscapes and mineral-rich terrain, was central to the Hancock family's business interests and would later become the geographic foundation of Rinehart's own commercial empire.


For her secondary education, Rinehart boarded at [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]] in Perth, one of Western Australia's established private schools. After completing her schooling at St Hilda's, she enrolled at the [[University of Sydney]], but she did not complete her degree, choosing instead to return to Western Australia to begin working alongside her father at the family company.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
For her secondary education, Rinehart was sent to board at [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]] in Perth, one of Western Australia's established independent schools.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> After completing her schooling, she enrolled at the [[University of Sydney]] to pursue further studies. However, she did not complete her degree, choosing instead to leave the university and return to Western Australia to work alongside her father at Hancock Prospecting.<ref name="britannica" /> This decision marked the beginning of her direct involvement in the family mining business, which would come to define her career and public profile for the following decades.
 
As Lang Hancock's sole child, Rinehart occupied a unique position within the family business from an early age. Her decision to leave university and join Hancock Prospecting placed her on a direct path toward eventually assuming control of the company, a trajectory that would be realised upon her father's death decades later.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Rinehart attended [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]] in Perth as a boarder during her secondary school years. She subsequently enrolled at the [[University of Sydney]] but left before completing a degree to work with her father, Lang Hancock, at Hancock Prospecting.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
Rinehart attended [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]] in Perth as a boarder during her secondary school years.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> She subsequently enrolled at the [[University of Sydney]] but left before completing her degree to join her father's business, Hancock Prospecting.<ref name="britannica" /> Her practical education in the mining industry came largely through her work with Lang Hancock, who introduced her to the operations and management of the family's mineral exploration and extraction interests in the Pilbara region.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Early Work at Hancock Prospecting ===
=== Early Years at Hancock Prospecting ===


Rinehart began working at Hancock Prospecting after leaving the University of Sydney, joining her father in the management and development of the company's mining interests. The company, which Lang Hancock had founded, held significant iron ore royalty interests and exploration rights in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Rinehart worked under her father's direction for a number of years, gaining experience in the operational and business aspects of the mining industry.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
After leaving the University of Sydney, Rinehart joined Hancock Prospecting and began working under the direction of her father, Lang Hancock.<ref name="britannica" /> The company at that time was primarily a royalty-collecting entity, deriving its income from agreements related to the iron ore deposits that Lang Hancock had helped identify in the Pilbara. During this period, Rinehart gained experience in the operational and administrative aspects of the mining business.


When Lang Hancock died in 1992, Rinehart succeeded him as executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting. The transition occurred during a period when the Australian mining industry was not yet experiencing the dramatic growth that would come in the following decade. Rinehart assumed control of a company with substantial mineral holdings but one that had not yet fully capitalised on the scale of demand for iron ore that would emerge from rapidly industrialising economies in Asia, particularly China.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
Lang Hancock died in 1992, and Rinehart succeeded him as executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> The transition marked the beginning of a new phase for the company, as Rinehart assumed full control of its strategic direction. In the years immediately following her father's death, she worked to consolidate and expand the company's position in the Australian mining sector.


=== Iron Ore Boom and Wealth Expansion ===
=== Expansion During the Iron Ore Boom ===


The early 2000s saw a dramatic increase in global demand for iron ore, driven primarily by China's rapid economic expansion and infrastructure development. This iron ore boom transformed the Australian mining sector and proved to be a turning point for Hancock Prospecting under Rinehart's leadership. Rinehart oversaw an expansion of the company during this period, developing the company's Pilbara holdings into major production assets.<ref name="smartcompany-richest">{{cite news |title=Why Gina Rinehart is on her way to being the world's richest |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/resources-and-energy/20110622-why-gina-rinehart-is-one-her-way-to-being-the-world-s-richest-treadgold.html |work=SmartCompany |date=2011-06-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The early 2000s brought a significant shift in global commodity markets, driven in large part by rapidly increasing demand for iron ore from China and other industrialising economies. This boom in iron ore prices had a transformative effect on Hancock Prospecting's fortunes and on Rinehart's personal wealth.


