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Who is Neil Balnaves?
Neil Balnaves was an Eminent personality and prominent philanthropist in Australia noted for his million-dollar donations. Neil Balnaves has previously worked as a TV executive.
Previously, he ran his production firm Endemol Australia before establishing his organization Balnaves Foundation in 2006.
Early life and Childhood
Neil Balnaves was born in Adelaide, Australia, on May 5, 1994, and spent his childhood listening to pop culture hit songs and later engaging in the development of much pop music.
The man who eventually decided to abandon his production job and donate his million dollars to art galleries, theaters, and dance groups was a backward philanthropist in Australia.
As previously said, he opted to donate $20 million USD all at once, which raised many people’s eyebrows.
Neil had hitherto been impenetrable to everyone.
The man who was in a boat disaster twice has not revealed much about his pre-marriage family, including his parents and siblings.
He was an outspoken opponent of laziness and lazy people who can assist themselves achieve success in life.
Apart from that, Neil was a tough and polite man. Neil was a man who had inherited his parents’ kindness.
That is why, in his 50s, he established his foundation to demonstrate his generosity to the world.
Neil Balnaves’ Death and Recent News
But, once again, a boating catastrophe has taken his life, and he is no longer between us.
Yes, the famed philanthropist Mr. Neil died on February 21, 2022, when cruising on a luxury Yacht and was involved in a Boating accident.
The name of the yacht on which Neil died was “The World,” and the disaster occurred in Tahiti, France, and Polynesia.
He was traveling with his wife Diane when he died, and she was present as he breathed his last, facing the accident.
It is heartbreaking to learn that Neil was involved in another boat accident after 20 years, this time losing his life and that the news of his death has sent grief throughout the entire Australian community.
“How was I going to use it?” There was that strange time when you thought a bigger boat, a plane, or a bigger house would be good.
But that was demonstrably wrong, and it was this that gave rise to the [Balnaves] Foundation. I actually came to the decision… that it was important to give something back to the country that had been so generous to me.”
Above the printed word were Neil’s words on his boat disaster from two decades ago, when he was in his fifties.
And now we are here to pay honor to this 77-year-old Australian Philanthropist by sharing his successful journey with the Australian people.
Education Details
Neil Balnaves attended Sydney University before establishing his production company in 1988.
He had committed his life and his money to creating possibilities for the entire Australian population to freely access arts and artists.
Neil got a doctorate from Bond University in 2009, while also serving as a trustee member.
More Facts about Neil Balnaves
Full Real Name | Neil Balnaves |
Nickname | Neil |
Popular for | His Foundation and Philanthropist works |
Language | English |
School Name | Local High School. |
University | University of Sydney |
Education | Doctorate from Bond University |
Profession | Australian television executive and philanthropist |
Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Nationality | Aussie |
Ethnicity | Aussie |
Net worth | $1 Billion USD |
Age (as of 2022) | 77 years old. |
Date of Birth | May 5, 1994 (Thursday) |
Place of Birth | Adelaide, Australia |
Current Residence | Australia |
Professional Career
Neil Balnaves formerly worked in media for over 45 years, most recently as Executive Chairman of the Southern Group, better known as Endemol Australia.
He established his company in 1988. Aside from that, he was the chairman of Ardent Leisure Group.
He later withdrew from this group in 2016, having joined it in 2003.
Neil was also the Chancellor of Charles Darwin University and a member of the Bond University Trustee Board.
From 2016 until 2018, he worked at Charles Darwin University.
In addition, from 2013 to 2019, Neil was a member of the Board of the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Neil formed The Balnaves Foundation during his remarkable path, and his family has been working with him since 2006.
Neil was the Director of the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute and a member of the Sydney Theatre Company’s Chairman’s Circle before his death.
In 2010, he was appointed an Officer of The Order of Australia for his contributions to the Australian community and significant role as a philanthropist.
Throughout his more than 15-year career as a philanthropist, he has provided more than $40 million USD in donations through his many charitable events.
His production business has invested in and produced Australian versions of shows such as Bananas in Pyjamas, Water Rats, and Big Brother.
According to a recent poll conducted by our researcher Neils Foundation, The Balnaves Foundation spends about $3 million USD in charity each year with the goal of improving Australia via education, medicine, and the arts.
Net Worth and Salary
Neil Balnaves’s net worth is estimated to be more than $1 billion USD, owing to his successful investment in reality shows.
His decision to become a philanthropist and donate over $40 million USD through his foundation demonstrates that he has a billion-dollar net worth. He was a wealthy man who lived a life of luxury.
During his death on a boat, he was headed to over Luxury Yacht, which charges hundreds of dollars for each person per day.
He owned a million-dollar mansion on the Gold Coast.
Relationship Status
Neil’s departure from the world has not separated him from his friends and family.
His wife, Diane Balnaves, and their two children, Hamish and Victoria, are also devastated.
He married Diana Balnaves in 1971 and had three children, Hamish, Victoria, and Alexandra Balnaves.
His wife and children are both educated.
Diane Balnaves attended Seymour College in Adelaide and then worked as a social worker following her marriage. She worked as a bookshop before marrying Neil.
Alexandra, Neils’s daughter, died in April 2019 as a result of sickness.
Victoria, Neils’s other daughter, is the youngest of his children and currently runs her own consulting firm focusing on luxury PR and events. Victoria has a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Sydney.
Mr. Neil’s son, Hamish Balnaves, also earned a degree in Economics and Social Science from Sydney University.
Hamish has worked as a teacher in Sydney and other locations.
Later, he becomes the General Manager of his father’s Foundation, where he is still employed.
Body Measurement
Neil Balnaves’s height is 5 feet and 8 inches. He has a weight of roughly 85 kg.
Social Media
He is active on Instagram as #neilbalnaves.
Also read: Francisca Lachapel, Samantha Brown, Jenny Babas
Trivia
- Neil shared about his boat accident that he met 2 decades earlier in his 50’s age.
- He decided to donate $20 million USD at once and raised questions in many people’s minds about why he is doing that.
- He has worked for more than 45 years previously in media and majored in the position of Executive Chairman of the Southern Group also known as Endemol Australia.
- He worked with Charles Darwin University from 2016 to 2018.
- He becomes the General Manager of this father’s Foundation and currently working in it.
- He was a rich man and has spent his life in luxury.
- He was the owner of a million dollars Mansion on the Gold Coast.
- Balnaves’s net worth is estimated to be more than $1 billion USD.