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John Van Lieshout

John Van Lieshout

J. Lieshout
0.39% | + $7.64M
$1.97 B ₹ 17,903 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2062 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on John Van Lieshout

Gender

Male

Age

80Y

Country

Australia

Born On

January, 1946

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

Unknown

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Retail, Real Estate)

Primary Organization

Unison Projects

Titles

Owner

Sources of Wealth

Super A-Mart Sale, Real Estate

Industry

Real Estate, Retail, Furniture

About John Van Lieshout


J ohn Van Lieshout is a self-made Australian billionaire who is the founder of the furniture retail chain, Super A-Mart. His is a classic immigrant success story. He moved to Australia from the Netherlands with his family as a teenager and started his career selling used cars. In 1970, he founded his own furniture business, which he grew into a major retail powerhouse.

He built Super A-Mart into one of Australia's largest and most successful furniture and bedding retailers, with a focus on a low-cost, high-volume business model. In 2006, he sold the company to a private equity firm for a massive sum, a deal that cemented his billionaire status. He has since focused on his other business interest, which is a massive and highly valuable portfolio of real estate, primarily commercial and industrial properties in Queensland. He is known for being extremely private and media-shy.

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Quick Reads


  • A self-made Australian billionaire who founded the furniture retailer Super A-Mart.
  • Sold the company in 2006 for a reported A$500 million.
  • An immigrant from the Netherlands, he started his career selling used cars.
  • Now a major real estate investor with a large portfolio of commercial property.
  • He is known for being extremely reclusive.

Early Life and Background


John Van Lieshout is an Australian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former owner of the Super A-Mart furniture store chain, and a major property investor. Born in the Netherlands, in 1946, his family emigrated to Australia in 1960. His career is rooted in retail and real estate investment.

Van Lieshout's entrepreneurial journey began with the furniture retail sector. He founded the Super A-Mart furniture chain, successfully building it into one of Australia's largest furniture retailers. His philosophy centers on high-volume retail, operational efficiency, and a strategic pivot to property development to secure long-term assets.

  • Super A-Mart (Founder & Former Owner): The core wealth generator, a major Australian furniture retail chain. He sold the company in 2006 for A$500 million.
  • Property Development: He successfully moved into property development through his Unison Projects Group, acquiring 600 housing blocks and 200 townhouses in the Brisbane area.
  • Lifestyle: He is known for being a private person, a keen golfer (handicap of 12), and a supporter of the Brisbane Lions (Australian rules football).
  • Regional Recognition: He was named Queensland's wealthiest individual in 2014.

Career Journey of John Van Lieshout


John Van Lieshout's strategic genius was his scale manufacturing and high-volume retail model for furniture, which was highly successful in Australia. The culmination of his retail career was the sale of Super A-Mart in 2006 for A$500 million, providing immense liquid capital for his next venture.

His structural contribution is tied to his successful pivot to real estate development, focusing on long-term asset hold through his Unison Projects Group. He became a major property investor in the Brisbane area, demonstrating a disciplined approach to managing capital gains through tangible real estate assets. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term appreciation of his property portfolio.

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John Van Lieshout's Timeline


1960:

Emigrates to Australia with his family from the Netherlands (Pivotal Event).

1980s (approx.):

Founds the Super A-Mart furniture store chain (Founding).

2006:

Sells Super A-Mart for A$500 million (Major Exit).

2007 (approx.):

Moves into property development through Unison Projects Group (Strategic Pivot).

2014:

Named Queensland's wealthiest individual (Regional Honor).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and major property investor in the Brisbane area (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


John Van Lieshout's wealth is concentrated in the liquid capital generated from the Super A-Mart sale and his Unison Projects Group property holdings.

  • Super A-Mart (Founder & Former Owner): The core wealth generator, a major Australian furniture retail chain. He sold the company in 2006 for A$500 million.
  • Property Development: He successfully moved into property development through his Unison Projects Group, acquiring 600 housing blocks and 200 townhouses in the Brisbane area.
  • Lifestyle: He is known for being a private person, a keen golfer (handicap of 12), and a supporter of the Brisbane Lions (Australian rules football).
  • Regional Recognition: He was named Queensland's wealthiest individual in 2014.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


John Van Lieshout's social impact is structural, stemming from Super A-Mart's role as a massive retailer and provider of affordable furniture to the Australian consumer market. His subsequent ventures in property development provide essential commercial and residential infrastructure.

His personal philanthropy is significant: he has donated millions of dollars to various charities. His career is a testament to the profitability of disciplined retail management and strategic asset monetization.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


John Van Lieshout maintains the professional, pragmatic style of a real estate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and self-made authority, with a clear preference for privacy.

Residing in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to property development, investment strategy, and the long-term stewardship of his real estate assets.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He sold his Super A-Mart furniture store chain for A$500 million in 2006.
  • He is a Dutch immigrant who moved to Australia in 1960.
  • His Unison Projects Group is a major property investor in the Brisbane area.
  • He was named Queensland's wealthiest individual in 2014.
  • He is a keen golfer (handicap of 12) and a supporter of the Brisbane Lions.
  • He is known for being a private person who rarely gives interviews.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful monetization of retail and the appreciation of property assets.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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