Harry Triguboff

Triguboff was born on 3 March 1933 in Dalian (Darien at the time), Liaoning, Republic of China. He was the son of Russian Jewish parents, Moshe and Frida.{{cite book |author1=Encel, Sol |author2=Rutland, Suzanne D. |chapter=Australian Jewry |editor=Ehrlich, M. Avrum |title=The Jewish-Chinese Nexus: A Meeting of Civilizations |url=https://archive.org/details/jewishchinesenex00ehrl |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge |date=2008 |location=London |isbn=978-0-415-45715-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/jewishchinesenex00ehrl/page/n172 138] }}[http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/03/03/high-rise-harry-now-climbed-to-the-sixth-in-australias-richest-how-does-he-do-it/ "'High-Rise Harry' now climbed to the sixth in Australia's Richest. How does he do it?" By Orna Taub], Jewish Business News, 3 March 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20090826121906/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/08/0821_most_successful_immigrants/37.htm World's Most Successful Immigrants] at Bloomberg Business His father moved to China in 1916 to escape antisemitism in the Russian Empire.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/harry-triguboffs-dark-secret-the-19year-struggle-that-split-his-family-20171102-gzdgy8|title=Harry Triguboff's secret past: the 19-year struggle that split his family|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review Magazine|first=Geoff|last=Winestock|date=8 December 2017|accessdate=24 April 2022}}

Triguboff grew up in the Jewish community in Tianjin, in the British and American concessions. His father established a store that traded wool, silk and leather. In 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded the city. The foreign concessions were initially left untouched, but following the invasion of Pearl Harbor in 1941 the British and American residents were placed into internment camps. The Russian residents subsequently "seized the opportunity to take over trade in and out of China". Triguboff's father opened four more stores and acquired 20 apartments, as well as a summer residence in Beidaihe. He helped distribute the textiles that had been seized by the Japanese to buyers in northern China. In 1946, after the war's end, he was convicted of collaboration with the Japanese for allegedly selling leather goods and scrap metal to the Japanese government. However, the following year he was acquitted on appeal to the Supreme Court of the Republic of China.

In 1946, Triguboff's family obtained landing permission for Australia, after being refused visas to Canada and the United States. He and his brother were sent to Sydney in 1948, but the Australian government attempted to exclude them from the country over concerns about their father's war-time activities. Osmond Charles Fuhrman, the Australian consul in Shanghai at the time, estimated that their father had a net worth of up to US$4 million ({{Inflation|US|4000000|1948|fmt=eq|r=-6}}). Triguboff was ultimately allowed into the country and was educated at the Scots College, Sydney. He later graduated with a degree in textiles from the University of Leeds in England, before working in textile businesses in Israel and South Africa.{{cite news|last1=Smyth|first1=Jamie|title=Meriton's Harry Triguboff on being Australia's second-richest man|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ea9f603c-33e9-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3|access-date=20 August 2017|work=Financial Times|date=20 August 2017}}

He returned to Australia in 1950 and became an Australian citizen in 1961. He ran various businesses, including running a taxi fleet and owning a milk round in Chatswood. He tried selling real estate and worked as an assistant to a lecturer at university. He then bought some land in Roseville and hired a builder to begin building his house. The builder failed to complete the work and Triguboff finished the job himself, learning from his mistakes.{{cite web |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2000/02/27/the-crikey-rich-list/ |title=How to say I or me 77 times in explaining how I became a billionaire |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 May 1997 }}

From the experience gained in his initial development, Triguboff bought his second block of land in 1963, this time in Smith Street, Tempe, and began building a block of eight units with a partner.{{cite interview |last=Triguboff |first=Harry |interviewer=Tyron Hyde |title=Interview with Harry Triguboff |url=http://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/property-news/Meriton |type=Interview: edited transcript |work=Domain |publisher=reproduced at the Washington Brown Group |date=1 August 2006 |access-date=23 February 2012 }} He made a profit, which led to a second development in 1968 in Gladesville. At Meriton Street, Triguboff built a block of 18 units which provided the name of the company he registered as developers.

