New Zealand's richest man is a one time truck driver and a high-school dropout

Graeme Hart, New Zealand's richest man according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index, is an ex-tow truck driver, an auto repairman, and a high school dropout, as per the reports. Hart boasts a career in private equity who made millions via state-owned assets leverage buyouts spiking to a billionaire status within a span of 5 years, accumulating $1 billion to his fortune recently, he is reportedly worth $6.98b ($10.3b).

According to reports, French billionaire Chief Executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy, Bernard Arnault surpassed Microsoft's Bill Gates securing the world’s second-richest man position. Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder remains the world’s richest man with a total net worth of $US125 billion (185b).

Hart, the owner of Auckland-based private equity firm Rank Group, exceeds three spots from luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren, who flaunts a net worth of $6.9b ($10.2b) and stands at par with fashion designer Giorgio Armani, according to the reports.

Read New Zealand PM Ardern: Wuhan Evacuation Flight 'complex' Process

Read Injury-hit India Look For Context In ODI Battle Against Subdued New Zealand

High school dropout is a major shares holder in Burns Philp

The high school dropout is reportedly a major shares holder in Burns Philp, a Sydney-headquartered global yeast and natural food ingredients manufacturer that crashed in the second-largest plunge in Australian corporate history raising speculations that Hart, in a bid to risk everything in the gamble, would be overthrown when acquisitions turned out to be a failure.

Hart reportedly avoids the limelight and confronted the media barely once in December where he spoke at a press conference to the Australian and International journalists. He reportedly keeps a low-profile. However, he does have a taste for a luxurious lifestyle. Hart has a taste for super-yachts, submarines and superhero-themed pinball machines, state reports.

His fortune reportedly witnessed a rapid boost after Reynolds Consumer product Inc. the aluminum foil and trash bag maker firm climbed the shares by 9.8 percent, close to $28.55 ruling the stock market and soaring his stake value to $4.4 billion. The rich lister was reportedly in news last year when his images were used without his permission to advertise a scam bitcoin website.

Read Boston Red Sox Tradition To Continue As Equipment Truck Will Stop In Rhode Island

Read R.J. Hampton Leaves New Zealand And Returns To United States

(with inputs from agencies)