Judith Neilson
Judith Neilson | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder of White Rabbit Gallery; founder of Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas |
| Notable work | White Rabbit Gallery, Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas |
Judith Neilson is an Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist with a strong emphasis on the visual arts sector. She is a co-founder of Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery and holds a significant stake in Platinum Asset Management, a company originally co-established by her ex-husband, Kerr Neilson.
Philanthropy
The financial resources of Neilson underpin her various philanthropic initiatives, notably the AUD 100 million Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.[1] Located in Sydney, this institute fosters cooperation among global journalists and media entities, aiming to enhance independent and high-quality journalism.[1] Its operations are overseen by a governing board, an international advisory council, and dedicated staff who administer its programs.[2] In 2015, she funded a Chair of Architecture at the University of New South Wales focused on creating housing solutions for displaced groups, including those affected by climate change.[2] Furthering her commitment to the arts, in 2017 Neilson founded the Judith Neilson Chair of Contemporary Art at UNSW along with a Scholarship in Contemporary Art at the University of Sydney.[2]
White Rabbit Gallery
The White Rabbit Gallery was inaugurated in 2009 by Kerr and Judith Neilson in Sydney to showcase their vast collection of artworks gathered over many years. The gallery specializes in 21st-century Chinese modern art, reflecting Judith’s fascination with Asian art culture sparked by visits to Beijing during the late 1990s. Presently, the White Rabbit Gallery houses one of the most extensive collections of contemporary Chinese art worldwide, featuring more than 2,000 pieces created by nearly 700 artists. Neilson actively grows this collection through frequent trips to China and Taiwan. In 2016, The Art Life acknowledged her as one of Australia’s 50 most influential art figures due to her philanthropic efforts alongside Kerr since 2007. Since 2015, Judith Neilson has been the sole financier supporting the gallery.
Awards and recognition
In 2016, Neilson was honored as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her substantial contributions to the arts and her support for cultural and educational institutions. Additionally, she was listed among the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in 2018.
Personal life
Judith Neilson divorced Kerr Neilson in 2015. The couple has two children.
Net worth
Following her separation from billionaire Kerr Neilson in 2015, Judith Neilson has appeared on Forbes Asia's ranking of Australian billionaires. In 2019, she was positioned at number 2057 on Forbes’ global billionaires list but did not appear on the list in 2020. The BRW Rich 200 first featured her in 2015 with an estimated net worth of AUD 1.55 billion. This list was later renamed the Financial Review Rich List, which valued her fortune at AUD 1.23 billion as of May 2025. Since their divorce, assessments of her former husband’s wealth have been reported independently.
| Year | Financial Review Rich List |
Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Net worth ($A) | Rank | Net worth ($US) | |
| 2015[3] | $1.55 billion Template:Gain | not listed | n/a | |
| 2016[4][5] | not listed | n/a | ||
| 2017[6][7] | $1.34 billion | Template:Nts Template:Gain | ||
| 2018[8] | Template:Nts 
|
$1.77 billion
|
||
| 2019[9][10] | Template:Nts 
|
$1.35 billion
|
Template:Nts
|
$1.02 billion Template:Gain |
| 2020[11] | Template:Nts
|
$1.44 billion Template:Gain | ||
| 2021[12] | Template:Nts
|
$1.55 billion
|
||
| 2022 | Template:Nts
|
$1.40 billion
|
||
| 2023[13] | Template:Nts
|
$1.43 billion Template:Up | ||
| 2024[14] | $1.20 billion
|
|||
| 2025[15] | Template:Nts | $1.23 billion Template:Up | ||
| Legend |
|---|
- Notes
- Before 2015, net worth figures were combined under Kerr Neilson; from that point onward, Judith and Kerr have been listed separately.
External links
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