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Aussie teen becomes instant millionaire in NBA draft

<p>Johnny Furphy, 19, has made it to the NBA, after being selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 35th pick in the draft. </p> <p>The Aussie teen joins the world's top basketball league after just one year of studying at the University of Kansas. </p> <p>Furphy was initially selected by the San Antonio Spurs, but was then on-traded to the Pacers who had pick number 36. </p> <p>The teen received an exclusive invite to the green room for the first round of the draft, but wasn't selected until the second round. </p> <p>According to <em>Fox Sports,</em> Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told  Furphy that the franchise is “really excited” to have drafted him, and believe that he is a “great fit” for their team. </p> <p>“At the end of the day, it’s about wherever the best fit is, and I think Indiana is the spot,” Furphy said. </p> <p>Prior to the draft, the teen paid tribute to his fellow Australian basketballers with a custom-made suit for the big occasion. </p> <p>“I will be wearing a suit with all the Australia NBA players, who have played in the NBA and my name will be highlighted,” he told <em>7NEWS</em>. </p> <p>According to the publication, the young teen is set to be a millionaire with last year's 35th getting a partially guaranteed $US8 million ($A12m) deal over four years, with similar numbers for those selected either side. </p> <p>Growing up, Furphy also played Australian Rules in the Yarra Junior Football League for Fitzroy Juniors. </p> <p>He said that his footy history helped him throughout his NBA career. </p> <p>“I played until I was about 16. Playing that sport definitely helped my basketball being able to absorb contact,” he said.</p> <p>The teen has a promising career ahead, with Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze also supporting him. </p> <p>“(He is) a guy that hasn’t come out of nowhere, but it’s been a meteoric rise for someone now considered a first-round draft pick,” he told <em>7NEWS</em>.</p> <p><em>Image: Matthew Lynch/CSM/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Woman's heartwarming encounter with millionaire teen fisherman

<p>A mum has revealed her heartwarming encounter with Keegan Payne just moments before he caught the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/domestic-travel/this-is-crazy-teenager-goes-fishing-and-emerges-a-millionaire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">million-dollar fish</a>. </p> <p>Sarrita King, an artist from Darwin, took to TikTok to recall the moment when the teenager and his friends helped her and her family after they had crashed their car and became stranded.</p> <p>“These kids came and actually towed us back to safety,” she said in the video. </p> <p>“So it was an hour out of their time, they unhooked a buggy, they were on their way to go fishing for the Million Dollar Barra, and they were absolutely amazing.</p> <p>“They restored both my partner and I’s faith in kids these days.”</p> <p>The mum said that the group of teenagers made them feel “really safe”.</p> <p>“For a terrible situation - the car was wrecked - they were the best,” she said.</p> <p>“At the time we were like ‘I hope these guys have the best life’, they have so much going for them.”</p> <p>She then shared her surprise when she found out that Payne won the life-changing prize.</p> <p>“We have just been over the moon for him ever since,” she said.</p> <p>“And we just can’t stop smiling and thinking about it. So congratulations. Good karma.”</p> <p>King's followers shared their support for the teen and called it a "beautiful story". </p> <p>“His story just gets better and better, I think he’s going to be a full-on Aussie icon,” one wrote. </p> <p>“Darwin kids have a heart of gold,” another added. </p> <p>King later on told <em>NT News </em>about what a "wonderful young man" Payne was and how kind the teenager was. </p> <p>“He was kind, he spoke proudly about being from Katherine – where I’m from too, so we spoke about that.</p> <p>“He spoke about his family and his love of fishing. It was just what you want your own kid to be like that at that age.</p> <p>“The way he’s handled himself through everything, he’s going to be someone in the future with all the pressure and all the scrutiny, he’s got his head screwed on.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok/ Facebook</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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"He's a good kid": Teen fisherman's boss defends young millionaire

<p>The former boss of teenager fisherman Keegan Payne has spoken out in support of the new millionaire, just days after Peter Stefanovic and <em>Sky News</em> were slammed for a "harsh" interview. </p> <p>On Wednesday, Stefanovic made headlines after he used his <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/peter-stefanovic-slammed-for-harsh-question-to-young-million-dollar-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with 19-year-old Payne, who had just won a million dollars in a fishing competition in the Northern Territory, to quiz the young man about a petty crime he committed when he was 16. </p> <p>"There is a claim online that you stole a Polaris Ranger and Polaris quad that you and your friends stole and damaged from a business a few years back, first of all, is that true?" Stefanovic asked from his Sydney studio during the live interview.</p> <p>Payne, who was speaking from the Darwin, simply answered, "Yes".</p> <p>Payne explained he and his friends "were young", and "weren't thinking at the time" but having come up with the idea they "went for it".</p> <p>Stefanovic asked Payne if he regretted the act and he said he did "big time".</p> <p>The interview was widely condemned online, with many saying Stefanovic "ripped the carpet from underneath" Payne and chose to focus on a past mistake rather than celebrate his life-changing win. </p> <p>The backlash to the interview prompted both Stefanovic and Sky News to issue an apology to Keegan, saying he "regrets" his line of questioning. </p> <p>“An apology from me, last Wednesday we invited Keegan Payne onto our show to discuss his win in the Million Dollar Fish competition in the Northern Territory,” Stefanovic said during First Edition on Monday. </p> <p>“During that interview I asked him about a theft that had occurred several years earlier. I should not have asked him about those claims and I regret doing so. </p> <p>“I apologise sincerely to Keegan and his family.”</p> <p>Now, the teenage fisherman's former boss, Bob Cavanagh, has spoken out in defence of Keegan, saying "he is a good kid" who had a lapse of better judgement.  </p> <p>Cavanagh ran the business that Payne stole the vehicles from a few years ago, but said he does not hold a grudge and holds no ill will to the teenager. </p> <p>“He’s a good kid who made a mistake,” Cavanagh told the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13384033/Keegan-Payne-Peter-Stefanovic-fishing-Bob-Cavanagh.html">Daily Mail</a>.</em></p> <p>“What was meant to be a celebratory moment was stolen from him. I’m glad he [Stefanovic] apologised to Keegan, he deserved that apology.”</p> <p>Cavanagh said he believes Stefanovic has learnt a lesson.</p> <p>“We all make mistakes and I bet he regrets it,’ he said. ‘The fact that he’s come out and apologised to Keegan and his family, I think he’s realised he’s overstepped the mark.”</p> <p>After his big win, Keegan offered to pay back the stolen vehicles.</p> <p>“Out of the blue this morning, his father rang me and said, ‘Keegan wants to repay you’, and you could have knocked me down with a feather,” Cavanagh said.</p> <p>“He said Keegan has always felt so terrible for what he did.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire

<p>A 19-year-old fisherman has reeled in a million-dollar barramundi as part of a years long fishing competition. </p> <p>Keegan Payne, a self proclaimed "mad keen" fisherman, caught the fish that had been tagged as part of a nine year long fishing competition in the Katherine River.</p> <p>When the teenager from the Norther Territory was told that he had taken home the prize, he said he planned to use his winnings to help his parents pay off their home loans. </p> <p>"This is crazy for us, we're a big family, there's eight of us. This is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great," Payne said.</p> <p>"It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm happy, really happy."</p> <p>"I can buy what I want, maybe help Dad and Mum out with the home loans," he said.</p> <p>Payne was on a fishing trip with family and a friend at the Katherine River when he caught the prized barramundi, and quickly made a call to the hotline for the competition. </p> <p>The organisers confirmed he had caught the million-dollar fish, and invited him and his family to collect the prize. </p> <p>The competition has been running since 2015, but until now, nobody had reeled in one of the million-dollar barramundi.</p> <p>Every season, more than a hundred fish tagged with special markings are released in waterways across the Northern Territory, and while most of the fish are worth $10,000, some are worth the major prize of $1 million.</p> <p>Keegan chose charity partner Cancer Council NT to receive $10,000 from Sportsbet, a sponsor of the competition. </p> <p>NT Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said organisers were "so happy and excited for Keegan".</p> <p>"We guaranteed a winner this season and we're delighted to see the prize go off," said Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Million Dollar Fish </em></p>

Domestic Travel

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"It's just unbelievable": The Block winners become instant millionaires

<p><strong><em>Warning! Spoilers ahead</em></strong></p> <p><em>The Block</em> 2023 has official drawn to a close, with mixed emotions hitting the renovation couples at a chaotic auction day. </p> <p>Two teams became instant millionaires on Sunday night, while one couple walked away with nothing as their house failed to sell. </p> <p>NSW childhood sweethearts Steph and Gian emerged victorious as this year's winners, pocketing $1.65 million in a record-breaking auction. </p> <p>Their house was purchased for a whopping $5 million after the reserve was set at $3.35 million. </p> <p>Steph and Gian's win is the biggest in <em>Block</em> history, surpassing the $1.586 million last year’s winners Omar and Oz made over their reserve.</p> <p>On top of their auction earnings, the couple also take home the $100,000 prize money.</p> <p>Also becoming instant millionaires were Melbourne sisters Liberty and Eliza, pocketing $1.05 million after their house sold for $4.3 million. </p> <p>WA team Leslie and Kyle placed third in the competition, taking home a more modest profit of $130,000 after their house sold for $3.1 million. </p> <p>All three of those houses were bought by serial-bidder Adrian Portelli, who also purchased last year's winning house.</p> <p>In a bizarre twist, Portelli even bid against himself, repeatedly raising the price by $100,000 despite already having the highest bid.</p> <p>“That’s...never happened before,” said a dumbfounded Scott Cam, while the auctioneer called it “the strangest auction I’ve ever done.”</p> <p>Despite three major auction successes, South Australian couple Kristy and Brett only made a $65,00 profit for their hard work on the season, after their house sold for $3.035 million. </p> <p>In a devastating blow, Queenslanders Leah and Ash failed to sell their home after bids failed to climb above their $2.97 million reserve. </p> <p>After tense negotiations, the team decided to pass a low offer, with the home still on the market. </p> <p>There is some hope for the Queenslanders, as their house could still sell for more than its reserve after auction.</p> <p>Two of the three houses that were passed in during last year’s auctions eventually sold for well over their reserve, scoring their teams respective profits of around $170,000 each.</p> <p>Speaking after their win, Steph and Gian said their were “overwhelmed” and described auction day as “surreal.” </p> <p>“This will change our lives,” they said of their $1.75 million win. </p> <p>“We have no idea what we are going to do with the money yet. It’s going to clear our debts in Sydney. It’s going to set us up for whatever the next stage is. It’s just unbelievable.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Money & Banking

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15 money-saving habits self-made millionaires have in common