By 2006, the sustained increase in iron ore prices and production volumes made Rinehart a nominal billionaire.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> Her wealth continued to increase rapidly over the following years. In February 2011, ''BRW'' (Business Review Weekly) named Rinehart Australia's richest person, making her the first woman to hold the top position on Australia's rich list.<ref name="brw-rich-2011" /><ref name="age-rich-list-2011">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart tops Australian rich list |url=http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/gina-rinehart-tops-australian-rich-list-20110203-1af06.html |work=The Age |date=2011-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
By 2006, the sustained rise in iron ore prices had elevated Rinehart to nominal billionaire status.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> Her wealth continued to grow rapidly over the following years as iron ore prices climbed. In 2007, [[James Packer]] still topped Australia's rich list,<ref>{{cite news |title=James Packer still top of rich list |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/James-Packer-still-top-of-rich-list/2007/05/30/1180205321814.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2007-05-30 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> but by February 2011, Rinehart had ascended to the top of Australian rich lists, becoming the first woman to hold the number one position on the BRW Rich List.<ref name="news-first-woman">{{cite news |title=BRW Rich List puts Gina Rinehart Australia's richest person, the first woman at No. 1 |url=http://www.news.com.au/business/brw-rich-list-puts-gina-rinehart-australias-richest-person-the-first-woman-at-no1/story-e6frfm1i-1226063158215 |work=News.com.au |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart tops Australian rich list |url=http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/gina-rinehart-tops-australian-rich-list-20110203-1af06.html |work=The Age |date=2011-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The pace of Rinehart's wealth accumulation accelerated further. In early 2012, Forbes reported that Rinehart had doubled her fortune, making her the richest person in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref name="bweek-doubles">{{cite news |title=Rinehart doubles fortune as Asia-Pacific's richest, Forbes says |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-02/rinehart-doubles-fortune-as-asia-pacific-s-richest-forbes-says.html |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=2012-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> By January 2012, SmartCompany reported that Rinehart's net worth had reached A$20 billion.<ref name="smartcompany-20b">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart's now worth $20 billion |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/entrepreneur-watch/20120119-gina-rinehart-s-now-worth-20-billion-and-her-hard-work-s-just-started.html |work=SmartCompany |date=2012-01-19 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> ''The Australian'' reported that a POSCO-related transaction had made Rinehart a "A$20 billion woman."<ref name="australian-posco">{{cite news |title=Stakes raised as POSCO play makes Rinehart a $20bn woman |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mergers-acquisitions/stakes-raised-as-posco-play-makes-rinehart-a-20bn-woman/story-fn91vdzj-1226249819616 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Rinehart oversaw the development of major mining projects during this period, including the expansion of Hancock Prospecting's iron ore operations in the Pilbara. SmartCompany reported in 2011 that Rinehart was on her way to becoming the world's richest person.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Gina Rinehart is on her way to being the world's richest |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/resources-and-energy/20110622-why-gina-rinehart-is-one-her-way-to-being-the-world-s-richest-treadgold.html |work=SmartCompany |date=2011-06-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> By early 2012, her fortune had doubled, and she was described as Asia-Pacific's richest person by Forbes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rinehart doubles fortune as Asia-Pacific's richest, Forbes says |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-02/rinehart-doubles-fortune-as-asia-pacific-s-richest-forbes-says.html |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=2012-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> SmartCompany also noted in January 2012 that Rinehart was worth $20 billion and that the most significant phase of her business activities was just beginning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart's now worth $20 billion, and her hard work's just started |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/entrepreneur-watch/20120119-gina-rinehart-s-now-worth-20-billion-and-her-hard-work-s-just-started.html |work=SmartCompany |date=2012-01-19 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


By mid-2012, Rinehart's estimated wealth had reached approximately A$29 billion, and ''BRW'' declared her the world's richest woman, having overtaken Christy Walton of the Walmart fortune.<ref name="brw-richest-woman" /><ref name="age-richest-woman">{{cite news |title=Rinehart world's richest woman as wealth triples in a year |url=http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/rinehart-worlds-richest-woman-as-wealth-triples-in-a-year-20120523-1z5ox.html |work=The Age |date=2012-05-23 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> ''The Australian'' placed her wealth at A$29.17 billion at the top of the ''BRW'' Rich List.<ref name="australian-29b">{{cite news |title=The $29.17 billion woman: Gina Rinehart tops BRW's Rich List |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/the-2917-billion-woman-gina-rinehart-tops-brws-rich-list/story-e6frg996-1226364335069 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She was also included on the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women during this period.<ref name="afr-forbes">{{cite news |title=Rinehart 4th richest as Forbes names most powerful women |url=http://www.afr.com/p/world/rinehart_th_richest_as_forbes_names_m17SlQH5hMKFRZ64mAblJJ |work=The Australian Financial Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
By mid-2012, Rinehart's wealth had tripled in just one year, and she was declared the world's richest woman, overtaking Christy Walton of the United States.<ref name="theage-richest-woman">{{cite news |title=Rinehart world's richest woman as wealth triples in a year |url=http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/rinehart-worlds-richest-woman-as-wealth-triples-in-a-year-20120523-1z5ox.html |work=The Age |date=2012-05-23 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="brw-richest" /> Her net worth was estimated at approximately A$29.17 billion, placing her at the top of BRW's Rich List.<ref name="theaustralian-brw" /> Forbes included her on its list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, and a POSCO-related transaction further solidified her status as a A$20 billion figure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stakes raised as POSCO play makes Rinehart a $20bn woman |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mergers-acquisitions/stakes-raised-as-posco-play-makes-rinehart-a-20bn-woman/story-fn91vdzj-1226249819616 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Wealth Fluctuations ===
Rinehart's extraordinary wealth accumulation during this period was not without volatility. The subsequent slowdown in the Australian mining sector led to a significant decline in her net worth over the following years. By 2013, the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' reported that Rinehart's wealth had dropped by more than the entire worth of the Lowy family.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rinehart drops more than Lowys' entire worth |url=http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/rinehart-drops-more-than-lowys-entire-worth-20130522-2k0h9.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2013-05-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Despite these fluctuations, Rinehart maintained her position as one of Australia's wealthiest individuals and remained Australia's richest person from 2011 to 2015 according to both Forbes and ''The Australian Financial Review''.


