How does a University of Adelaide graduate become one of Australias richest citizens?
With a little help from his mum, of course. Shaun Bontt graduated from the University of Adelaide with degrees in Laws and Arts in 1991. Last year he was named Australia’s third-richest person under the age of 40, worth an estimated $220 million. By any estimation, the 35-year-old property developer has joined the big league. He earns more than Hollywood actor Nicole Kidman and enjoys a portfolio of assets exceeding $1 billion. Unlike Kidman, though, he has built his empire out of the public eye and without the intense media scrutiny that other high-flying Australian entrepreneurs endure. The London-born, Australian/Maltese businessman credits much of his success to his mother, who proved an “amazing inspiration” and taught Shaun to believe he could achieve anything he wanted in life. It’s a philosophy he has embraced since childhood, from his education at St Ignatius College and the University of Adelaide, to his legal career and subsequent journey along the commercial property market