<p><strong>Start saving smarter</strong></p> <p>Learning how to save money like a self-made millionaire can mean the difference between stressing to dress and dressing to impress. It can help you retire younger so you’re able to see more of the world sooner. It can mean finally building that dream house. And more than anything, it can mean having the money when you truly need it.</p> <p>But let’s face it: Not all of us are natural savers. We waste our money on frivolous supermarket buys we’re convinced we have to have in the moment. We don’t bother with high-yield savings or investment accounts. And we have a tendency to try to keep up with the Joneses. In other words, we could really use the help of a self-made millionaire who not only knows the tricks to getting rich but is also skilled at saving. Luckily, we talked to some financial geniuses who were willing to share their expert tips on the money-saving strategies all self-made millionaires share.</p> <p>Whether you’re planning to retire at 30 or are opening your first savings account, these are the money-saving habits you should borrow from self-made millionaires to become one yourself someday.</p> <p><strong>They follow the 50-30-20 rule</strong> </p> <p>Forget complicated budgeting or uncomfortable belt-tightening; the secret to saving big might boil down to three simple numbers. Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, says that many a self-made millionaire follows the “50-30-20” rule.</p> <p>Using this formula, they put aside 50% of the money they earn for savings and necessities such as rent and groceries, 30% for lifestyle purchases like new clothing and 20% for fun activities like concerts or eating out. By regularly and intentionally setting aside a fixed amount of savings, the self-made millionaire builds a nest egg faster.</p> <p>Ready to try it for yourself? To get started, download a budget app to help you divvy up your income accordingly. “You might find that with some adjustments, such as shifting your food spending toward groceries and away from takeout and restaurants, or cutting back on monthly subscriptions, you can take steps toward reaching your wealth-building goals,” Palmer says.</p> <p><strong>They automate their finances</strong></p> <p>Budgeting is a smart move, but there are times when it can backfire, according to nine-time New York Times bestselling author David Bach, the founder of FinishRich.com. “You’re too busy, and you will just get frustrated and fail,” he says.</p> <p>Instead, self-made millionaires automate their financial lives so they can’t fail. That includes setting up a regular deposit into their savings accounts to be automatically withdrawn from their pay.</p> <p>Bach also recommends using autopay for many of your bills, including car payments, mortgage payments and credit card bills. Doing so helps you avoid missing a payment and getting hit with those pesky late fees, saving you money in the long run. Just make sure to leave out any of these bills you shouldn’t put on autopay.</p> <p><strong>They spend less than they earn</strong></p> <p>Believe it or not, “self-made millionaires don’t necessarily look like millionaires on the outside,” according to Palmer. Rather than spending money on flashy holidays or new clothes, “they often spend less than they earn so they can put their money into savings and investments,” she says.</p> <p>To maximise your savings like a self-made millionaire would, Palmer recommends taking stock of your personal spending and cutting back on categories that matter less to you. For example, if you enjoy taking a big holiday every year, consider cooking lunches and dinners at home to curb your spending at restaurants. On the flip side, maybe you would rather have a smaller clothing budget and create a capsule wardrobe to free up spending for dining out with your friends.</p> <p><strong>They avoid "want spending"</strong></p> <p>Another way self-made millionaires avoid spending more than they earn? They never fall into the trap of “want spending,” according to Tom Corley, an expert on wealth creation and author of Rich Habits. “According to Census Bureau data, there are approximately 30 million people who make more than they need but who are, nonetheless, one pay away from poverty,” he explains. “These individuals engage in something called want spending.”</p> <p>Are you a “want spender”? Corley’s research found that some of the biggest indicators include:</p> <ul> <li>Surrendering to instant gratification, forgoing savings in order to buy things you want now, be it a 60-inch TV, nice holiday, expensive car or fancy pair of shoes</li> <li>Spending too much going out to eat or ordering in</li> <li>Incurring debt in order to finance your standard of living</li> </ul> <p>Essentially, want spenders create their own poverty by rationalising their desire to spend in various ways, whether it be by planning to make more money in the future or relying on the economy improving down the line. That’s why self-made millionaires shun spending money on their wants and focus more on their needs and savings. That said, if you do want to make a purchase that you didn’t budget for, here are some quick ways to earn extra cash.</p> <p><strong>They're smart spenders </strong></p> <p>Impulse purchases can happen to the best of us. No, you didn’t need the trucker hat at the petrol station on your long, boring road trip. And yes, stuff like that, when made a habit, adds up. To prevent extraneous spending and save more money, Corley suggests a few specific strategies that self-made millionaires followed in his research:</p> <ul> <li>They buy in bulk. “If done properly and with the right items, buying in bulk can save your household money and reduce waste,” he says. Toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, paper towels and shampoo are items proven much cheaper when bought in larger sizes. Prioritise food items like applesauce, canned goods or yoghurt, which can be portioned into glass jars and saved for future use.</li> <li>They create a meal plan. “If you can sketch out a menu for the week that utilises similar ingredients, you’ll have a more focused trip to the supermarket, and you’ll end up throwing less away weeks after it’s been shoved to the back recesses of the refrigerator,” says Corley. “Making a conscious effort here saves you money, and it keeps food waste out of landfills.” For other smart tricks to save money on groceries, consider following a budget grocery list and learning how to find coupons.</li> <li>They reduce energy costs. “Lowering your energy consumption is low-hanging fruit when it comes to cutting monthly expenses,” he explains. This can be as simple as swapping incandescent bulbs for CFLs or LEDs to lower your utility bill.</li> </ul> <p><strong>They prevent lifestyle creep </strong></p> <p>Whether you tried out a new side hustle idea or learned how to negotiate for a higher salary, you’re now bringing in more money. But be careful! It’s all too tempting to splurge on a bigger house or fancier car as your income grows. “It’s a common habit among many who suddenly find themselves making more money,” Corley says. But self-made millionaires avoid increasing their standard of living in order to match their growing income—a money-burning practice called lifestyle creep.</p> <p>In fact, Corley’s research found that a whopping 64% of self-made millionaires lived in a modest, middle-class home; 44% purchased used cars; 41% spent less than $3000 on their annual holiday; and 28% mowed their own lawn to save money.</p> <p>Here’s why lifestyle creep can hurt you financially: “Once you spend your money, it’s gone,” Corley says. “When you hit a bump in the road, such as a job loss, you are then forced to sell your stuff. If the stuff you purchased depreciated in value, you get pennies on the dollar.”</p> <p>As a good rule of thumb, he recommends spending no more than 25% of your annual net pay on housing costs and 5% on car costs, no matter how much you earn.</p> <p><strong>They don't lend money to friends or family </strong></p> <p>The self-made millionaire knows that your love for your family and friends shouldn’t be measured by your generosity, but sometimes that’s exactly what it comes down to. You’re inevitably left in an awkward bind: If you don’t provide a loan, there can be tension, but if you do, you may never get the funds back and might find yourself resenting your pal. “You will lose both your friend and the money, and you’re not a bank,” advises Bach.</p> <p>Say you do lend them money. Did you come up with an agreement for a timeline for repayments? When it comes to friends or family, setting such boundaries can be difficult, but it’s even more awkward to continuously ask for the money back.</p> <p>If self-made millionaires absolutely must lend money to someone near and dear, they make sure the loan isn’t open-ended. Bach recommends coming up with a timeline and sticking to it. You can also take advantage of companies that specialise in peer-to-peer lending, like Zirtue, which formalises loans between family members and friends.</p> <p><strong>They're frugal, not cheap </strong></p> <p>Although it may seem counterintuitive, buying cheaper products is not a common money-saving habit among self-made millionaires. In fact, Corley’s research found that 66% of poor people admitted to being cheap. “Cheap, to them, meant spending their money on the cheapest product or service available,” he explains. But cheap products break or deteriorate at a much quicker rate than quality products, which means you end up spending more in the long run.</p> <p>He also points out that, when looking for services, those who provide cheap ones are typically inexperienced or not very good at what they do. “If they were good, they would be able to command higher prices. Cheap service providers can get you in a lot of trouble, especially when it comes to taxes, legal representation or even just getting your car fixed. Cheap service providers are able to keep their fees down by paying their staff lower wages. This means they are not getting the best staff or are settling for inexperienced staff.”</p> <p>Being cheap won’t make you poor, but it will mean you save less money because you’re constantly shelling out for new products or services to replace the low-quality ones you bought in the first place. Self-made millionaires focus on buying fewer, higher-quality products that will last a long time.</p> <p><strong>They don't play the comparison game</strong></p> <p>Keeping up with the Joneses is more tempting (and common!) then you might think. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 83% of Americans say they overspend due to social pressures from seeing others dining at expensive restaurants or taking fancy trips abroad. “It’s easy to get caught up in overspending, especially when you see peers or neighbours spending more than you on cars, houses or vacations,” Palmer says.</p> <p>But when rich people feel green with envy, Palmer says, they put things into perspective—and keep in mind that what they’re seeing may not be the entire picture. “It’s important to take a step back and realise you might not want the same things they have, or they might be creating financial stress for themselves by buying those things,” she says.</p> <p><strong>They pay themselves first </strong></p> <p>By setting aside a portion of their income every day, week or month—in other words, “paying yourself first”—self-made millionaires take one of the most important steps towards building wealth, according to Bach. “You’re going to work 90,000 hours over your lifetime; you should keep at least an hour a day of the income,” he says.</p> <p>He recommends setting aside an hour’s worth of your income each day and then saving and investing it—preferably automatically to begin earning some passive income and reach that high-roller status.</p> <p><strong>They find a passive income source</strong></p> <p>Speaking of passive income, self-made millionaires save even more money by investing their savings in an account that creates passive income through accumulated interest, such as a high-yield savings or investment account. There are several types of accounts to consider, and ultimately, the one you choose will depend on your financial goals.</p> <p>“No strategy is a one-size-fits-all approach, since everyone’s financial situation is unique and different,” Palmer says. She recommends speaking with a financial advisor to learn the right strategy for you and to avoid the most common retirement-planning mistakes.</p> <p><strong>They put away the credit card</strong></p> <p>Credit cards can sabotage even the best of savers, according to Corley. “Credit card use can easily get out of control,” he says. “If you rely on credit cards to pay for ordinary living expenses, that means you are living beyond your means.”</p> <p>Not only are there high interest rates on credit card debt, but paying with plastic could also trick you into spending more money. In a study published in the journal Marketing Letters, MIT researchers found that shoppers spend up to 100% more when paying with a credit card—and were even willing to pay twice as much for an item as those who paid in cash.</p> <p>The 100-day credit card money-saving challenge could help you break bad spending habits, according to Corley. Essentially, the goal is to go 100 days without using your credit cards for purchases. The result? “Having to use cash or your ATM card forces spending awareness and restricts how much you can spend,” Corley says.</p> <p><strong>They design their dreams </strong></p> <p>What do you want your life to look like in five, 10 or 20 years? Self-made millionaires always know their answer to this question, Corley says. He calls this dream-setting or creating a clear vision of your ideal future life. From there, you should set and pursue financial goals that will help you accomplish those dreams. “Dream-setting is a springboard for creating the goals you’ll need in order to help you get to your destination,” he says.</p> <p>For example, if you want to earn a master’s degree so you can get a job with a higher salary, you can set goals like setting aside two hours every day to study for the graduate record exam (GRE). “Goals are the transportation system to your ideal future life,” Corley says. “Once you have a clear vision of your destination, the goals you’ll need to achieve will magically manifest themselves out of thin air.”</p> <p><strong>They invest in themselves </strong></p> <p>There’s no question that saving and investing your money is key to accumulating wealth fast. But according to Corley, the first (and most important!) money-saving habit that self-made millionaires practice is investing in themselves—whether that means reading for at least 30 minutes a day, listening to podcasts during a long commute or seeking out career mentors.</p> <p>Exactly how should you invest in yourself? The self-made millionaires in Corley’s research focused their daily reading on content that was directly related to the dreams and goals they were pursuing.</p> <p><strong>They never give up</strong></p> <p>Maybe it sounds cliche, but it’s the type of mindset that will keep you above water. “No matter what happens, no matter how many times you fail, as long as you get up and try again, you haven’t lost,” says Bach. So commit to the sort of money-saving tricks a self-made millionaire would follow, but give yourself a break if you fall off the wagon. Dust yourself off and recommit to your saving strategies.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/money/15-money-saving-habits-self-made-millionaires-have-in-common?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Money & Banking