Rinehart's fortune was subject to significant fluctuations tied to the cyclical nature of commodity markets. Following the peak of 2012, a slowdown in the Australian mining sector led to a substantial decline in her estimated net worth. In 2013, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' reported that Rinehart's wealth had dropped by more than the entire net worth of the Lowy family (founders of the Westfield shopping centre empire).<ref name="smh-drops">{{cite news |title=Rinehart drops more than Lowys' entire worth |url=http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/rinehart-drops-more-than-lowys-entire-worth-20130522-2k0h9.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2013-05-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Media Investments ===


Between 2007 and 2010, prior to the rapid escalation, the Australian rich lists showed considerable movement among the country's wealthiest individuals. In 2007, James Packer held the top position on the rich list.<ref name="smh-packer">{{cite news |title=James Packer still top of rich list |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/James-Packer-still-top-of-rich-list/2007/05/30/1180205321814.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2007-05-30 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> By 2009, the global financial crisis had reduced the wealth of many of Australia's richest people.<ref name="smh-poorer">{{cite news |title=Rich get poorer |url=http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/rich-get-poorer-20090527-bn70.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2009-05-27 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In the 2010s, Rinehart began to diversify her holdings beyond the mining industry, making notable investments in Australian media companies. In November 2010, she acquired a stake in [[Ten Network Holdings]], one of Australia's major commercial television networks.<ref name="theage-ten">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart buys stake in Ten |url=http://www.theage.com.au/business/gina-rinehart-buys-stake-in-ten-20101122-183x9.html |work=The Age |date=2010-11-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


However, Rinehart's wealth recovered substantially during 2020, driven by increased global demand for Australian iron ore. By March 2021, ''The Australian Business Review'' stated her wealth equalled A$36.28 billion. The 2023 ''Financial Review Rich List'' estimated her net worth in excess of A$37 billion. As of the mid-2020s, she continued to hold the position of Australia's richest person.<ref name="forbes-australia" />
In early 2012, Rinehart conducted a share raid that made her the largest stakeholder in [[Fairfax Media]], the publisher of major Australian newspapers including ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' and ''The Age''.<ref name="australian-fairfax">{{cite news |title=Share raid makes Gina Rinehart biggest stakeholder in Fairfax |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/share-raid-makes-gina-rinehart-biggest-stakeholder-in-fairfax/story-e6frg996-1226259722210 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The investment generated considerable public debate about the potential influence of a major mining figure on editorial coverage, particularly regarding taxation and mining policy. However, analysts noted that Rinehart's Fairfax interest would not give her control over the mining tax debate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart's Fairfax interest won't give her control of mining tax debate |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/opinion/gina-rineharts-fairfax-interest-wont-give-her-control-of-mining-tax-debate/story-e6frg99o-1226263157111 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Media Investments ===
Rinehart's relationship with Fairfax was contentious. The company declined to offer her a board seat, despite her status as the largest shareholder.<ref>{{cite web |title=No deal: Fairfax won't offer Gina Rinehart a board seat |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/2012/06/27/no-deal-fairfax-wont-offer-gina-rinehart-a-board-seat/ |publisher=Media Spy |date=2012-06-27 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She sold her interest in Fairfax Media in 2015.


In the 2010s, Rinehart expanded her investment portfolio beyond the mining sector, making significant forays into Australian media. In November 2010, she acquired a stake in [[Ten Network Holdings]], one of Australia's major commercial television networks.<ref name="age-ten">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart buys stake in Ten |url=http://www.theage.com.au/business/gina-rinehart-buys-stake-in-ten-20101122-183x9.html |work=The Age |date=2010-11-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Agriculture and Diversification ===


Rinehart subsequently turned her attention to [[Fairfax Media]], the publisher of major Australian broadsheet newspapers including ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' and ''The Age''. Through a series of share purchases, she became the largest single shareholder in Fairfax Media.<ref name="australian-fairfax">{{cite news |title=Share raid makes Gina Rinehart biggest stakeholder in Fairfax |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/share-raid-makes-gina-rinehart-biggest-stakeholder-in-fairfax/story-e6frg996-1226259722210 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The investment attracted substantial commentary regarding the implications for editorial independence at Fairfax publications. ''The Australian'' reported on analysis suggesting that Rinehart's Fairfax interest would not necessarily give her control over the mining tax debate, despite concerns raised by some observers.<ref name="australian-fairfax-opinion">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart's Fairfax interest won't give her control of mining tax debate |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/opinion/gina-rineharts-fairfax-interest-wont-give-her-control-of-mining-tax-debate/story-e6frg99o-1226263157111 |work=The Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In addition to her media investments, Rinehart expanded into the agricultural sector during the 2010s, acquiring several cattle stations across northern Australia. These acquisitions represented a significant diversification of Hancock Prospecting's portfolio beyond its core mining operations. However, Rinehart divested these agricultural holdings within approximately a decade.


Rinehart sought a seat on the Fairfax Media board of directors, but Fairfax declined to offer her one, reportedly over disagreements about whether she would sign the company's charter of editorial independence.<ref name="mediaspy-fairfax">{{cite web |title=No deal: Fairfax won't offer Gina Rinehart a board seat |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/2012/06/27/no-deal-fairfax-wont-offer-gina-rinehart-a-board-seat/ |publisher=MediaSpy |date=2012-06-27 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Rinehart eventually sold her interest in Fairfax Media in 2015.
=== Critical Minerals and International Investments ===


=== Agriculture ===
In more recent years, Rinehart has directed Hancock Prospecting's investment strategy toward critical minerals, including [[rare earth elements]], [[lithium]], and [[copper]]. Through Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart has made investments in companies including Azure Minerals, Liontown Resources, and other firms involved in the extraction of minerals considered essential to the global energy transition.<ref name="inn-investments" />


