Paul Barry (1) (1952–)

Alan Bond was a household name in Australia in the 1980s. Winner of the Americas Cup, his name emblazoned on buildings and infrastructure, his brewing enterprises. For the most part, people probably thought of him as a scoundrel, and bloke who made his way from nothing to being able to buy the most expensive painting ever. However, as was revealed in later times, and well described by this book, Alan Bond was a fantastic salesman, and used other people's money to build an empire. Along the way he sucked in premiers and prime-ministers as well as a host of gullible wannabes. In the end, the growth ran out of puff, and his dishonorable ways became more well known. Properties changing hands from one the other, and then back to the one; with huge 'success' fees ending up in his pocket. Having lived through that time, there is no doubt that he gave many people a ride of their lives. No doubt Fremantle is where it is because of the Americas Cup (although it has since received a second wind because of less secular sources).
This book that not tell the full story (perhaps it's my older edition). Bond ended up in jail, along with lots of others including two former premier of Western Australia. After regaining the memory he lost during his trials, Bond 'found' money to start again. He remarried and suffered the death of that wife as well as of a daughter. And a couple of years ago he too died.… (mer)