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"It's been a great privilege": Eddie McGuire delivers sad Millionaire Hot Seat news

<p>Veteran host Eddie McGuire has announced that <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> will be taking a break at the end of January 2024.</p> <p>During a broadcast on 3AW, McGuire expressed both pride and sadness as he conveyed his gratitude to fans for their unwavering support over the years. McGuire revealed that a new show would be introduced in place of Millionaire Hot Seat at 5 o'clock on the Nine network after the 25th-anniversary milestone is reached in 2024.</p> <p>"It's with great pride and joy and also sadness that I announce this morning that Millionaire Hot Seat will go into hiatus at the end of January next year," McGuire announced. "We will finish off this year and there'll be a replacement show at five 'clock on the Nine network after we hit our 25th anniversary when we go into 2024.</p> <p>"I've had the privilege of being in everybody's lounge room for a long time every night at 5 o'clock and I love the fact that so many people come and say, 'I sit there with my grandparents and we did these things together'. It's been a great privilege."</p> <p>Reflecting on the show's impact, McGuire highlighted its multicultural appeal and the moments of personal significance shared by contestants. He recounted the touching story of a contestant who won $250,000 during the global financial crisis, and how the prize money was life-saving for him, preventing him from having to sell his house.</p> <p>Since its debut on April 20, 2009, <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> has become Australia's longest-running quiz show and the sole program in the country where contestants have the chance to win $1 million. Throughout its impressive 11-year run, the show has given away over $40 million and aired a remarkable 2500 episodes.</p> <p>Eddie McGuire's association with the show dates back to 1999 when he began hosting <em>Who Wants To Be A Millionaire</em>, which later evolved into the daily version known as <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> in 2009.</p> <p>The show has been a life-changing experience for many, with individuals like Edwin Daly and Antony McManus winning the top prize of $1 million. McManus, a retail worker from Melbourne, expressed how winning the show transformed his life, allowing him to purchase a beautiful apartment outright and secure a brighter future for himself and his husband.</p> <p>As the era of <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> comes to a temporary close, fans can look back on the show's incredible legacy and the profound impact it has had on countless lives.</p> <p>Eddie McGuire thanked everyone for their support, marking the end of an era while also anticipating the exciting new show that will take its place.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine Network</em></p>

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Multi-millionaire hits back at “crying” Aussies

<p dir="ltr">Multi-millionaire Adrian Portelli has hit back at Aussies who have complained about his ‘obscene’ display of wealth.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Melbourne businessman has caused a stir this week after making <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/the-senna-made-it-multi-millionaire-has-mclaren-craned-up-to-melbourne-s-most-expensive-penthouse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">headlines</a> for having his $3 million sports car craned up to his $39 million penthouse on Wednesday, during a time when so many Aussies are struggling because of the cost-of-living crisis.</p> <p dir="ltr">Portelli had hoped that he could “motivate and inspire people to want to succeed,” but many Aussies felt the exact opposite branding the move “gross”, “tasteless” and “obscene” .</p> <p dir="ltr">One Facebook user wrote: ““This is why we have inflation. The rich get richer, the rest of us carry the load. Let's have a discussion about fairly taxing the super rich and spreading equality of wealth. If not, watch economies crash all around the world”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many others shared their distaste after a Reddit post on Portelli sparked outrage.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nobody should have this sort of money,” one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another said that the move is the “epitome of what is wrong with the world today”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, the 34-year-old entrepreneur has taken to his Instagram stories to hit back and defend his actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“First my name was trashed publicly suggesting I was a dummy bidder and couldn’t afford The Block house. Even suggesting I was friends with the contestants because of my ethnicity,” he wrote, starting off the post with a laughing emoji.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now these people are crying because I’ve got ‘too much money’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“ MAKE UP YOUR MIND PEOPLE,” he added with an emoji of a face with a thermometer in its mouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">Portelli also shared a story from Melbourne photographer Carlz J Söda, where she defended his actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Adrian is a self-made man who grinded it out for a decade. He sacrificed so much and ultimately it paid off and now he can create insane marketing campaigns like this. This is marketing. Everyone knows who he is now. It’s absolutely brilliant,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">She added that people were “salty”, a slang term used to describe someone who is irritated, angry, or resentful about something.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Instead of letting it motivate you to put more effort in and to show up, you’re salty because he has so much more than others. That’s what’s wrong with the world today,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also added that instead of “being inspired”, most people choose to stay bitter and “complain to other mediocre morons on the internet”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Portelli reposted her story with clapping emoji and the comment, “well said”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Portelli first made headlines when he bid $4.5 million to buy his first-ever home on <em>The Block’s</em> Season 18 in November.</p> <p dir="ltr">He’s been getting more attention since, after buying Melbourne's most expensive penthouse.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"THE SENNA MADE IT": Multi-millionaire has McLaren craned up to Melbourne’s most expensive penthouse

<div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-actions-component" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;"> <div class="upper-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 8px 16px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-end;"> <div class="right-box-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> <div class="post-editor-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <p dir="ltr">Multi-millionaire Adrian Portelli has had his McLaren Senna GTR craned 57 storeys off the ground and into the most expensive penthouse in Melbourne.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 34-year-old bought the $39 million penthouse in April, and announced his plans to use a crane to lift his luxury sports car into the penthouse so that he can display it in the living room.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a car that we can’t register, and it’s just collecting dust, so I might as well have it somewhere where it’s safe,” he told <em>7NEWS </em>last month.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday a crowd had gathered to watch Portelli’s dreams come true.</p> <p dir="ltr">The multi-millionaire took to Instagram to share his success.</p> <p dir="ltr">“THE SENNA MADE IT! A first look at the McLaren Senna GTR 57 floors up 🔥” he captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this absolutely surreal moment happen,” he added, tagging the construction and investment companies who helped him achieve this.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Forever grateful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He shared a follow up post with a series of images from the move and how proud he was to be able to achieve his dream.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I went to bed last night I just giggled. Young Portelli would be proud. The one nobody knew 10 years ago,” he captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If I can motivate and inspire people to want to succeed, my job is done because I understand how hard and lonely it is on the pursuit of success,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Portelli has said that he plans to use his Melbourne penthouse as a weekend getaway, and admitted that he had looked at a few other penthouses during his property search, but unfortunately they didn’t have “that ‘wow’ factor”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The penthouse is located atop the Sapphire by the Gardens tower in the Melbourne CBD, and was set to<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/luxury-penthouse-could-set-records-with-eye-watering-price-tag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> break records</a> for the most expensive penthouse back in March.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> </div>