In addition to media, Rinehart expanded into the agricultural sector during the 2010s, purchasing several cattle stations in northern Australia. The move into agriculture diversified Hancock Prospecting's portfolio beyond its core mining operations. However, within approximately a decade, the company divested these agricultural holdings.
In October 2025, Bloomberg reported that Rinehart had doubled her stake in a rare earths firm.<ref name="bloomberg-rare-earths">{{cite news |title=Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Doubles Stake in Rare Earths Firm |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-10-28/australia-s-richest-person-gina-rinehart-doubles-stake-in-rare-earths-firm |work=Bloomberg |date=2025-10-28 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The following month, in November 2025, Rinehart became the largest shareholder in [[MP Materials]], the United States-based rare earths producer, further cementing her position in the critical minerals sector.<ref name="yahoo-mp">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart becomes largest shareholder in MP Materials |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gina-rinehart-becomes-largest-shareholder-113026464.html |work=Yahoo Finance |date=2025-11-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Critical Minerals and Rare Earths ===
In February 2026, the ''Australian Financial Review'' reported that Rinehart had purchased shares in [[Netflix]] during a period of mergers and acquisitions activity, with the report noting that United States disclosure rules provided visibility into Hancock Prospecting's US share trading activities.<ref name="afr-netflix">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart buys Netflix shares during M&A fight |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/rinehart-buys-netflix-shares-during-m-and-a-fight-20260218-p5o3dz |work=Australian Financial Review |date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> These investments underscored Rinehart's increasingly international investment outlook beyond her traditional Australian mining base.


In the mid-2020s, Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting made significant investments in the critical minerals sector, encompassing lithium, rare earth elements, and copper. These investments positioned the company within global supply chains increasingly important for renewable energy technologies and electronics manufacturing.
=== Wealth Trajectory ===


In November 2025, it was reported that Rinehart had become the largest shareholder in [[MP Materials]], a US-based rare earths producer.<ref name="yahoo-mp">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart becomes largest shareholder in MP Materials |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gina-rinehart-becomes-largest-shareholder-113026464.html |work=Yahoo Finance |date=2025-11-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Bloomberg reported in October 2025 that Rinehart had doubled her stake in a rare earths firm.<ref name="bloomberg-rare">{{cite news |title=Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Doubles Stake in Rare Earths Firm |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-10-28/australia-s-richest-person-gina-rinehart-doubles-stake-in-rare-earths-firm |work=Bloomberg |date=2025-10-28 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The Investing News Network reported that through Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart held investments in companies including Azure Minerals and Liontown Resources, spanning lithium, rare earths, and copper.<ref name="inn-investments">{{cite news |title=Inside Billionaire Gina Rinehart's Key Mining Investments |url=https://investingnews.com/gina-rinehart-hancock-mining-investments/ |work=Investing News Network |date=2025-11-27 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Rinehart's wealth trajectory has been closely linked to global commodity cycles. After reaching approximately A$29 billion in 2012,<ref name="theaustralian-brw" /> her net worth declined significantly during the mining sector slowdown of the mid-2010s. Forbes estimated her net worth at US$14.8 billion in 2019. However, increased demand for Australian iron ore during 2020 rebuilt her wealth substantially. By May 2023, ''The Australian Financial Review Rich List'' estimated her net worth in excess of A$37 billion. As of September 2020, Forbes considered Rinehart one of the world's ten richest women. She was Australia's wealthiest person from 2011 to 2015 according to both Forbes and ''The Australian Financial Review'', and again every year since 2020 according to ''The Australian Business Review'' and ''The Australian Financial Review''.


In February 2026, ''The Australian Financial Review'' reported that Rinehart had purchased shares in [[Netflix]] during a period of merger and acquisition activity, noting that US disclosure rules provided visibility into Hancock Prospecting's American share trading.<ref name="afr-netflix">{{cite news |title=Gina Rinehart buys Netflix shares during M&A fight |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/rinehart-buys-netflix-shares-during-m-and-a-fight-20260218-p5o3dz |work=The Australian Financial Review |date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
A 2026 report noted that Australia's top five billionaires, led by Rinehart, saw their combined wealth rise 14 percent to $94 billion despite global uncertainty triggered by tariff-related trade disruptions.<ref name="vnexpress">{{cite news |title=Who are Australia's top 5 billionaires in 2026? |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/billionaires/who-are-australia-s-top-5-billionaires-in-2026-5040044.html |work=VnExpress International |date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Rinehart has four children.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" /> Her personal and family affairs have been the subject of public attention in Australia, particularly regarding legal disputes within the Hancock family.
Rinehart has four children, including John Hayward-Hancock. Her family life has been the subject of public attention, particularly in relation to legal disputes involving her children and a family trust established by Lang Hancock. These disputes, which played out in Australian courts, centred on the management and control of the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust, which held a significant portion of the family's mining interests.


Her father, Lang Hancock, died in 1992, at which point Rinehart assumed control of the family company. Her mother was Hope Nicholas.<ref name="smh-newsmaker" />
Rinehart's personal wealth and business decisions have attracted broader public and media scrutiny. She has been a prominent figure in Australian public discourse on topics including taxation policy, government regulation of the mining industry, and economic development in regional Australia.


