Career
Neilson started his financial management career in the investments department of Courtaulds in London. After returning to South Africa in 1973, he moved to Australia ten years later as the head of retail funds management for Bankers Trust Australia (now British Telecom Australia). Neilson established the Platinum Asset Management fund in 1994 with initial backing from George Soros.
Platinum specialises in international equities and has an estimated $US16 billion in funds under management.
Neilson is its managing director and portfolio manager. In May 2007, Neilson floated 20 percent of Platinum Asset Management on the Australian Stock Exchange.
The 57 percent of the company"s shares he retained were valued at A$2.9 billion, making him one of Australia"s richest people. Neilson is regularly likened to Warren Buffett for his ability to consistently select high-performing stocks.
However, poor results during the 2012 financial year resulted in a 16 per cent fall in Netto profit, mainly due to a 14 per cent reduction in investment income.
As a result, Neilsen agreed to forego a performance bonus, an increase in his base salary, and neither granted himself nor exercised options. As the principal shareholder of Platinum, Neilsen yielded A$42 million in dividends during the 2012 financial year. In 2009, Kerr and Judith Neilson opened the White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney to share with the public their extensive collection of contemporary Chinese art
Kerr and Judith Neilsen divorced in 2015.
Kerr has been listed on the BRW Rich 200 since 2011. Following his divorce, according to the BRW his Netto worth fell from A$3.35 billion to A$2 billion.
And Judith Neilsen listed as a new entrant to the 2015 BRW Rich 200 with a Netto worth of A$1.55 billion. Kerr Neilson first appeared on the Forbes list of Australia"s 50 Richest people in 2010 with a Netto worth of United States$2.20 billion.
In the latest list that was published in early 2015, prior to his divorce, Forbes assessed Neilson"s Netto worth at United States$3 billion.
Wealth rankings.