Real Estate

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Tributes for Melbourne millionaire who passed away at just 48

<p>Melbourne rich-lister and property tycoon Jonathan Hallinan has passed away, aged 48, after a lengthy battle with cancer.</p> <p>Tributes are pouring in for the entrepreneur who left a lasting mark on the industry as well as on the hearts of Melbourne’s elite.</p> <p>The founder and managing director of BPM Corporation had hoped to be part of a cancer drug trial, but was given the bad news just days before he passed at Royal Melbourne Hospital on March 23, his wife Mikka said.</p> <p>Hallinan had been battling with bone marrow cancer for two years after a bone marrow transplant in 2021.</p> <p>Mikka shared the news of his death, confirming he died as a “crazy thunderstorm” passed over Melbourne.</p> <p>“Three days ago, his doctor broke it to him that with a bacterial bug, chest infection, fevers of 39C+ and overall unwellness from the level of his disease in his body, he wouldn’t be making the drug trial he was aiming for,” she said.</p> <p>“There was such a crazy thunderstorm yesterday morning in Melbourne. The darkest thunder and lightning, out of nowhere and as fast as it arrived, it left a clear sky behind.</p> <p>“If you saw it, know it was the sky announcing to the heavens that Jonathan Hallinan was coming. Jonnie passed in the storm yesterday morning. In his own words, Jonnie said he was going home.”</p> <p>In December 2022, Hallinan wrote of his “latest setback”.</p> <p>“Recovery is taking absolutely all the strength I’ve got left, and I have nothing to give anyone else,” he wrote.</p> <p>“It is important for me to preserve all remaining energy for myself and my family.”</p> <p>Hallinan, who came in at 199 in Australia’s Richest 250 in 2019, with a reported net worth of $650 million, had only two days to share “beautiful goodbyes with his close family, kids and I,” Mikka said.</p> <p>Hallinan had two sons and a daughter, Estelle, who emphasised his lengthy hard-fought battle with cancer, taking to Instagram to share an emotional tribute “I already miss you so much, Dad. I know how hard you fought these past few years, and I’m so proud of you. I will always love you so much.</p> <p>Tributes flowed from fellow industry players and Melbourne’s elite.</p> <p>“Deeply saddened by this news,” <em>Wog Boys</em> actor and comedian Nick Giannopoulos wrote.</p> <p>“Jonathon was a fighter and incredibly brave — he fought it until he could not fight it anymore. A real gentleman. A good bloke. A very generous man who loved and adored his family and close friends. Rest in peace, Jonathon,” he said.</p> <p>Fellow property developer Diana Cassar wrote, “With you gone, our industry, and the world as a whole, have lost one of the most remarkable minds, an unstoppable achiever and one of the most creative leaders I’ve happened to meet on my way here in Melbourne.”</p> <p>“I will never forget that beautiful smile and charisma that would light up a room. The most kind and generous soul,” Vogue writer Emmaleine Savio said.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKZvb4vWAI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKZvb4vWAI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mikka Hallinan (@mikkahendra)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p> Actress Natassia Halabi shared an emotional tribute, writing, “We’re going to miss him beyond words. So beautiful being witness to his relationship with you and his kids. His legacy will forever live on with you guys.”</p> <p>“So privileged to have been your friend. Thanks for the wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. I will never forget you and how much you meant to me, my good mate.” Hallinan’s friend Carl Charambous wrote.</p> <p>Reality TV personality from season three of <em>The Bachelor</em>, Sam Wood wrote in reference to Hallinan’s passing during the intense thunderstorm.</p> <p>“Oh I felt it. Both the storm and the impact. What an incredible man,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Tech millionaire’s “creepy” $100k offer sparks wave of backlash

<p>US tech millionaire and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Kirsch has been slammed for making a “creepy” offer towards a female passenger who was travelling on the same plane.</p> <p>In a tweet, Kirsch claimed that he offered the stranger $US100,000 to remove her face mask for the flight.</p> <p>"I am on board a Delta flight right now. The person sitting next to me in first-class refused $100,000 to remove her mask for the entire flight. No joke," he tweeted.</p> <p>Kirsch, who became infamous for spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines throughout the pandemic, said that he "explained" to his seatmate that masks "don’t work".</p> <p>He also claims that the woman worked for a pharmaceutical company, and he started by offering her $US100 but worked his way up.</p> <p>She rejected his offer, but Kirsch persisted and said that if she removed the mask to eat and drink she "she could be infected with one breath".</p> <p>Many have slammed the entrepreneur for his actions.</p> <p>“Ew. Do you make a habit of offering money to random women to remove coverings from their bodies mid-air?" posted Jess Piper, a former Democrat state representative nominee, in her response to Kirsch's post.</p> <p>“Stop bugging people who are minding their own business with your creepy nonsense,” commented Alastair McAlpine, an infectious disease expert.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am on board a Delta flight right now. The person sitting next to me in first class refused $100,000 to remove her mask for the entire flight. No joke. This was after I explained they don’t work. She works for a pharma company. <a href="https://t.co/Q8Hwzhkmxf">pic.twitter.com/Q8Hwzhkmxf</a></p> <p>— Steve Kirsch (@stkirsch) <a href="https://twitter.com/stkirsch/status/1634189428150390785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>"This is wildly creepy, you get that, right? Every part of this. From the request, to the expression, to the fact you decided to tweet this!" commented one user.</p> <p>“All you’re doing here is admitting you patronised and harassed a woman who made a decision she thought was best for her,” wrote another.</p> <p>Last week, Kirsch tried to pull the same stunt on a different flight.</p> <p>He tweeted that he offered his seatmates $US10,000 to remove their masks for the flight, but they also declined his offer.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I asked the people sitting next to me on the plane if I paid them $10,000 would they remove their mask for the duration of the flight? Both declined the offer. </p> <p>Maybe I should offer $100,000 next time? This can quantify the amount of brainwashing. <a href="https://t.co/VLlymusmcq">pic.twitter.com/VLlymusmcq</a></p> <p>— Steve Kirsch (@stkirsch) <a href="https://twitter.com/stkirsch/status/1633166204054675456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Maybe I should offer $100,000 next time? This can quantify the amount of brainwashing," he added.</p> <p>Delta airlines have said that masks are optional for both domestic and international travel unless required by “applicable governments”.</p> <p>American federal law no longer requires masks be worn in airports or on planes, but certain cities and states may still make it a requirement at their airports.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Kiwi millionaire found dead in Kenya