Triguboff is the managing director of Meriton Apartments Pty Ltd. {{as of|2015}}, Meriton had built more than 55,000 residential townhouses and apartments since its creation in 1963, making it Australia's biggest residential property developer.{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/priest-david-cappo-calls-for-rethink-on-housing-the-homeless/story-e6frgczf-1225816764169 | first=Pia |last=Akerman |title=Priest David Cappo calls for rethink on housing the homeless |work=The Australian |date=7 January 2010}} In 2010, Meriton was said to develop an average of 1,000 apartments per year.{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/sydney-residential-projects-of-1bn-in-play/story-e6frg9gx-1225839326469 |first=Bridget |last=Carter |title=Sydney residential projects of bn in play |work=The Australian |date=11 March 2010}} {{as of|2015}}, the average exceeds 3,000 per annum. In particular, Triguboff has concentrated on the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Queensland, and Sydney's central business district, building more apartments than any other Australian residential developer.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/triguboffs-meriton-tops-hias-building-starts-table/story-fn9656lz-1226726760392 |title=Triguboff's Meriton tops HIA's building starts table/ |work=The Australian |date=25 September 2013 }} He is a proponent that the population of Australia should grow to reach 100 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/triguboff-and-the-new-great-australian-dream-20101123-1868h.html | title=Triguboff and the new Great Australian Dream | date=24 November 2010 | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | agency=Bloomberg News | access-date=11 June 2015 }}

In 2004, Meriton completed the construction of World Tower, Sydney's tallest residential apartment building. During 2012, Meriton and the owners' corporation became embroiled in a long running court dispute over major building defects and alleged breaches of their contract, with maintenance issues worth more than A$1 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/1m-claim-for-defects-at-world-square-site-20130106-2cb67.html|title=$1m claim for defects at World Square site|author=Tan, Su-Lin|date=7 January 2013|access-date=22 May 2013|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Part of the issue related to Meriton, the original builder, being locked out of the development.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/meritons-war-of-world-tower-20130104-2c8xn.html | title=Meriton's war of World Tower | date=5 January 2013 | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | first=Su-Lin | last=Tan | access-date=16 May 2015 }} By 2015, He had built approximately 55,000 residential townhouses and apartments.

The company has been a sponsor of the Wests Tigers (and their predecessor, Balmain Tigers) since 1998.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/fined-if-you-do-and-bombed-if-you-dont/2005/12/05/1133631201076.html |title=Balls and whistles |date=6 December 2005 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |first1=Joel |last1=Gibson |first2=Tim |last2=Dick |access-date=23 February 2012 }} Triguboff committed Meriton throughout the club's merger period of 2000 and into 2015.{{cite news|last1=Proszenko|first1=Adrian|title=Harry Triguboff extends sponsorship deal with Wests Tigers|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/harry-triguboff-extends-sponsorship-deal-with-wests-tigers-20140729-zy4be.html|access-date=30 July 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=29 July 2014}}

In September 2023, Triguboff opened a new Meriton hotel, bringing the business to have an estimated value of $7.2 bn. It was also the largest Australian owned and operated hotel company.{{Cite web |title=Aussie billionaire, 90, grows Meriton hotel portfolio to $7.2 billion |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/accommodation/aussie-billionaire-90-grows-meriton-hotel-portfolio-to-72-billion/news-story/dd27ebd9c01a9426c5835fb3eac7705b |archive-date= |access-date=2024-02-08}}

In June 2023, under Triguboff, Meriton renewed plans to build up to 1,600 homes in Little Bay near Sydney, on land it had previously purchased for around $250 million.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Meriton renews plans to build up to 1,600 homes in Sydney's east |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-25/meriton-plans-to-build-up-to-1-600-homes-in-little-bay/102521738 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}} For years, the development proposal had faced "some public opposition" concerning how the area would be developed, while Triguboff had been lobbying local government.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-24 |title=Emails show how billionaire tried to fast-track rezoning of Sydney precinct as angry locals fight plans |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-25/meritons-plans-to-redevelop-sydney-eastern-precinct/102515194 |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

