Australia's richest couple call it quits
Australia's richest couple have announced their separation after 31 years of marriage.
Andrew and Nicola Forrest, who made their fortune through their mining company Fortescue Metals, said their split would have no impact on their work projects.
"After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart," the couple said in a joint statement.
"Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong."
"There is no impact on the operations, control or direction of Fortescue, Minderoo or Tattarang."
The couple said they would aim to convey a sense of stability for their business during the transition.
"We will continue our shared mission to create and gift our wealth to tackle community and global challenges, as recently shown by last month's donation of one-fifth of our Fortescue shareholding to Minderoo Foundation," they said.
The news of their split comes after Mr Forrest gave Ms Forrest half the ownership of their flagship company, Tattarang, and more than $1.1 billion worth of Fortescue shares was moved into a new company, Coaxial Ventures, owned by her, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Mr Forrest remains Australia's second-richest person in the latest AFR Rich List, with an estimated wealth of $31.44 billion, as only fellow mining magnate Gina Rinehart is richer, with $44.33 billion to her name.
After amassing their billions in the mining industry, the Forrests founded the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation in 2001.
Its work in recent years has included several environmental projects and supplying millions of Covid-19 tests to Australia in the early days of the pandemic.
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