<p dir="ltr">Kiwi entrepreneur and teen millionaire Jake Millar has died in Kenya, eight months after moving there from New Zealand.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cause of the 26-year-old’s death has not been confirmed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Millar, a former Forbes under 30 lister, sold the second of his businesses in February before moving to Kenya.</p> <p dir="ltr">Founded in 2015, Mr Millar's motivational video platform Unfiltered was worth $11.47 million at its peak, but was reportedly sold to consultancy group Crimson Education for about $84,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">The move upset investors - who accused him of poor management and a lack of transparency around the sale - and drew criticism from New Zealand media, with some comparing it to failed ventures such as WeWork and Fyre Festival.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with<span> </span><em>The Spinoff</em><span> </span>in March, Mr Millar said moving halfway across the world would be the “massive shake up” he needed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Life over the next 30 years is probably going to be very similar and very predictable,” Mr Millar explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So the question I asked myself is ‘what can I do to massively shake up the trajectory in an otherwise relatively predictable life?’ And the idea of moving to sub-Saharan Africa felt like shaking up that trajectory.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My business has commercially failed and I have no obligations anymore to a set of investors. I haven’t raised a fresh set of capital and I don’t owe my time to any venture. I really am able to go in any direction I want and try something new.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846020/jake-millar1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ccc71b276c7d4ccf8cbaefea9e54bf2c" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Mr Millar posing with Sir Richard Branson, who he interviewed through Unfiltered. Image: news.com.au</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Since the news of his death broke, tributes have flowed in for the young entrepreneur from noteworthy businesspeople, including Sir John Kelly, the former New Zealand Prime Minister.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From the first time I met him, I knew he was someone special. He had a mixture of courage, warmness, intellect, and a maturity and strength to deal with adversity, which is never easy for a young person. I respected him and I will miss him,” he told the<span> </span><em>New Zealand Herald</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">New Zealand actor and comedian Rhys Darby shared a tribute to Mr Millar on Twitter, writing, “Rest in Peace Jake Millar. I met him when he was 17 and he was inspiring then! He had such discipline and drive and a great sense of humour.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Like many, I was immediately struck by Jake Millar’s poise/energy &amp; love the focused intensity he brought to interviews. Many places to watch his storytelling w/ voices more famous, but forever grateful to have shared the <a href="https://twitter.com/TechweekNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TechweekNZ</a> stage in 2019 <br /><br />RIP 😔<a href="https://t.co/SHVZXbN5Zo">https://t.co/SHVZXbN5Zo</a> <a href="https://t.co/osAPbdmMQ6">pic.twitter.com/osAPbdmMQ6</a></p> — Savannah ✨Savvy✨ Peterson (@SavIsSavvy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SavIsSavvy/status/1465396763339083778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Some have also criticised Mr Millar’s treatment after he sold Unfiltered, with Crimson Education CEO Jamie Beaton saying it was reflective of broader issues.</p> <p dir="ltr">“New Zealand often suffocates ambition in its young people,” Mr Beaton said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had never met anyone in New Zealand like Jake Millar. Jake had an ability to connect with people that was mesmerising.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He understood what drove people and could inspire them, drive them and unite them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another user blamed Mr Millar’s criticism and death on “Tall Poppy Syndrome”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We don’t know Jake Millar’s cause of death; but we can be certain Tall Poppy Syndrome was a contributing factor,” entrepreneur Yoav Lurie wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The way NZ cuts down those who strive to do big things always disgusts me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gutted for the loss; I was looking forward to his next thing.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Can't help but feel uneasy that the same media now reporting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JakeMillar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JakeMillar</a>'s passing is a tragedy, are the same media that tore him to shreds when he succeeded, and when he tried and failed. NZ Tall Poppy syndrome is the worst! RIP Jake, you were an inspiration.</p> — Brady Dyer (@BR4DY) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR4DY/status/1465175981325307909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Mr Millar first saw success after founding Oopher with his friend, Yuuki Ogino, while they were still in high school.</p> <p dir="ltr">The motivation app was later sold to Careers New Zealand, and the duo went on to create Unfiltered.</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2010, Mr Millar lost his father, Rod Millar, in a plane crash on New Zealand’s South Island. He explained the impact of the widely-publicised tragedy to<span> </span><em>The Spinoff</em>, pointing to it as one of the reasons he became “more controversial than (he) ever set out to be”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a young entrepreneur, some people would probably accuse me of having quite strong defence mechanisms,” he wrote in an email shared with the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have always stood up for what I have believed in and also against people I have felt wronged by, often even if they have been much wiser and more successful than me. When I reflect over my journey, I think this is one of the reasons I became, inadvertently, more controversial than I ever set out to be.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Bizarre food makes Aussie a millionaire

<p><em>Image: News.com.au </em></p> <p>Creating cheeseburger spring rolls, spam noodles and duck toasties are some of the dishes that have helped to turn Howin Chui’s Sydney restaurants into six and seven figure successes.</p> <p>The 37-year-old, whose parents are from Hong Kong, was sick of the culture being represented in Australia as bubble tea and fried chicken and wanted to introduce more of the interesting dishes from the area.</p> <p>He came up with the idea for Kowloon Café over a drink with friends, admitting he likes the idea of “Instagrammable cafes” and together the five of them launched it in Sydney’s Haymarket in November 2019.</p> <p>Mr Chui said he made his investment into Kowloon Café, which he said is inspired by Golden Century, back in just three months and it spurred him on.</p> <p>Even a global pandemic didn’t stop him from expanding with Ni Hao Bar launching in November 2020, which is located in the Civic Hotel, followed Stir Fry King in Feburary this year in the Sydney CBD.</p> <p>But Mr Chui was simply following in the family footsteps with his parents opening the first Chinese restaurant in Hurstville when they first settled in Sydney in the 1990s, he said.</p> <p>“They always told me not to do a restaurant, because my dad came from a happy ... family and said it’s (the) biggest struggle he had in life,” he told news.com.au.</p> <p>“He said they had so many problems from your chefs to your customers to the quality of the food … but I never took it that way and said it would be fun.”</p> <p>Mr Chui was determined to shine a light on his culture and the unique food, adding that spam is a “big thing” over there.</p> <p>“Hong Kong itself has become a lost culture in the last decade, as China and its culture has been booming internationally. It’s a forgotten child,” he said.</p> <p>“So all three of my restaurants have been  about having represented a different phase of Hong Kong culture and food.”</p> <p>Kowloon Café is about everyday food for Hong Kong people, with standouts like spam noodles, pineapple buns, baked rice and lemon and milk tea, he explained. There’s even a spam and egg pineapple bun.</p> <p>“There is no pineapple in the bun. It’s a really traditional bun which people eat for breakfast when they are on the go in Hong Kong and normally pair it with a hot milk tea,” he added.</p> <p>Then there’s Ni Hao Bar, which includes retro flashing neon lights and murals of Bruce Lee and his master, IP Man, which is about a fusion way to present Cantonese food, with fun takes like the cheeseburger spring rolls.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Stir Fry King brings “real street food vibes” via the sound and smell of the wok, with Hong Kong style hot pots and clay pot rice to complement the stir fry dishes, he said.</p> <p>He also wanted to tackle a noticeable decline in foot traffic in Chinatown. “The image of Chinatown has always been lots of Chinese restaurants, grocery stores, karaoke and other Chinesey joints. Sydney’s Chinatown has developed a lot (but) the last five years we see the closing down of institutions like BBQ King, Yip Ching and now Marigold Restaurant,” he said.</p> <p>“And the increase of big brand names associated with bubble tea and fried chicken – this doesn’t make the Chinatown the same.”</p> <p>Formerly working in nightclub management, Mr Chui admits he had to face many “scary” challenges during lockdowns. “Opening hospitality businesses during Covid was hard work,” he said. “We had to pivot our style and adapt to changes every single day. We knew we couldn’t sit around and rely on UberEats, so we got creative.” Starting their own delivery service, with Mr Chui and his partners dropping off food themselves. </p> <p>“My other restaurant Ni Hao Bar which is more of a bar and causal dining couldn’t do as much deliveries so we started doing home cook kits and we even started a new brand called Chic &amp; Noods – a food truck,” he said.</p> <p>There are big plans for the future too, with a goal to franchise Kowloon Cafe and make it Australia wide, according to Mr Chui. </p> <p>“At Stir Fry King, we will be installing a new fish tank whereby we can have fresh and live seafood,” he revealed.</p> <p>“Garlic butter lobster, xo pipi and Singaporean mud crab would be some new highlights coming up.”</p> <p>He is also set to take on the inner west, opening up a new restaurant in Emerald Square, Burwood, in December.</p>

