Nigel Austin

Austin grew up in Geelong, Victoria. Austin's late father, Grant Austin, ran a publicly traded clothing wholesale and import business called the Austin Group, where Austin started out learning about the fashion industry in his school holidays. In his first outing at the market he sold one jacket for $30. The following week he returned with a cheaper offer, after he negotiated with his father who was the supplier, which resulted in all 20 selling out. Austin enrolled in university to study business but dropped out after a year to focus on his growing garment business. He didn't tell his father that he had dropped out for an entire year and could prove his business was booming. == Career ==

In 1991, Austin's first store was small space in Geelong behind a butcher shop run by his grandfather and he sourced merchandise from his father. Money is raised through selling specially branded merchandise in group stores such as bracelets, water bottles and tote bags. == Personal life ==

Austin has six children, three of those born with ex-wife Tania Austin who is the CEO of women's fashion brand, Decjuba. His current wife is Melanie Austin. Austin is involved in horse racing and owns Rosemont Stud, over in Gnarwarre and Ceres, Victoria. The logo of the stud is a red and white gatecrasher, that originally was the logo for the Cotton On chain in its early years. Net worth In 2017, Forbes Asia assessed Austin's net worth at 1.36 billion. , The Australian Financial Review assessed his net worth at 2.42 billion. == References ==