Nick Politis
Nicholas Politis | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 25, 1944 Kythira, Greece |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, rugby league administrator |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | Chairmanship of Sydney Roosters, introduction of jersey sponsorship in rugby league |
Nicholas George Politis (born 25 August 1944) is an Australian entrepreneur of Greek origin and currently chairs the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL). He is credited with introducing jersey sponsorship to professional rugby league.
Early life
Politis was born on the island of Kythira, Greece, and relocated to Australia with his family during the late 1940s. Their initial settlement was in Ipswich, Queensland, followed by a period in Blackall, before returning to Ipswich. He completed his secondary schooling at Ipswich Grammar School, graduating in 1962, and subsequently obtained a university degree from the University of Queensland in 1964.
Business interests
Since March 1974, Politis has been at the helm of WFM Motors Pty Ltd, which was later renamed City Ford. Under his leadership, it became one of the largest Ford dealerships nationwide. The dealership began its sponsorship of the Roosters in 1976, marking one of the earliest significant jersey sponsorships in rugby league and establishing Politis as a trailblazer in sports marketing.
As the majority shareholder of Australian Health Care Ltd., Politis pursued ambitious expansions into the hospital industry; however, these ventures, including expensive contract setbacks at LaTrobe Regional Hospital, did not succeed.
In March 2014, through NGP Investments, Politis purchased Barloworld’s Australian automotive sales division for $130 million, broadening his automotive business holdings. Two years later, he sold the Thomson Ford property in Parramatta to developer Dyldham for about $70 million.
Sydney Roosters
Politis has held the position of chairman of the Sydney Roosters since 30 May 1993. Following the Roosters’ triumph in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, he marked the occasion by getting a tattoo featuring the premiership logo. Since becoming chairman, he has been acknowledged as one of rugby league’s most influential and powerful figures, earning nicknames such as "The Godfather" and "Uncle Nick."
He was instrumental in facilitating the return of Sonny Bill Williams to rugby league with the Roosters after Williams’ five-year suspension ended in 2013. This move reportedly stemmed from a handshake deal made earlier. Player agent Sam Ayoub has credited Politis with playing a pivotal role in Williams’ comeback. That same year, the Roosters clinched the minor premiership, NRL premiership, and World Club Challenge titles.
Under Politis’ stewardship, the club also secured back-to-back premiership victories during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Personal life
Before migrating to Australia, Politis’ father worked as a veterinarian in Greece. Politis himself has been inducted into the Greek-Australian Sports Hall of Fame. In recognition of his major contributions to rugby league administration, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2014.
Net worth
Politis first appeared on the BRW Rich 200 list in 2010 with an estimated wealth of 182 million AUD. His fortune has since seen significant growth. As reported by the Financial Review Rich List in May 2025, his net worth is valued at approximately 2.58 billion AUD.
| Year | Financial Review Rich List | Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Net worth (Template:AUD) | Rank | Net worth (Template:USD) | |
| 2010 | $182 million | |||
| 2013 | $200 million | |||
| 2014 | 117 | $410 million Template:Gain | ||
| 2016 | 86 Template:Gain | $594 million Template:Gain | ||
| 2017 | $733 million Template:Gain | |||
| 2018 | 55 Template:Gain | $1.35 billion Template:Gain | ||
| 2019 | 74 Decrease | $1.23 billion Decrease | ||
| 2020 | 79 Decrease | $1.31 billion Template:Gain | ||
| 2021 | 54 Increase | $2.02 billion Increase | ||
| 2022 | 50 Template:Up | $2.20 billion Template:Up | ||
| 2023 | 58 Decrease | $2.14 billion Decrease | ||
| 2024 | 60 Decrease | $2.36 billion Template:Up | ||
| 2025 | 64 Decrease | $2.58 billion Template:Up | ||
| Icon | Description |
|---|
See also
References
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- Pages with broken file links
- Sydney Roosters
- Living people
- 1944 births
- Greek emigrants to Australia
- Australian rugby league administrators
- Rugby league chairmen and investors
- Members of the Order of Australia
- Australian billionaires
- Businesspeople from Queensland
- People from Blackall, Queensland
- People educated at Ipswich Grammar School
- Australian people of Greek descent