Food & Wine

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Eddie McGuire reveals Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant suspected of cheating

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Eddie McGuire revealed the time he suspected a contestant of cheating on<span> </span><em>Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?</em><span> </span>and had security search the man for a wire.</p> <p>He shared the incident during an interview with Kyle and Jackie O on KIIS FM this morning.</p> <p>“I thought … absolutely something was wrong,” the game show host said.</p> <p>The contestant was the second person to win the million dollars on the Australian show, Martin Flood.</p> <p>“He just had this peculiar way of answering a question,” McGuire said. “He was going all over the place.”</p> <p>“We actually checked him to see if he had a wire on because we thought maybe he had somebody outside and he had a phone attached to his calf. It was just so odd what was going on.”</p> <p>Turns out Mr Flood was just nervous because he wanted to win.</p> <p>“He was fantastic and he’d relaxed,” the host said. “What we found out is that he (Mr Flood) took a year off work to study every question he could get his hands on from around the world. He also studied me for any ticks or any gives that I was giving.”</p> <p>Mr Flood agreed and shared the incident to the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/where-are-they-now-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-s-20th-anniversary-20190418-p51fcd.html" target="_blank"><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></a><span> </span>to explain how intense he was.</p> <p>“I watched every episode of every quiz show I could, I read many trivia books and I went to many trivia nights.</p> <p>“I could hardly chat with anyone without trying to turn the conversation to last week’s episode,” he said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

TV

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Life of Pi actor dies at 53

<p><span>Indian Bollywood heavyweight Irrfan Khan, who starred in movies that broke through to the western cinematic barrier and made its own place among some of the great classics, including Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi, has passed away at the age of 53.</span><br /><br /><span>Khan’s death was confirmed on Wednesday in a brief statement given by a spokesman.</span><br /><br /><span>“He fought the many battles that came with it,” the spokesman said, referring to the diagnosis of Khan’s rare cancer in 2018.</span><br /><br /><span>He was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018 and underwent extensive treatment in London.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ksvwPhKNB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ksvwPhKNB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by DesiBolly (@desibolly)</a> on Apr 29, 2020 at 10:41am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>Khan became one of the first Indian actors to make a name for himself in western cinema and was soon considered a legend in Bollywood.</span><br /><br /><span>The star had Hollywood success in “Jurassic World”, “The Amazing Spider-Man”, “The Namesake” and “Inferno”.</span><br /><br /><span>After being diagnosed with cancer, he became well enough to shoot for his last film, Angrezi Medium, which was unfortunately cut short when the coronavirus spread.</span><br /><br /><span>Khan was admitted into intensive care on Tuesday at Mumbai’s Kokilaben hospital with a colon infection.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_kseHCFRuE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_kseHCFRuE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by FIlmoment (@filmoment)</a> on Apr 29, 2020 at 10:35am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>The star was born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan in the western desert state of Rajasthan, into a family that had no ties to cinema.</span><br /><br /><span>He recalled in interviews that he and his siblings were not permitted to watch movies as children</span><br /><br /><span>The only exception was when a visiting uncle took them to the theatre.</span><br /><br /><span>“An incredible talent,” Bollywood superstar said of Amitabh Bachchan, among the numerous tributes on Twitter.</span><br /><br /><span>“A gracious colleague. A prolific contributor to the world of cinema .. left us too soon creating a huge vacuum.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_knsbRjnFv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_knsbRjnFv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by good movie quotes (@gofites)</a> on Apr 29, 2020 at 9:53am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>Director Karan Johar, wrote, “Thank you for raising the bar as an artist … Thank you for enriching our cinema… We will miss you terribly, Irrfan.”</span><br /><br /><span>Khan is survived by his wife Sutapa and sons Babil and Ayan.</span></p>

Movies

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Princess Di's niece to marry millionaire five years older than her dad

<p>Princess Diana’s 29-year-old niece Lady Kitty Spencer is marrying a multi-millionaire fashion mogul who is five years older than her dad.</p> <p>Lady Kitty is the eldest child of Earl Spencer, 55, who is Diana’s brother.</p> <p>Michael Lewis, 60, who is currently the chairman for South African retailer Foschini, asked the model to marry him just before Christmas.</p> <p>The South-African fashion designer is worth an insane $152 million and is a divorced dad with three adult children.</p> <p>An insider told the<em><span> </span>Daily Mail</em>: “She’s been in Cape Town for the holidays and told her mother and the rest of the family. Michael is loved by all of them. Despite his wealth, he’s very humble and low key.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B66cjtgHO-D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B66cjtgHO-D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">• NOTICIAS REALES• . . . 04/01/20 . . . De acuerdo a varios medios británicos, Lady Kitty Spencer y su novio el multimillonario Michael Lewis se comprometieron un poco antes de la navidad . El novio quien es 5 años mayor que el conde de Spencer , le pidió matrimonio a la sobrina de la desaparecida princesa de Gales en ciudad del cabo donde pasaron sus vacaciones . Así que posiblemente tendremos boda y veremos a algunos miembros de la familia Real britanica en ella ,además que veremos posiblemente la tiara de loa Spencer que hizo muy famosa Diana . . . . #ladymountbattenwindsor #royals #spencer #earlofspencer #ladykittyspencer #charlesspencer #ladyelizaspencer #ladyameliaspencer #viscountalthorp #dukeofcambridge #princewilliam #duchessofcambridge #katemiddleton #princeharry #dukeofsussex #meghanmarkle #duchessofsussex #princessofwales #princessdiana</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/ladymwindsor/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Lady Mountbatten Windsor</a> (@ladymwindsor) on Jan 4, 2020 at 1:42pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Their relationship was first revealed in August after Lady Kitty’s four-month relationship with property mogul Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro ended.</p> <p>The pair went public as they strolled through New York City and were spotted kissing after leaving Club 55 in St Tropez last year.</p> <p>Previously, the socialite said she was not “in any rush” to start a family but could see herself having children in the future.</p> <p>She added: “I do have friends my age who are having children, and they are so, so, sweet, but I think everyone should do things in their own time.”</p>

International Travel

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Secrets of real estate millionaire Josh Altman