Rinehart has generally maintained a degree of privacy regarding her personal life, despite her status as one of the most prominent business figures in Australia. She has resided primarily in Western Australia, the state where Hancock Prospecting's mining operations are concentrated and where she grew up.
In February 2026, ''The Guardian'' reported that One Nation leader [[Pauline Hanson]] had failed to declare a flight provided by Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting, later updating her register of interests after the matter was revealed.<ref name="guardian-hanson">{{cite news |title=Pauline Hanson failed to declare another flight from billionaire Gina Rinehart's company |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/03/pauline-hanson-free-flight-gina-rinehart-hancock-ntwnfb |work=The Guardian |date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The report highlighted ongoing questions about transparency regarding interactions between political figures and major business interests in Australia.


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Rinehart's status as Australia's wealthiest person and one of the richest women in the world has resulted in extensive coverage and recognition from financial and media publications.
Rinehart's business achievements have been recognised through various lists and rankings of wealth and influence. In 2012, she was included on the [[Forbes]] list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, coinciding with her status as the world's richest woman at that time.<ref name="brw-richest" /><ref name="theage-richest-woman" />
 
In 2011, she became the first woman to top the ''BRW'' Rich List as Australia's richest person.<ref name="brw-rich-2011" /> Forbes included her in the list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.<ref name="afr-forbes" /> In 2012, she was declared the world's richest woman by ''BRW'' after her estimated wealth reached approximately A$29 billion.<ref name="brw-richest-woman" /><ref name="age-richest-woman" /> Forbes reported her as one of the Asia-Pacific region's richest individuals.<ref name="bweek-doubles" />


As of September 2020, Forbes considered Rinehart one of the world's ten richest women. She has appeared continuously on the Forbes list of Australia's 50 richest people and has held the top position on both the Forbes and ''Australian Financial Review'' rich lists for extended periods: from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2020 onward.<ref name="forbes-australia" />
She was the first woman to top Australia's BRW Rich List, achieving this distinction in 2011.<ref name="news-first-woman" /> Rinehart has appeared consistently on major Australian and international wealth rankings, including the Forbes list of Australia's 50 richest people, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |url=http://topics.bloomberg.com/bloomberg-billionaires-index/ |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> and ''The Australian Financial Review Rich List''.


In the 2026 edition of the Forbes Australia's 50 Richest list, published amid global uncertainty relating to US tariffs and geopolitical tensions, Rinehart continued to feature prominently as Australia's wealthiest individual.<ref name="forbes-australia" /><ref name="vnexpress">{{cite news |title=Who are Australia's top 5 billionaires in 2026? |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/billionaires/who-are-australia-s-top-5-billionaires-in-2026-5040044.html |work=VnExpress International |date=2026-02-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Forbes ranked her among the fourth richest in its list of Australia's richest people, and the ''Australian Financial Review'' noted her as Australia's wealthiest individual in multiple years.<ref name="afr-richest">{{cite news |title=Rinehart 4th richest as Forbes names... |url=http://www.afr.com/p/world/rinehart_th_richest_as_forbes_names_m17SlQH5hMKFRZ64mAblJJ |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Britannica describes her as an Australian business executive and political activist who built a fortune through mining.<ref name="britannica" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Gina Rinehart's career has been defined by the transformation of Hancock Prospecting from a company primarily holding iron ore royalty interests into a diversified mining and investment enterprise. Under her leadership, the company capitalised on the iron ore boom of the 2000s and 2010s to generate substantial wealth, and subsequently expanded into media, agriculture, and critical minerals.
Rinehart's impact on the Australian mining industry and on Australian business more broadly is significant. As executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, she transformed what was primarily a royalty-collecting entity into a diversified mining and investment conglomerate with interests spanning iron ore, rare earths, lithium, copper, agriculture, and media.
 
Her rise to the top of Australian wealth rankings represented a notable development in Australian business, as she became the first woman to hold the top position on the country's rich list.<ref name="brw-rich-2011" /> The scale of her fortune — driven largely by the global appetite for Australian iron ore — made her one of the most prominent figures in the international mining industry.


Rinehart's media investments in the 2010s generated public debate in Australia about the relationship between concentrated wealth and media ownership. Her stake in Fairfax Media, in particular, prompted discussions about editorial independence and the influence of mining interests on public discourse, though she ultimately divested her holdings in the company.<ref name="australian-fairfax" /><ref name="mediaspy-fairfax" />
Her role as Australia's richest person, and at one point the richest woman in the world, has made her a prominent figure in discussions about wealth, gender, and economic power in Australia.<ref name="theage-richest-woman" /> As the first woman to top the BRW Rich List, Rinehart occupies a notable position in the history of Australian business.<ref name="news-first-woman" />


Her more recent investments in rare earths and critical minerals have positioned Hancock Prospecting within sectors increasingly regarded as strategically important for energy transition and national security. The acquisition of a major stake in MP Materials, a US-based rare earths producer, signalled a geographic and sectoral expansion for the company beyond its traditional Australian iron ore base.<ref name="yahoo-mp" /><ref name="bloomberg-rare" />
Rinehart's more recent strategic pivot toward critical minerals—including rare earths and lithium—reflects a broader industry trend toward securing supply chains for materials essential to the global energy transition and advanced technology manufacturing.<ref name="inn-investments" /><ref name="yahoo-mp" /> Her investments in US-based rare earths producer MP Materials and other critical minerals firms position Hancock Prospecting at the intersection of mining, geopolitics, and the energy transition, extending the company's influence well beyond its traditional Pilbara iron ore base.


