Len Ainsworth | |
---|---|
Born | Leonard Hasting Ainsworth 1922 or 1923 (age 100–101) [1]
Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1953-2019 |
Known for | Aristocrat Leisure |
Spouses |
|
Children | 7 |
Leonard Hasting "Len" Ainsworth AM (born c. 1923) is an Australian businessman, most widely known for founding Aristocrat Leisure, one of the world's largest gambling-machine companies. He founded the company in 1953, and remained active until 1994; and later founded Ainsworth Gaming Technology, and was an executive director until 2019. [2]
Ainsworth inherited a small business from his father and began making poker machines to boost revenues for his dental supplies and equipment manufacturing venture. This side-line quickly grew, and Aristocrat Leisure was born in 1953. Today, it is one of the world's largest manufacturers of slot machines and online gaming entertainment. [3]
Following a 1984 diagnosis of prostate cancer, Ainsworth sold Aristocrat, giving significant funds to his family, several members of which continue the tradition of philanthropy. [3] Following a clear diagnosis, Ainsworth initially retired and then established Ainsworth Gaming Technology, a manufacturer of up to about 35 percent of Australia’s gambling machines. [3] Ainsworth sold his majority stake in Ainsworth Gaming Technology to Novomatic for A$473 million, when he was aged 94 years. [1] [4] [5]
Ainsworth has seven sons, five to his first wife Betty and later, two to his second wife Margarette (Gretel). In 2018, Ainsworth was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his impact on business and manufacturing as well as his service to the community through philanthropic contributions. [6]
Ainsworth has donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, UNSW, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and the Children's Medical Research Institute, the University of Wollongong, [3] and the University of New South Wales. [7] He has been awarded two honorary doctorates, the first by the University of NSW and most recently in 2019 by the University of Wollongong. [3] Ainsworth signed The Giving Pledge in March 2017. [1]
In 2019, Ainsworth was ranked 42nd on the Forbes list of 50 wealthiest Australians, with an estimated net worth of US$900 million. [2] As of May 2021 [update], Ainsworth was listed seventeenth on the Financial Review 2023 Rich List with an estimated net worth of A$5.22 billion. [8]
Year |
Financial Review Rich List |
Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Net worth ( A$) | Rank | Net worth ( US$) | |
2014 [9] | 19 ![]() |
$1.82
billion ![]() |
||
2015 [10] | 24 ![]() |
$1.20 billion ![]() | ||
2016 [11] | 33 ![]() |
$0.76 billion ![]() | ||
2017 [12] [13] [14] | 11 | $3.07 billion ![]() |
||
2018 [15] | 14 ![]() |
$4.02 billion ![]() |
31 ![]() |
|
2019 [16] [1] | 17 ![]() |
$4.01 billion ![]() |
42 ![]() |
$0.90 billion ![]() |
2020 [17] | 18 ![]() |
$4.42 billion ![]() |
||
2021 [18] | 16 ![]() |
$5.04 billion ![]() |
||
2022 | 11 ![]() |
$7.70 billion ![]() |
||
2023 [8] | 17 ![]() |
$5.22 billion ![]() |
Legend | |
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Icon | Description |
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Has not changed from the previous year |
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Has increased from the previous year |
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Has decreased from the previous year |
Len Ainsworth | |
---|---|
Born | Leonard Hasting Ainsworth 1922 or 1923 (age 100–101) [1]
Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1953-2019 |
Known for | Aristocrat Leisure |
Spouses |
|
Children | 7 |
Leonard Hasting "Len" Ainsworth AM (born c. 1923) is an Australian businessman, most widely known for founding Aristocrat Leisure, one of the world's largest gambling-machine companies. He founded the company in 1953, and remained active until 1994; and later founded Ainsworth Gaming Technology, and was an executive director until 2019. [2]
Ainsworth inherited a small business from his father and began making poker machines to boost revenues for his dental supplies and equipment manufacturing venture. This side-line quickly grew, and Aristocrat Leisure was born in 1953. Today, it is one of the world's largest manufacturers of slot machines and online gaming entertainment. [3]
Following a 1984 diagnosis of prostate cancer, Ainsworth sold Aristocrat, giving significant funds to his family, several members of which continue the tradition of philanthropy. [3] Following a clear diagnosis, Ainsworth initially retired and then established Ainsworth Gaming Technology, a manufacturer of up to about 35 percent of Australia’s gambling machines. [3] Ainsworth sold his majority stake in Ainsworth Gaming Technology to Novomatic for A$473 million, when he was aged 94 years. [1] [4] [5]
Ainsworth has seven sons, five to his first wife Betty and later, two to his second wife Margarette (Gretel). In 2018, Ainsworth was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his impact on business and manufacturing as well as his service to the community through philanthropic contributions. [6]
Ainsworth has donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, UNSW, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and the Children's Medical Research Institute, the University of Wollongong, [3] and the University of New South Wales. [7] He has been awarded two honorary doctorates, the first by the University of NSW and most recently in 2019 by the University of Wollongong. [3] Ainsworth signed The Giving Pledge in March 2017. [1]
In 2019, Ainsworth was ranked 42nd on the Forbes list of 50 wealthiest Australians, with an estimated net worth of US$900 million. [2] As of May 2021 [update], Ainsworth was listed seventeenth on the Financial Review 2023 Rich List with an estimated net worth of A$5.22 billion. [8]
Year |
Financial Review Rich List |
Forbes Australia's 50 Richest | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Net worth ( A$) | Rank | Net worth ( US$) | |
2014 [9] | 19 ![]() |
$1.82
billion ![]() |
||
2015 [10] | 24 ![]() |
$1.20 billion ![]() | ||
2016 [11] | 33 ![]() |
$0.76 billion ![]() | ||
2017 [12] [13] [14] | 11 | $3.07 billion ![]() |
||
2018 [15] | 14 ![]() |
$4.02 billion ![]() |
31 ![]() |
|
2019 [16] [1] | 17 ![]() |
$4.01 billion ![]() |
42 ![]() |
$0.90 billion ![]() |
2020 [17] | 18 ![]() |
$4.42 billion ![]() |
||
2021 [18] | 16 ![]() |
$5.04 billion ![]() |
||
2022 | 11 ![]() |
$7.70 billion ![]() |
||
2023 [8] | 17 ![]() |
$5.22 billion ![]() |
Legend | |
---|---|
Icon | Description |
![]() |
Has not changed from the previous year |
![]() |
Has increased from the previous year |
![]() |
Has decreased from the previous year |