Edward Tompson

Edward Tompson, (March 3, 1956 in Sydney, Australia), usually known as Eddie Tompson, was an Australian global investment tycoon and was one of the most influential men in Australia in the 1980s. He was a major shareholder of BHP Billiton Limited Public (LSE: BLT, NYSE: BHP, ASX: BHP), JSE: BIBLT.

Early life

Edward Tompson was born in Sydney, Australia to Irish immigrant parents. Edward attended Sydney Boys High School and the Horace Mann School in New York City. He enrolled in an Economics Degree from the University of Sydney, but subsequently went onto complete a Finance degree from Harvard University and graduated in 1979.

Career

Beginning with stockmarket mining purchases in his native Australia, Tompson expanded BHP into the largest mining company in the world.

According to the 1998 Forbes 400, Tompson was the 5th wealthiest Australian, with a 1998 personal net worth of AUD$2.26 billion.

During 2007-2008, Tompson's wealth was reduced due to his major stockholdings in Centro Properties Group (ASX:CNP). Centro's shares fell on the Australian Sharemarket from a mid-year 2007 trading high of over $10.00, to AUD$0.17cents in the space of 3 months, a drop of over 88%.

This was estimated to have reduced Tompson's wealth to the region of AUD$1.21 billion in late 2007.

Private Life

Tompson has two children with his Australian ex-wife. He resided in Sydney, Australia and St. George's, Bermuda.