As of the mid-2020s, Rinehart remains one of the most significant figures in Australian business and one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with her fortune and business decisions continuing to attract attention from financial analysts, media commentators, and policymakers.
The scale of Rinehart's wealth and the private nature of Hancock Prospecting have made her one of the most scrutinised business figures in Australia, with her investments, political engagements, and family disputes regularly attracting media coverage. Whether in her management of existing iron ore assets, her diversification into new commodities and international markets, or her interactions with the Australian political landscape, Rinehart has remained a central figure in Australian economic life for more than three decades.


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:Business executives]]
[[Category:Australian people]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Australian billionaires]]
[[Category:Australian billionaires]]
[[Category:Australian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Australian mining businesspeople]]
[[Category:Australian mining businesspeople]]
[[Category:Australian women in business]]
[[Category:Australian women in business]]
[[Category:Female billionaires]]
[[Category:People from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Hancock Prospecting]]
[[Category:Hancock Prospecting]]
 
[[Category:Australian company founders]]
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Latest revision as of 01:56, 24 February 2026


Gina Rinehart
BornGeorgina Hope Hancock
9 2, 1954
BirthplacePerth, Western Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationMining executive, company chairman
Known forExecutive chairman of Hancock Prospecting
EducationSt Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
Children4
AwardsForbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women

Georgina Hope Rinehart (née Hancock; born 9 February 1954) is an Australian billionaire mining magnate and businesswoman who serves as the executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a privately owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father, Lang Hancock. Born and raised in Western Australia, Rinehart inherited the chairmanship of the company upon her father's death in 1992 and subsequently oversaw a dramatic expansion of the firm's operations, transforming it from a royalty-collecting enterprise into one of Australia's most significant mining conglomerates. Through the iron ore boom of the early 2000s and strategic diversification into agriculture, media, and critical minerals, Rinehart accumulated a fortune that has made her Australia's richest person and, at various points, the richest woman in the world.[1] Her net worth has fluctuated considerably with global commodity prices, reaching approximately A$29 billion in 2012 before declining and then surging again to exceed A$37 billion by 2023.[2] In recent years, Rinehart has expanded Hancock Prospecting's investments into rare earth elements, lithium, and other critical minerals, as well as making notable forays into international equities markets.[3]

Early Life

Georgina Hope Hancock was born on 9 February 1954 in Perth, Western Australia, to Lang Hancock and Hope Nicholas Hancock.[4] She was Lang Hancock's only child. Her father was a prominent mining figure in Western Australia, known for his role in the discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the Pilbara region during the 1950s, which would later underpin one of the world's largest iron ore mining provinces.

Rinehart spent her early childhood years in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, an experience that exposed her to the mining industry from a young age.[5] The Pilbara, characterised by its arid landscapes and mineral-rich terrain, was central to the Hancock family's business interests and would later become the geographic foundation of Rinehart's own commercial empire.

For her secondary education, Rinehart was sent to board at St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth, one of Western Australia's established independent schools.[4] After completing her schooling, she enrolled at the University of Sydney to pursue further studies. However, she did not complete her degree, choosing instead to leave the university and return to Western Australia to work alongside her father at Hancock Prospecting.[5] This decision marked the beginning of her direct involvement in the family mining business, which would come to define her career and public profile for the following decades.

Education

Rinehart attended St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth as a boarder during her secondary school years.[4] She subsequently enrolled at the University of Sydney but left before completing her degree to join her father's business, Hancock Prospecting.[5] Her practical education in the mining industry came largely through her work with Lang Hancock, who introduced her to the operations and management of the family's mineral exploration and extraction interests in the Pilbara region.

Career

Early Years at Hancock Prospecting

After leaving the University of Sydney, Rinehart joined Hancock Prospecting and began working under the direction of her father, Lang Hancock.[5] The company at that time was primarily a royalty-collecting entity, deriving its income from agreements related to the iron ore deposits that Lang Hancock had helped identify in the Pilbara. During this period, Rinehart gained experience in the operational and administrative aspects of the mining business.

Lang Hancock died in 1992, and Rinehart succeeded him as executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting.[4] The transition marked the beginning of a new phase for the company, as Rinehart assumed full control of its strategic direction. In the years immediately following her father's death, she worked to consolidate and expand the company's position in the Australian mining sector.

Expansion During the Iron Ore Boom

The early 2000s brought a significant shift in global commodity markets, driven in large part by rapidly increasing demand for iron ore from China and other industrialising economies. This boom in iron ore prices had a transformative effect on Hancock Prospecting's fortunes and on Rinehart's personal wealth.

By 2006, the sustained rise in iron ore prices had elevated Rinehart to nominal billionaire status.[4] Her wealth continued to grow rapidly over the following years as iron ore prices climbed. In 2007, James Packer still topped Australia's rich list,[6] but by February 2011, Rinehart had ascended to the top of Australian rich lists, becoming the first woman to hold the number one position on the BRW Rich List.[7][8]

Rinehart oversaw the development of major mining projects during this period, including the expansion of Hancock Prospecting's iron ore operations in the Pilbara. SmartCompany reported in 2011 that Rinehart was on her way to becoming the world's richest person.[9] By early 2012, her fortune had doubled, and she was described as Asia-Pacific's richest person by Forbes.[10] SmartCompany also noted in January 2012 that Rinehart was worth $20 billion and that the most significant phase of her business activities was just beginning.[11]

By mid-2012, Rinehart's wealth had tripled in just one year, and she was declared the world's richest woman, overtaking Christy Walton of the United States.[12][1] Her net worth was estimated at approximately A$29.17 billion, placing her at the top of BRW's Rich List.[2] Forbes included her on its list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, and a POSCO-related transaction further solidified her status as a A$20 billion figure.[13]

Rinehart's extraordinary wealth accumulation during this period was not without volatility. The subsequent slowdown in the Australian mining sector led to a significant decline in her net worth over the following years. By 2013, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Rinehart's wealth had dropped by more than the entire worth of the Lowy family.[14] Despite these fluctuations, Rinehart maintained her position as one of Australia's wealthiest individuals and remained Australia's richest person from 2011 to 2015 according to both Forbes and The Australian Financial Review.