In September 2023, Triguboff oversaw new hotels opening for the first time in Canberra and Melbourne, as well as a new hotel in Liverpool near Sydney, bringing Meriton Suites to 6204 apartment suites and 23 properties.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=90yo Harry Triguboff kicks off $400m hotel expansion |url=https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/harry-triguboff-90-eyes-second-melbourne-hotel-amid-400m-expansion-20230906-p5e2cy |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}} Meriton Suites had invested $400 million in the three new hotel properties.{{Cite web |last=Weekly |first=Travel |date=2023-08-25 |title=Meriton Suites invests $400m+ in three new AUS hotels |url=https://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/meriton-suites-invests-400m-in-three-new-aus-hotels/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Travel Weekly |language=en-AU}} A new three tower apartment complex was approved for Surfers Paradise in October 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-12 |title=Surfers Paradise triple tower complex gets green light from council |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-12/gold-coast-approves-surfers-paradise-cypress-triple-tower/102968496 |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

He was worth $23.6 billion in 2023, on The Australian's Richest 250 list for that year.{{Cite web |title=Aussie billionaire, 90, grows Meriton hotel portfolio to $7.2 billion |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/accommodation/aussie-billionaire-90-grows-meriton-hotel-portfolio-to-72-billion/news-story/dd27ebd9c01a9426c5835fb3eac7705b |access-date=2024-02-08}} He was named to the Financial Review Rich List of 2023.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Topic {{!}} Rich List |url=https://www.afr.com/rich-list |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}

In December 2024, he appeared on the Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast and warned that Chinese migrants may take over Australia.{{Cite web |last=Segaert |first=Anthony |date=2024-12-05 |title=What Harry Triguboff really thinks about local councils and Chinese migrants |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/what-harry-triguboff-really-thinks-about-local-councils-and-chinese-migrants-20241205-p5kw3s.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Triguboff donates heavily to political parties and uses his influence to seek policy changes. In August 2010, he proposed that the federal government should insist on Reserve Bank interest rates being dropped to improve housing affordability.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/meritons-harry-triguboff-calls-for-new-poll-rate-cuts/story-e6frg6nf-1225910633856 |title=Meriton's Harry Triguboff calls for new poll, rate cuts |work=The Australian |author=Kitney, Damon |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=30 May 2011 }}

Triguboff is Jewish and was born in China.{{Cite web |last=Segaert |first=Anthony |date=2024-12-05 |title=What Harry Triguboff really thinks about local councils and Chinese migrants |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/what-harry-triguboff-really-thinks-about-local-councils-and-chinese-migrants-20241205-p5kw3s.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} He has been married twice and has two daughters from his first marriage,{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/harry-triguboff-wonders-how-to-hand-down-the-family-firm/story-e6frg9if-1226024982761 |work=The Australian |title=Harry Triguboff wonders how to hand down the family firm |first=Damon |last=Kitney |date=21 March 2011 }} Orna and Sharon.{{cite news |url=http://www.jwire.com.au/news/triguboff-organisation-almost-doubles-jewishness-investigations/28629 |work=J-Wire |title=Triguboff organisation almost doubles Jewishness investigations |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=16 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113022450/http://www.jwire.com.au/news/triguboff-organisation-almost-doubles-jewishness-investigations/28629 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} His second wife, Rhonda, died in September 2024. He lives in Sydney and owns a collection of cars.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