<p>Los Angeles real-estate-agent-to-the-stars <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fit-s-your-move-josh-altman%2Fprod9780062369253.html">Josh Altman</a> has the easy laugh of someone who has made millions and lost them during the span of his career.</p> <p>A classic rags-to-riches story <a href="http://www.joshaltman.com.au/">Altman</a>, originally from Massachusetts, arrived in LA 13 years ago with no money and started flipping houses while working in a mail room. A millionaire at 26, he lost everything at 27 when the US economy collapsed.</p> <p>“It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you recover from it. It’s how you bounce back from an experience like that,” he says.</p> <p>And bounce back he did. <a href="http://www.joshaltman.com.au/">Altman</a> is one of the most successful US real estate agents working in the high end of the market – he’s sold more than $1.5 billion worth of property over the past three years. A self-confessed workaholic, <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fit-s-your-move-josh-altman%2Fprod9780062369253.html">Altman</a> is enjoying riding the wave of success. “Right now, I’m at the top of my game,” he says.</p> <p>So naturally, he’s a man in demand. Spending time in Australia this week (with his brother and business partner Matt) to impart his expert knowledge, Altman, 37, will talk about a hot topic he – and many of us – are obsessed with: the real estate market and how to make it work for you. </p> <p>He’s well-known to Aussie audiences. Altman accepted a central role on US reality TV show Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles six years ago, and viewers have got to know his aggressive, alpha male style (his nickname is The Shark) over the seasons. The Bravo network hit show is broadcast in 70 countries.</p> <p><strong><em>If you buy smart, even if you don’t get as much square footage, I always say go for the location</em></strong></p> <p>Altman says if you do your homework the more likely you’ll achieve your real estate goals. “At the end of the day, it comes down to people feeling comfortable where they’re putting their money,” he says.</p> <p>“It doesn’t matter what market you’re in, always buy in a prime location, even if it costs you a little more, he advises. “If you buy smart, even if you don’t get as much square footage, I always say go for the location."</p> <p>“I’ve been in down markets and I’ve been in up markets, and the people who get hurt the least in a down market are the ones who still lived in a prime location. I also like to look at places or areas that can’t be replicated.”</p> <p><strong><em>I’m a big fan of holding onto property for as long as possible</em></strong></p> <p>While he mixes with Hollywood celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Ashton Kutcher as well as business leaders and political heavyweights, Altman says it doesn’t matter who you are, the principles involved in buying and selling property are the same for everyone, including those who are 50+.</p> <p> “I’m a big fan of holding onto property for as long as possible,” he says. “My mentors told me hold onto it until you can’t hold it any more to see quite a return on their investment.”</p> <p>Altman still enjoys flipping houses – buying a house that needs work and doing it up and making a tidy profit – but it’s more of a hobby these days. He says it’s a great way to make money and get to know the real estate market. What you need to achieve success is an experienced, reliable team, he says.</p> <p><strong><em>Make sure you’re talking to local agents who are experts in the area and have a good track record</em></strong></p> <p>“Most of the problems I see with flipping houses occurs when people are not familiar with the process and haven’t got people around them to help,” says Altman. “You need to have tradespeople you can trust, a project manager you can trust. There’s a lot of money to be saved if you have the right people doing it for you.”</p> <p>But, when it comes time to selling, don’t leave anything to guesswork. When putting a property on the market, Altman says shop around. “It’s important to meet with a few agents,” he shares.</p> <p>“Make sure you’re talking to local agents who are experts in the area and have a good track record. Talk about your options. Use your gut instincts to choose an agent you believe will do the best job for you. But keep it all business.</p> <p>“One thing sellers do is that they take offers for their property too personally, that can be a mistake. When you’re selling a house, you really have to step out of the situation. You have to realise it’s an investment. Work with your agent and remember that with a very low offer you can negotiate up.”</p> <p>Another component, especially when starting out in your real estate search, is to surround yourself with a solid support system. Networking plays a part, too, so don’t be afraid to get out there and meet people.</p> <p>“The best thing you can do is call and meet up with a bunch of local agents. Take them out for lunch or dinner and pick their brains,” says Altman. “Also, talk to your friends. The last thing I would do is invest with somebody I don’t know or hasn’t been referred to me by someone or doesn’t have a track record. You need to find an agent who wants to help you because they want to earn your business.”</p> <p>For those interested in investing in real estate in a bid to secure a safe or early retirement, Altman says it’s best not to be too risk-averse, though it’s wise to be fiscally sensible.</p> <p>“I’ve made some pretty good money off some small investments. Make sure before you commit to anything that you can afford to lose it. That’s important,” he says.</p> <p>You can buy an investment property where you know the rental market is very strong.<br />Whether you buy an investment property near where you live or in an area far away from you is a personal choice, says Altman, but he prefers to keep a close eye on the bricks and mortar he buys. “I personally like to be able to see the properties I invest in,” he says. “I like to be able to drive by, see them and touch them.”</p> <p>Altman adds it doesn’t matter if you want to invest in property in another state or another area of the city you live in as long as you are confident you have made the right decision.</p> <p>If you’re in your 50s and haven’t taken that first step in buying property, Altman says it’s never too late to start. His motto is: “Recognise an opportunity when it’s in front of you, go after it and capitalise on it.”</p> <p>Take your time and build up your knowledge. Being confident about the decisions you make is a crucial step in the process.</p> <p><strong><em>With their monthly payment when they own a house is often going to be cheaper than renting</em></strong></p> <p>“Sit down with a local agent, those who haven’t bought yet could perhaps be surprised at how cheap it is to buy something right now with interest rates they way they are right now, a lot of people don’t realise that with their monthly payment when they own a house is often going to be cheaper than renting,” says Altman. “If they have a nice nest egg saved up it’s a great way to get into the market.</p> <p>“You can buy an investment property where you know the rental market is very strong. And you can buy something and keep it for a long time and rent it out. You can get some great returns on that.”</p> <p>Of course, everyone wants to know the secret to Altman’s incredible success. He says he’s passionate about what he does but there is one thing that has helped him tremendously.</p> <p><strong><em>I love real estate. I’d be doing it even if I wasn’t making the money I’m making</em></strong></p> <p>“You want to listen a lot more than you talk,” he advises. “That is a classic mistake that people make, you know when other people talk and you listen, and if you ask the right questions, there’s a lot of tips that other people give away.</p> <p>“I love real estate. I’d be doing it even if I wasn’t making the money I’m making. In days gone by, in my free time, I used to drive around and look at houses just for the love of it.”</p> <p>While many viewers of the show may see Altman as a driven businessman, they would also have seen a man increasingly prepared to show his vulnerable side, particularly his admission that he’s made many mistakes, both professionally and personally.</p> <p><strong><em>Never buy what you can’t afford</em></strong></p> <p>He says, “I’ve made dozens of mistakes! Right before the [US] economy collapsed, I bought a house that I really shouldn’t have been able to afford, but I reached for it because I got emotional about the property. Never buy what you can’t afford.<br />“It’s important to accept any mistakes you make. Learn from them and stay strong no matter what you’re doing.” </p> <p>And that includes his love-live. Altman’s worn his heart on his sleeve about nearly losing his now-wife, fellow real estate agent Heather Bilyeu, whom he married in April after admitted that working relentlessly had nearly lost him the most important person in his life. </p> <p>“Being on television has opened doors and given me opportunities I wouldn’t probably have had. If it all ended today, I’d go back to just being a real estate realtor [agent]. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.</p> <p>“I’m having fun. It could end any day; that’s okay. It’s been an amazing ride and learning experience. And I got to meet my wife on the show.”</p> <p><strong>Josh and Matt Altman are at The Star Sydney on June 14 and at The Plenary MCEC in Melbourne on June 15. The Brisbane event has been cancelled. For more information on how to buy tickets, visit his website <a href="http://www.joshaltman.com.au/">here</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>*Disclaimer: The advice given in this story is of a general nature. Seek professional advice before selling, investing or buying property.  </em></p> <p><em>Written by Robin Hill. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/secrets-of-real-estate-millionaire-josh-altman.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

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