Media Investments

In the 2010s, Rinehart began to diversify her holdings beyond the mining industry, making notable investments in Australian media companies. In November 2010, she acquired a stake in Ten Network Holdings, one of Australia's major commercial television networks.[15]

In early 2012, Rinehart conducted a share raid that made her the largest stakeholder in Fairfax Media, the publisher of major Australian newspapers including The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.[16] The investment generated considerable public debate about the potential influence of a major mining figure on editorial coverage, particularly regarding taxation and mining policy. However, analysts noted that Rinehart's Fairfax interest would not give her control over the mining tax debate.[17]

Rinehart's relationship with Fairfax was contentious. The company declined to offer her a board seat, despite her status as the largest shareholder.[18] She sold her interest in Fairfax Media in 2015.

Agriculture and Diversification

In addition to her media investments, Rinehart expanded into the agricultural sector during the 2010s, acquiring several cattle stations across northern Australia. These acquisitions represented a significant diversification of Hancock Prospecting's portfolio beyond its core mining operations. However, Rinehart divested these agricultural holdings within approximately a decade.

Critical Minerals and International Investments

In more recent years, Rinehart has directed Hancock Prospecting's investment strategy toward critical minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, and copper. Through Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart has made investments in companies including Azure Minerals, Liontown Resources, and other firms involved in the extraction of minerals considered essential to the global energy transition.[3]

In October 2025, Bloomberg reported that Rinehart had doubled her stake in a rare earths firm.[19] The following month, in November 2025, Rinehart became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, the United States-based rare earths producer, further cementing her position in the critical minerals sector.[20]

In February 2026, the Australian Financial Review reported that Rinehart had purchased shares in Netflix during a period of mergers and acquisitions activity, with the report noting that United States disclosure rules provided visibility into Hancock Prospecting's US share trading activities.[21] These investments underscored Rinehart's increasingly international investment outlook beyond her traditional Australian mining base.

Wealth Trajectory

Rinehart's wealth trajectory has been closely linked to global commodity cycles. After reaching approximately A$29 billion in 2012,[2] her net worth declined significantly during the mining sector slowdown of the mid-2010s. Forbes estimated her net worth at US$14.8 billion in 2019. However, increased demand for Australian iron ore during 2020 rebuilt her wealth substantially. By May 2023, The Australian Financial Review Rich List estimated her net worth in excess of A$37 billion. As of September 2020, Forbes considered Rinehart one of the world's ten richest women. She was Australia's wealthiest person from 2011 to 2015 according to both Forbes and The Australian Financial Review, and again every year since 2020 according to The Australian Business Review and The Australian Financial Review.

A 2026 report noted that Australia's top five billionaires, led by Rinehart, saw their combined wealth rise 14 percent to $94 billion despite global uncertainty triggered by tariff-related trade disruptions.[22]

Personal Life

Rinehart has four children, including John Hayward-Hancock. Her family life has been the subject of public attention, particularly in relation to legal disputes involving her children and a family trust established by Lang Hancock. These disputes, which played out in Australian courts, centred on the management and control of the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust, which held a significant portion of the family's mining interests.

Rinehart's personal wealth and business decisions have attracted broader public and media scrutiny. She has been a prominent figure in Australian public discourse on topics including taxation policy, government regulation of the mining industry, and economic development in regional Australia.

In February 2026, The Guardian reported that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson had failed to declare a flight provided by Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting, later updating her register of interests after the matter was revealed.[23] The report highlighted ongoing questions about transparency regarding interactions between political figures and major business interests in Australia.

Recognition

Rinehart's business achievements have been recognised through various lists and rankings of wealth and influence. In 2012, she was included on the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, coinciding with her status as the world's richest woman at that time.[1][12]

She was the first woman to top Australia's BRW Rich List, achieving this distinction in 2011.[7] Rinehart has appeared consistently on major Australian and international wealth rankings, including the Forbes list of Australia's 50 richest people, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index,[24] and The Australian Financial Review Rich List.

Forbes ranked her among the fourth richest in its list of Australia's richest people, and the Australian Financial Review noted her as Australia's wealthiest individual in multiple years.[25] Britannica describes her as an Australian business executive and political activist who built a fortune through mining.[5]

Legacy

Rinehart's impact on the Australian mining industry and on Australian business more broadly is significant. As executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, she transformed what was primarily a royalty-collecting entity into a diversified mining and investment conglomerate with interests spanning iron ore, rare earths, lithium, copper, agriculture, and media.

Her role as Australia's richest person, and at one point the richest woman in the world, has made her a prominent figure in discussions about wealth, gender, and economic power in Australia.[12] As the first woman to top the BRW Rich List, Rinehart occupies a notable position in the history of Australian business.[7]

Rinehart's more recent strategic pivot toward critical minerals—including rare earths and lithium—reflects a broader industry trend toward securing supply chains for materials essential to the global energy transition and advanced technology manufacturing.[3][20] Her investments in US-based rare earths producer MP Materials and other critical minerals firms position Hancock Prospecting at the intersection of mining, geopolitics, and the energy transition, extending the company's influence well beyond its traditional Pilbara iron ore base.

