John Langley Hancock is an Australian businessman, the billionaire heir to the Hancock Prospecting Pty Limited iron-ore fortune, which was founded by his grandfather, Lang Hancock, in 1955. His immense wealth is generational, tied to the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (which owns a 23.4 percent stake in Hancock Prospecting). Born in 1976, he is the son of Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, and has been estranged from his mother due to a bitter legal dispute over the family trust.

Hancock was educated at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. His career has been defined by the high-profile legal battle with his mother, Gina Rinehart, over the control and vesting of the family trust, which began in 2011. His decision to change his surname to Hancock (a tribute to his grandfather) reflects his complex relationship with his family legacy.

• Hancock Prospecting (Trust Beneficiary): The foundational source of his wealth, tied to Australia's massive Pilbara iron-ore deposits. He is a beneficiary of the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4 percent stake).
• Legal Battle Apex: He initiated the Supreme Court action to remove his mother, Gina Rinehart, as trustee of the family trust.
• Financial Transparency: He appeared on the Financial Review Rich List for the first time in 2020 (with a net worth of A$2.05 billion).
• Personal Stance: He has publicly stated he has all the bad things about having money and none of the good things.

John Hancock's structural role is primarily focused on the fiduciary oversight and legal challenge of his inherited assets. He, along with his sister Bianca Rinehart, successfully argued that his mother's actions, including unilaterally extending the trust's vesting date from 2011 to 2068, constituted a misconduct of trustee duties. The NSW Supreme Court eventually removed Gina Rinehart as trustee (appointing Bianca Rinehart in her place).

His career is a testament to the complex legal challenges associated with managing dynastic resource wealth. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of Hancock Prospecting's iron-ore royalties. His current focus is managing his personal investments and the ongoing legal matters related to the family's assets, which are worth in excess of $4 billion.

John Hancock's social impact is structural, stemming from the Hancock Prospecting's immense role in the Australian resource economy. His public role, though adversarial, has forced greater transparency and accountability in the management of one of Australia's largest private fortunes, a major civic contribution to corporate governance.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. His career highlights the immense wealth derived from resource control and the deep family conflict that often accompanies dynastic wealth transfers.

John Hancock maintains the discreet, composed style of a private businessman. His attire is consistently professional. His aesthetic reflects his stability, his financial power, and his preference for a low public profile outside of his necessary legal dealings.

Residing in Australia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to wealth management, legal governance, and the long-term stewardship of the Hancock family's resource legacy.