Winner Of The Week!

She's one feisty lady and sharp as a tack. She got our attention in 2010 when she clambered to the back of utility truck in a Subiaco oval (that's Perth's ritziest suburb)  pearls jangling around her neck, and thrust her arms in the air while gold bangles cascaded down her wrists chanting  :

" we will not stand for this unfair tax...billionaires united- will never be defeated!" (or words to that effect).

Within two months the prime minster Kevin Rudd's career crashed and his replacement Julia Gillard cut back the proposed 40% 'super profits' mining tax to around 30%.

On Sunday West Australia mining magnate Gina Rinehart  barely struggled by on $10 billion. Today that fortune doubled to a staggering  $20 billion when Gina's mining corporation Hancock Prospecting sold 15% of the Pilbara-based Roy Hill project to South Korean steel giant Posco.

The Posco investment pushes Rinehart's combined wealth up to nearly $20 billion, based on the increased value of her holding in the mines.

                                                          But wait-there's more......


Last year the giant Citicorp released a report on Gina's mine holdings and reckoned she is on track to become the world's richest person worth possibly $100 billion. That leaves Bill Gates ($59B) and Carlos Slim Helu ($74B) eating her dust.

Only two women are wealthier than our Gina- French L'Oreal heiress Lillian Bettencourt (left) with $23B and American Christy Walton (Waltons stores) with $24B. She'll see them off by the end of the decade !.

No Invites To Bill Gate's Party

New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour is always a great event with the spectacular midnight fireworks.

One of the world's richest men Bill Gates is hosting a party at his rented Point Piper mansion but it will  be mainly a family affair with just a handful of invited guests. Although the Shuttle has seen the guest list and the catering arrangements-it's a fairly modest affair considering Gates is worth a reputed $59B. Will his neighbour Leo DiCaprio attend is the big question?. He's been invited.

The Island Bar

The Lord Mayor's party is always one of the best spots to be, located at the Sydney Opera House with a great view of the bridge and it's happenings. The Shuttle has passed on it though over the past few years. Getting there is like an expedition once the local roads are closed off and you pick your way through the tens of thousands of people streaming to the Opera House forecourt. It takes ages and leaving is likewise.

 In fact getting a spot anywhere on the harbour foreshore usually means grabbing your spot by early afternoon.

There are two bashes though that should be pretty special. The Island Bar, the brainchild of Julian Tobias will be hosted an amazing dinner with plenty of champagne to get you through the night. Book at their website but there are just a few tables left.

Bondi Icebergs supremo Maurice Terzini will be catering for the You Only Live Once party inside the Opera House at the Northern Foyer with it's views straight over to the bridge. Tickets are $695 each and entertainment will be from The Godfathers of House and Frankie Knuckles with as much beer, wine, cocktails and champagne as you can drink. Book here. But hurry.
Over at Glebe island and under the Anzac Bridge there is a major party that will have uninterrupted views to the bridge fireworks and entertainment from Guy Sebastian and Pseudo Echo. They've built a village with fantastic raised seating for a great view and there will be non-stop food and drinks. Tickets are from $198-$598 with a variety of transport methods thrown in. Bookings here.

And there are still a few VIP Marquee tickets at $495 left at Glebe Island and the return of Boy George and Culture Club. Not to be missed.

For those under 40 who have never heard of Culture Club- here is taster :

Leo DiCaprio's New Sydney Neighbour-Bill Gates.

The world's second richest man Bill Gates and his family are in Sydney and have settled in for a month's holiday in a grand Point Piper mansion.

Gates is staying just 6 doors away from Hollywood star Leo DiCaprio who is in Sydney to film Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D). Leo also has an entire floor at the newly renovated Star Casino where his entourage stay. That floor has been provided gratis by The Star management in return for DiCaprio turning up for the odd party now and then. They throw in the corporate jet as well for Leo's use.

Neville Crichton

Gates and family have now been spotted at several Sydney restaurants including Matt Moran's Aria on Tuesday night  and today he leaves for a few days of sunshine at Hamilton Island .

The Tuscan style mansion that Gates is renting for a reputed $25000 a week belongs to luxury car entrepreneur, New Zealander Neville Crichton. With an underground garage, a spa, a pool and a private beach and jetty, the villa has everything one could desire.

The Ferrari HQ minus tram shed

Neville Crichton has also scored another property victory. Two years ago he spent $4M on his new Waterloo headquarters where one can pick up a new Ferrari or Maserati for some loose change.

the vanished tramshed

Crichton has had an ongoing battle with the local council over a rather dilapidated tram shed that sat right at the front of his glistening new glass and steel showrooms. Locals insisted it should be heritage listed but in a city where so many glorious sandstone convict era buildings have bitten the dust, the tram shed was just an eyesore.

Over the past few months the council demolished half the building, leaving a bizarre half section remaining with a plaque on it. Just a month ago the entire thing finally disappeared leaving Neville Crichton's entrance free of obstructions.