The real reason behind Australia's richest couple's split
Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest has broken his silence on his shock split from his wife of 31 years, saying the decision to separate was "better for everyone".
The mining magnate and his wife Nicole, who are known as Australia's richest couple, announced their divorce in a joint statement in July, saying they would remain friends and colleagues.
At a trade forum in Perth on Wednesday, the Fortescue Metals Group CEO opened up about the split for the first time.
"Nic and I are good mates, we speak all the time she's a fantastic lady," Mr Forrest told Nine News.
"We made the call that it was better for everyone if we didn't live right on top of each other but we still absolutely support each other."
Since announcing their split, the couple have insisted the separation won't affect the direction of their mining empire or philanthropic interests.
Mr Forrest was asked what assurances he could give to shareholders that the former couple's new arrangement wouldn't impact the business, to which he announced that his estranged wife is now Fortescue's largest shareholder.
"I give them complete reassurance - Nic and I are lockstep on that," Mr Forrest added.
"We are completely committed to Fortescue, to Tattarang, all the objectives of Mindaroo, we are completely united."
The news of the Forrest's 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.
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