Billion dollar bricklayer: Qld tradie has $596m in bank
A tradie pulled over by police in a luxury sports car has more than $590 million in the bank but isn't at liberty to say how he got it, a Brisbane court has heard.
Phillip Johnathan Harrison was granted bail in the Brisbane Magistrates Court after police pulled him over in an Audi sports car and found quantities of ice, Viagra and ecstasy.
The court heard the bricklayer and carpenter told officers he was worth $12 billion and later explained to his lawyer he'd been given the car by the government.
Duty lawyer Nick Hanly said he had asked the 29-year-old the origin of his significant net wealth, which he'd apparently only come into in the past 12 months.
The billionaire was charged with drug offences. Source: 7 News.
"He said he wasn't at liberty to say," Mr Hanly told the court.
"At this point, I was considering getting mental health to come in."
But Mr Hanly said Harrison then urged him to log on to his online banking account - which showed a cash balance of $596 million and a property portfolio of $1.56 billion.
If legitimate, the net worth would put the labourer in the league of Harvey Norman co-founder Gerry Harvey, mining magnate Andrew Forrest and property and construction king Lang Walker.
"I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," Mr Hanly said of his client's bank balance.
Tradie turned trader on ASX says he's a billionaire & can prove it. Why he was arrested soon @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/tlMlvbZQri
— michelle rattray (@MichelleRattray) March 26, 2016
The court heard Harrison was an ice user.
Outside court Harrison said: "You must expect people not to believe you. I don't care, I never tell anyone anything."
"I'll probably walk to Audi and get the car that I was just testing."
Although he won't explain exactly how he some into the wealth he did say: "Had a good win, good profit on some shares."
"I'm giving it away, I don't want it."
Billion dollar bricklayer: Qld tradie has $596m in bank. Source: 7 News.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Francis suggested Harrison's passport be surrendered as a condition of bail, given his means could make him an increased flight risk.
Magistrate Anthony Gett agreed and also granted bail on the condition Harrison reside at a Tewantin address.
The matter will return to court on April 18.
News break – March 26
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