According to the 2023 Financial Review Rich List, Triguboff's personal net wealth was estimated at {{AUD}}23.80 billion.{{cite web |author=Stensholt, John |url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/lists/rich-200/2015/down_but_gina_rinehart_remains_richest_fZ3yjmEP9pHo9KbKKqWEGN |title=Down $6b but Gina Rinehart remains richest Australian in BRW Rich 200 |work=Business Review Weekly |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Australia |date=28 May 2015 |access-date=9 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529090301/http://www.brw.com.au/p/lists/rich-200/2015/down_but_gina_rinehart_remains_richest_fZ3yjmEP9pHo9KbKKqWEGN |archive-date=29 May 2015 |url-status=dead }} Meanwhile, Forbes Asia estimated his wealth in 2021 at {{USD}}11.3 billion. In 2015, Forbes Asia magazine's annual billionaires list assessed Triguboff as the world's 262{{small|nd}} wealthiest billionaire.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/harry-triguboff/ |title=The World's Billionaires: Harry Triguboff |work=Forbes |date=2015 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2015/01/28/property-profits-or-real-estate-boom/ |title=Riding the Real Estate Boom |work=Forbes Asia |date=February 2015 |author=Schmidt, Lucinda |access-date=9 June 2015 }} His earnings result from leasing most of his developments to short and long term tenants, with benefits from capital appreciation. {{as of|2023|05}}, Triguboff was one of ten Australians who have appeared in every Financial Review Rich List, or its predecessor, the BRW Rich 200, since it was first published in 1984.{{cite journal|url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/lists/rich-200/2013/celebrating_years_of_the_rich_EnUWZtuD02H4jYBFx0e3MM|last=Thomson|first=James|date=22 May 2013|access-date=22 May 2013|title=Celebrating 30 years of the Rich 200|journal=BRW Rich 200|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727170000/http://www.brw.com.au/p/lists/rich-200/2013/celebrating_years_of_the_rich_EnUWZtuD02H4jYBFx0e3MM|archive-date=27 July 2014|url-status=dead}}

Triguboff participated in a 2010 Business Review Weekly magazine contest to "Win a Week With a Billionaire". Three young finalists were flown to Sydney where they spent a week at Meriton being mentored by Triguboff.{{cite news |author=Douglas, Jeanne-Vida |url=http://www.afr.com/p/sections/features/priceless_experience_bEXGhRGfU8X2I2N7vJOifN |title=A priceless experience |work=Australian Financial Review |date=10 September 2010}}

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Triguboff was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1990 "for service to building and construction and for philanthropy"{{cite web|title=Harry Oscar Triguboff AM |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870662 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=26 January 1990 |access-date=24 February 2012}} and an Officer of the Order on 7 June 1999 "for service to the community as a philanthropist, and to the residential construction industry".{{cite web|title=Harry Oscar Triguboff AO |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/872638|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=24 February 2012 |date=7 June 1999}}{{cite web |url=http://dcgoldberg.blogspot.com/2009/02/harry-in-hurry-bulletin-111207.html |author=Goldberg, Dan |date=1 December 2007 |work=The Bulletin |title=Harry in a hurry |access-date=30 July 2011 }}

Triguboff was the first person to win Australia's Property Person of the Year award twice; he first won the award in 2003 and then again in 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/propertyperson.php |title=Bob Rose AM | Property Person of the Year 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217122113/http://urbantaskforce.com.au/propertyperson.php |archive-date=17 February 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

File:(1)Moriah_College_006.jpg, Sydney]]

Triguboff, via The Harry Triguboff Foundation, funded a project at the Shorashim Center to assist immigrant applicants to Israel in proving their Jewishness.[http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Religious-Affairs-A-crisis-of-identity Jerusalem Post: "Religious Affairs: A crisis of identity" By JEREMY SHARON] 20 September 2012

{{reflist}}

• {{cite interview|url=https://propertyinvestory.com/harry-triguboff-meriton/|title=Extended interview|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|subject=Triguboff, Harry|date=28 August 2013}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/builder-triguboff-forecasts-changed-fortunes-in-apartment-land/story-e6frg9if-1226807149286 |title= Builder Triguboff forecasts changed fortunes in apartment land |work=The Australian |date=22 January 2014 |author=Gottliebsen, Robert |author-link=Robert Gottliebsen }}
• [http://www.meriton.com.au/ Meriton Apartments website]
• [http://www.meritonapartments.com.au/ Meriton Serviced Apartments website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030011811/http://www.meritonapartments.com.au/ |date=30 October 2009 }}

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Category:Australian Jews

Category:Australian people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:1933 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds

Category:Australian billionaires

Category:Chinese emigrants to Australia

Category:Chinese Jews

Category:People educated at Scots College (Sydney)

Category:Businesspeople from Dalian

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:Businesspeople from Sydney