Retailer and alco-pop baron bubble up Rich List

Two newcomers have burst their way onto the National Business Review Rich List: Briscoes Group owner Rodney Duke and liquor company owner Michael Erceg, who have slotted into the top 10.

Mr Duke, whose chain stores include Briscoes and Rebel Sport, is seventh on the list with $320 million.

Independent Liquor owner Mr Erceg comes in eighth on the list with $300 million, amassed partly from the company's 65 per cent share of the ready-to-drink alcohol market.

This year also saw the return of United States-based property investor Peter Cooper to the list, coming in fifth with $500 million.

In the top 10, Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall was shunted from second last year to sixth, with his estimated worth slumping from $655 million to $420 million.

The top 10 individuals are Graeme Hart, food, investment, $1200m, 1; Sir Michael Fay, investment, banking, $600m, Doug Myers, cashed up, $600m, and David Richwhite, investment, banking, $600m, 2; Peter Cooper, property development, $500m, 5; Stephen Tindall, retailing, $420m, 6; Rod Duke, retailing, $320m, 7; Michael Erceg, liquor, $300m, and Alan Gibbs, investment, $300m, 8; Eric Watson, investment, technology, $275m, 10.

Those to fall from the top 10 were Peter Masfen, Colin Giltrap and John Spencer.

Others failed to make the $15 million threshold. Yacht designer Bruce Farr and investor Christine Fernyhough were among those elbowed out of the list this year.

But the Todd family kept their stranglehold on the richest family category, with an estimated worth of $2 billion. Left in their wake were the Goodman family, with $550 million.

The $1.2 billion bounty of Mr Hart - the man who last year claimed the title of New Zealand's first billionaire - was twice that of his nearest rivals.

Only two sportspeople - both of whom also have interests outside sport - made it onto the main list.

Yachtie Chris Dickson's $20 million edged him ahead of golfer Sir Bob Charles, with whom he shared top billing last year. Charles' worth was estimated at $15 million from his golfing, property and consultancy.

Third equal on the sports list were Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts and and tactician Brad Butterworth, with an estimated $14 million each.

NBR said the two - who left the Team New Zealand America's Cup team to sail for Swiss Alinghi amid public acrimony - reputedly earned between US$5 million ($8.5 million) and US$7 million each, with victory bonuses of perhaps US$2 million.

The Rich List also included the family of Howard Paterson, who died three weeks ago after choking on food in his hotel room in Fiji. The South Island property developer and biotechnology investor left his family business interests and a fortune of about $170 million.

NBR also noted that the rich are getting richer - a property boom is credited with boosting the collective worth of the 183 families and individuals on the list from $15.1 billion to $18.4 billion in just 12 months.

Rich List editor Graeme Hunt said the $3.3 billion rise was largely due to property investments.

It was the largest year-on-year rise since the first Rich List in 1986.

Sports and entertainment

1. Peter Jackson, film making $70m

2. Sam Neill, acting, wine $25m

3. Chris Dickson, yachting, property $20m

4. Rachel Hunter, modelling, endorsements $20m

5. Sir Robert Charles, golf, property, consultancy $15m

6 Lucy Lawless, acting, singing $15m

7. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, opera singing $15m

8. Brad Butterworth, yachting $14m

9. Russell Coutts, yachting $14m

10. David Tua, boxing $13m