Leonard Ainsworth
Leonard Hasting "Len" Ainsworth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Aristocrat Leisure and Ainsworth Gaming Technology |
| Notable work | Aristocrat Leisure, Ainsworth Gaming Technology |
Leonard Hasting "Len" Ainsworth (born ) is an Australian entrepreneur renowned for founding Aristocrat Leisure, which has grown into one of the globe's leading producers of gambling machines. He launched the company in 1953 and remained involved until 1994. Subsequently, he created Ainsworth Gaming Technology, where he held the role of executive director until 2019.[1]
Career
Ainsworth initially took over a modest enterprise from his father and began manufacturing poker machines to boost profits within his dental supplies production business. This auxiliary venture rapidly developed, culminating in the establishment of Aristocrat Leisure in 1953. Today, it stands as a top global manufacturer of slot machines and digital gaming entertainment.[2]
Following a prostate cancer diagnosis in 1984, Ainsworth divested Aristocrat, distributing substantial wealth to his family, who have continued philanthropic initiatives.[2] After recovering, he briefly retired before founding Ainsworth Gaming Technology, which currently accounts for approximately 35 percent of Australia’s gambling machine market.[2] At the age of 94, he sold his controlling interest in Ainsworth Gaming Technology to Novomatic for 473 million.[3][4][5]
Personal life
Ainsworth is the father of seven sons: five from his first marriage to Betty and two from his second marriage to Margarette (Gretel). In recognition of his achievements in business, manufacturing, and charitable work, he was honored as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2018.
His philanthropic contributions include donations to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, UNSW, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, the Children's Medical Research Institute, the University of Wollongong, and the University of New South Wales. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by UNSW and the University of Wollongong (2019). In March 2017, he became a signatory of The Giving Pledge.
Net worth
In 2019, Ainsworth was ranked 42nd on Forbes Australia's list of the nation's top 50 wealthiest individuals, with an estimated fortune of 900 million. By May 2025, he had climbed to 24th place on the Financial Review Rich List, with an estimated net worth of 6.69 billion.
| Year | Financial Review Rich List | Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Net worth (A$) | Rank | Net worth (US$) | |
| 2014 | 19 ↑ | $1.82 billion ↑ | ||
| 2015 | 24 ↓ | $1.20 billion ↓ | ||
| 2016 | 33 ↓ | $0.76 billion ↓ | ||
| 2017 | 11 | $3.07 billion ↑ | ||
| 2018 | 14 ↓ | $4.02 billion ↑ | 31 ↓ | |
| 2019 | 17 ↓ | $4.01 billion ↓ | 42 ↓ | $0.90 billion ↑ |
| 2020 | 18 ↓ | $4.42 billion ↑ | ||
| 2021 | 16 ↑ | $5.04 billion ↑ | ||
| 2022 | 11 ↑ | $7.70 billion ↑ | ||
| 2023 | 17 ↓ | $5.22 billion ↓ | ||
| 2024 | 19 ↓ | $5.85 billion ↑ | ||
| 2025 | 24 ↓ | $6.69 billion ↑ | ||
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Icon | Description |
|
Unchanged from previous year |
|
Increased from previous year |
| Template:Loss | Decreased from previous year |
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedForbes2019 - ↑ "Australia's pokies king Len Ainsworth reflects on 70 years in the business". ABC News. Australia. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ↑ Kruger, Colin (30 November 2016). "Len Ainsworth's family have billion reasons to thank Aristocrat boss Jamie Odell". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- Australian philanthropists of the 20th century
- Billionaires from Australia
- Living individuals with unknown birth year
- Living persons
- Australian philanthropists of the 21st century
- Recipients of the Order of Australia
- Individuals born in the 1920s
- Founders of Australian enterprises
- Notable figures from Kempsey, New South Wales
- Australian billionaires