Andrew Forrest

John Andrew Henry Forrest (born 1961), better known as Andrew Forrest or by his nickname Twiggy Forrest, is a Western Australian mining magnate currently a non-executive chairman and previously the chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG).

With an assessed net worth of A$2.83 billion in 2015, Forrest is ranked within the top ten richest Australians according to the BRW magazine; having been the richest person in Australia during 2008. In 2013, Forrest and his wife, Nicola, were the first Australians to pledge half their wealth to charity whilst living.

Early life

Forrest was born in Perth, Western Australia, the youngest of three children of Donald and Judith Forrest. He is the great-great nephew of John Forrest, the first premier of Western Australia. His great-grandfather, David Forrest, was the manager and (with brothers John and Alexander, and Septimus Burt) part-owner of Minderoo Station. Forrest's early years were spent as a jackaroo at Mindaroo Station, in the Pilbara. Minderoo was owned by the Forrest family until it was sold in 1998 by Donald due to relentless drought and debt, but was bought back by Forrest in 2009.