Blair Parry-Okeden

Blair Parry-Okeden
Born	1950 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Occupation(s)	Heiress, philanthropist
Known for	Wealthiest individual in Australia (2016), ownership share in Cox Enterprises

Blair Parry-Okeden (born 1950) is an Australian billionaire heiress and philanthropist originally from the United States. In 2016, she was recognized by Forbes Asia as the wealthiest individual in Australia. Her fortune is primarily derived from her ownership share in Cox Enterprises.

Early life

Parry-Okeden was born in 1950 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended La Pietra: Hawaii School for Girls, an institution established by her mother, Barbara Cox Anthony. She pursued training in education.

Her grandfather, James M. Cox, was the founder of the privately held media conglomerate Cox Enterprises. Her brother, James C. Kennedy, acts as chairman, while her aunt, Anne Cox Chambers, holds the largest shareholding and serves on the board. Following her mother's passing in 2007, Parry-Okeden inherited a 25% stake in Cox Enterprises but does not participate in its management.

Wealth

Parry-Okeden became well-known within Australia in March 2009 when Forbes Asia estimated her net worth at 7.0 billion. By January 2016, Forbes had valued her assets at 9.8 billion; this figure was adjusted to 9.3 billion in 2019. Due to her American citizenship, she was subsequently excluded from Australia's wealth rankings. Her philanthropic efforts have supported organizations such as Shore School, the University of Hawaii's Center on Aging, Scone Grammar School, and Strathearn Village, a charitable aged-care facility.

Personal life

She has two sons, Andrew and Henry, with her former spouse Simon Parry-Okeden. During her first marriage in the 1970s, she moved from the United States to Australia, where she continues to live.

Notes

• The children's book Down by the gate draws inspiration from a Mother Goose advertisement featured in a newspaper.