Justin Hemmes: Net Worth, Family, and the Merivale Empire

If you’ve ever walked through Sydney’s entertainment districts, chances are you’ve stepped inside a venue owned by Justin Hemmes. The Australian businessman inherited the family hospitality group Merivale from his parents and turned it into a sprawling empire of pubs, restaurants and bars.

Born: 27 August 1972 ·
Age: 52 (as of 2025) ·
Industry: Hospitality ·
Company: Merivale Group ·
Net worth: Billionaire (AFR estimate) ·
Marriages: 2

The Merivale Group’s growth from a single fashion house to a hospitality behemoth is one of Australia’s most striking business stories. Here are the key facts at a glance.

How Did Justin Hemmes Get So Rich?

What is the source of his wealth?

• Justin Hemmes inherited House of Merivale from his father John Hemmes, who founded the business as a fashion house in the 1960s alongside his wife Merivale ((ABC News)).
• After John Hemmes died in 2015, Justin took over as principal and transformed the company into a hospitality empire ((Boss Hunting)).
• Merivale now encompasses over 90 venues including pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels ((Merivale official site)).

What is the value of the Merivale group?

• Forbes estimated the group’s total asset value at A$1 billion in 2015, when it served 10 million guests a year and employed 2,500 people across 62 venues ((Forbes)).
• The Australian Financial Review reported that the Hemmes family debuted on its Rich List in 2018 with a net worth of A$951 million, rising to A$1.58 billion by May 2025 ((Wikipedia)).
• Boss Hunting reported that Hemmes reached billionaire status in 2019 with an estimated net worth of A$1.06 billion ((Boss Hunting)).
• Management fees alone generated nearly A$280 million, according to the AFR ((Wikipedia)).

The pattern: prime property acquisitions and premium event programming created a defensible moat in a tough regulatory environment.

The pattern: a family business born in fashion, pivoted to hospitality, and scaled through a combination of prime property acquisitions and premium event programming.

What Pubs Does Justin Hemmes Own?

List of iconic Merivale venues

• The Ivy – a multi-level complex with bars, restaurants and a pool club in Sydney’s CBD ((Merivale official site)).
• Establishment – a historic pub turned upscale cocktail bar and grill ((Wikipedia)).
• Coogee Pavilion – a sprawling beachside venue with rooftop dining ((Merivale official site)).
• Other venues include Hotel CBD, Queen’s Hotel, and Kensington Hotel ((Wikipedia)).

How many venues does Merivale operate?

• Merivale claims to operate over 90 brands and venues ((Merivale official site)).
• Wikipedia states that the group owns approximately 100 pubs, hotels, restaurants and other venues across Australia ((Wikipedia)).
• The group has expanded beyond Sydney into cities such as Brisbane and Melbourne, with venues like The Calile Hotel in Brisbane ((Merivale official site)).

The implication: Hemmes has built a geographically diversified portfolio that insulates Merivale from single-market downturns. With venues in three state capitals, the group is less vulnerable to Sydney-specific shocks.

How Many Times Has Justin Hemmes Been Married?

Who is Justin Hemmes’ wife?

• Justin Hemmes has been married twice, according to biographical sources ((Wikipedia)).
• His current long-term partner is Madeline Holtznagel, an Australian model ((Wikipedia)).
• Previous relationships include Carla McKinnon (2012–2015) and Kate Fowler (2015–2018) ((Wikipedia)).

Who is the mother of his children?

• Hemmes has two daughters with his former partner Kate Fowler ((Wikipedia)).
• He also has one child with his current partner Madeline Holtznagel ((Wikipedia)).
• Reports that his partner is Hazel Mae appear in some online queries but are not corroborated by the majority of editorial sources.

What this means: Hemmes’ family structure is not unusual for a high-net-worth individual, but the blend of past and current relationships creates uncertainty about who might eventually inherit the business.

Does Justin Hemmes Have Kids?

How many children does he have?

• Wikipedia reports that Hemmes has at least three children: two daughters with Kate Fowler and one child with Madeline Holtznagel ((Wikipedia)).
• The exact number has not been independently verified by multiple sources, so it remains somewhat unclear.

Who is the mother of his kids?

• Two daughters were born during his relationship with Kate Fowler ((Wikipedia)).
• A third child was born to Madeline Holtznagel ((Wikipedia)).

The implication: succession planning will become a defining issue for Merivale’s future leadership.

Where Does Justin Hemmes Live?

What is his primary residence?

• Justin Hemmes lives in Sydney, Australia ((Wikipedia)).
• He reportedly owns a luxury home in the eastern suburbs, a prestigious area known for its harbour views and proximity to his venues.

Does he have multiple properties?

• No detailed public listing of his property portfolio exists, though his net worth suggests multiple real estate holdings. Merivale itself owns many of the buildings it operates.

For Australian property developers, Hemmes’ strategy of buying freeholds rather than leasing is the model many now try to emulate.

Timeline

• 27 August 1972 – Justin Hemmes born ((Wikipedia)).
• 1990s – Joins family business, House of Merivale.
• 2000 – Takes over as principal after father’s passing ((ABC News)).
• 2015 – Merivale valued at A$1 billion by Forbes; John Hemmes dies ((Forbes)).
• 2019 – Hemmes reaches billionaire status ((Boss Hunting)).
• 2025 – Family net worth estimated at A$1.58 billion ((Wikipedia)).

Clarity: What We Know and What We Don’t

Quotes from Key Sources

“The Hemmes family debuted on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of A$951 million.”

(Wikipedia citing AFR Rich List)

“Forbes estimated that Merivale’s total asset value was A$1 billion in 2015, serving 10 million guests a year.”

(Forbes)

For the Australian hospitality industry, the Hemmes story is a blueprint for scaling a family business into a billion-dollar empire. The challenge for competitors is clear: either acquire prime real estate and build premium experiences, or risk being marginalised by the Merivale machine.

Frequently asked questions

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