The scale of Rinehart's wealth and the private nature of Hancock Prospecting have made her one of the most scrutinised business figures in Australia, with her investments, political engagements, and family disputes regularly attracting media coverage. Whether in her management of existing iron ore assets, her diversification into new commodities and international markets, or her interactions with the Australian political landscape, Rinehart has remained a central figure in Australian economic life for more than three decades.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Rinehart world's richest woman".BRW.http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/rinehart_world_richest_woman_JucE8ndw9hYfzDk5NuudTI.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The $29.17 billion woman: Gina Rinehart tops BRW's Rich List".The Australian.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/the-2917-billion-woman-gina-rinehart-tops-brws-rich-list/story-e6frg996-1226364335069.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Inside Billionaire Gina Rinehart's Key Mining Investments".Investing News Network.2025-11-27.https://investingnews.com/gina-rinehart-hancock-mining-investments/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Newsmaker: Gina Rinehart".The Sydney Morning Herald.2010-11-26.http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/newsmaker-gina-rinehart-20101126-18ank.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Georgina Hope Rinehart".Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/money/Georgina-Hope-Rinehart.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "James Packer still top of rich list".The Sydney Morning Herald.2007-05-30.http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/James-Packer-still-top-of-rich-list/2007/05/30/1180205321814.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "BRW Rich List puts Gina Rinehart Australia's richest person, the first woman at No. 1".News.com.au.http://www.news.com.au/business/brw-rich-list-puts-gina-rinehart-australias-richest-person-the-first-woman-at-no1/story-e6frfm1i-1226063158215.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Gina Rinehart tops Australian rich list".The Age.2011-02-03.http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/gina-rinehart-tops-australian-rich-list-20110203-1af06.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Why Gina Rinehart is on her way to being the world's richest".SmartCompany.2011-06-22.http://www.smartcompany.com.au/resources-and-energy/20110622-why-gina-rinehart-is-one-her-way-to-being-the-world-s-richest-treadgold.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Rinehart doubles fortune as Asia-Pacific's richest, Forbes says".Bloomberg Businessweek.2012-02-02.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-02/rinehart-doubles-fortune-as-asia-pacific-s-richest-forbes-says.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Gina Rinehart's now worth $20 billion, and her hard work's just started".SmartCompany.2012-01-19.http://www.smartcompany.com.au/entrepreneur-watch/20120119-gina-rinehart-s-now-worth-20-billion-and-her-hard-work-s-just-started.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Rinehart world's richest woman as wealth triples in a year".The Age.2012-05-23.http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/rinehart-worlds-richest-woman-as-wealth-triples-in-a-year-20120523-1z5ox.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Stakes raised as POSCO play makes Rinehart a $20bn woman".The Australian.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mergers-acquisitions/stakes-raised-as-posco-play-makes-rinehart-a-20bn-woman/story-fn91vdzj-1226249819616.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Rinehart drops more than Lowys' entire worth".The Sydney Morning Herald.2013-05-22.http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/rinehart-drops-more-than-lowys-entire-worth-20130522-2k0h9.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Gina Rinehart buys stake in Ten".The Age.2010-11-22.http://www.theage.com.au/business/gina-rinehart-buys-stake-in-ten-20101122-183x9.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Share raid makes Gina Rinehart biggest stakeholder in Fairfax".The Australian.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/share-raid-makes-gina-rinehart-biggest-stakeholder-in-fairfax/story-e6frg996-1226259722210.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Gina Rinehart's Fairfax interest won't give her control of mining tax debate".The Australian.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/opinion/gina-rineharts-fairfax-interest-wont-give-her-control-of-mining-tax-debate/story-e6frg99o-1226263157111.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "No deal: Fairfax won't offer Gina Rinehart a board seat".Media Spy.2012-06-27.http://www.mediaspy.org/2012/06/27/no-deal-fairfax-wont-offer-gina-rinehart-a-board-seat/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Doubles Stake in Rare Earths Firm".Bloomberg.2025-10-28.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-10-28/australia-s-richest-person-gina-rinehart-doubles-stake-in-rare-earths-firm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Gina Rinehart becomes largest shareholder in MP Materials".Yahoo Finance.2025-11-18.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gina-rinehart-becomes-largest-shareholder-113026464.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Gina Rinehart buys Netflix shares during M&A fight".Australian Financial Review.2026-02-18.https://www.afr.com/rear-window/rinehart-buys-netflix-shares-during-m-and-a-fight-20260218-p5o3dz.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Who are Australia's top 5 billionaires in 2026?".VnExpress International.2026-02-18.https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/billionaires/who-are-australia-s-top-5-billionaires-in-2026-5040044.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Pauline Hanson failed to declare another flight from billionaire Gina Rinehart's company".The Guardian.2026-02-03.https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/03/pauline-hanson-free-flight-gina-rinehart-hancock-ntwnfb.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index".Bloomberg.http://topics.bloomberg.com/bloomberg-billionaires-index/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "Rinehart 4th richest as Forbes names...".Australian Financial Review.http://www.afr.com/p/world/rinehart_th_richest_as_forbes_names_m17SlQH5hMKFRZ64mAblJJ.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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