Clive Palmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clive Palmer
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Palmer in 2015
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| Chairman of Trumpet of Patriots | |
| Assumed office 19 February 2025 |
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| Leader | Suellen Wrightson |
| Chairman of the United Australia Party | |
| In office 12 December 2018 – 8 September 2022 |
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| Deputy | Brian Burston Ralph Babet |
| Leader | Craig Kelly |
| Preceded by | Party re-registered |
| Succeeded by | Party deregistered |
| In office April 2013 – 5 May 2017 |
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| Deputy | Jacqui Lambie |
| Leader | Glenn Lazarus John Bjelke-Petersen |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Party deregistered |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Fairfax | |
| In office 7 September 2013 – 9 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Alex Somlyay |
| Succeeded by | Ted O'Brien |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Clive Frederick Palmer
26 March 1954 Footscray, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Trumpet of Patriots (since 2025) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouses |
Susan Parker
(m. 1983; Annastacia Topalov
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents | George Palmer Nancy McArthur |
| Residences | Sovereign Islands, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Education |
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| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Mining company chairman
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| Profession | Businessman Politician |
Clive Frederick Palmer (born 26 March 1954) is an Australian billionaire businessman and politician. He owns many businesses, especially in mining. These include companies that deal with iron ore, nickel, and coal.
Palmer also owns holiday resorts and golf courses. He used to own the Gold Coast United FC soccer team. In 2013, he started the Palmer United Party. He was elected to the Australian Parliament for the area of Fairfax. He served as an MP for one term.
In 2018, Palmer brought back his party as the United Australia Party. He ran candidates for many seats in the Australian Parliament. In the 2019 election, his party did not win any seats. In the 2022 election, they won one seat in the Senate. The party was officially closed down in September 2022.
Palmer has often been involved in legal disagreements related to his businesses. He once said that legal cases were one of his hobbies. He believes these legal actions help correct wrongs. As of May 2025, Palmer was one of the richest Australians. His wealth was estimated at over $20 billion.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Clive Palmer was born on 26 March 1954. He was born in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. He spent his early years in Williamstown. In 1963, his family moved to Queensland. He grew up mostly on the Gold Coast.
He went to Aquinas College and Southport State High School. He also spent a short time at Toowoomba Grammar School. His father, George, was a travel agent. Because of this, his family traveled a lot around the world.
From 1973 to 1975, Palmer studied law, journalism, and politics. He attended the University of Queensland. He did not finish his degree. Later, he earned a Diploma of Law. He worked for the Public Defender's Office.
Business Ventures
Starting in Real Estate
In the early 1980s, Palmer worked as a real estate agent. He was very successful during a property boom on the Gold Coast. He "retired" at the young age of 29.
Mineralogy Company
In 1985 and 1986, Palmer started three mining exploration companies. One of these was Mineralogy. This company had huge amounts of iron ore in Western Australia. In 2008, Palmer also bought Waratah Coal.
Mineralogy has been in a long legal disagreement with CITIC. This was about a payment from an agreement made in 2006. In 2017, a court ruled that Mineralogy should receive nearly $200 million. Palmer said this was a win for Australian law.
In August 2020, the Western Australian Parliament passed a special law. This law aimed to stop a large legal claim by Palmer against the government. The claim was estimated to be worth $30 billion. Palmer disagreed with this estimate. He challenged the law in the Federal Court.
In March 2023, Palmer's company, Zeph Investments, started another legal process. They sued the Australian government for a very large amount of money. This was related to an iron ore project. The government said they would strongly defend against this claim.
Queensland Nickel Business
In 2009, Palmer bought Queensland Nickel. This included the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery. When he first bought it, the refinery made a lot of money. Palmer even gave staff Mercedes Benz cars and overseas holidays.
In January 2016, Queensland Nickel faced financial difficulties. Palmer said he was not personally responsible for paying workers who lost their jobs. The Australian Government had to step in to cover these payments.
In April 2019, Palmer said he would reopen the refinery. He also said he would pay the money still owed to workers. In August 2019, Palmer reached an agreement in court. He agreed to repay the government and other creditors. He stated that this agreement showed he was right.
Palmer Coolum Resort and Dinosaurs
Palmer bought the Coolum Hyatt Resort in 2011. He then announced plans to build a park with moving animatronic dinosaurs. He ordered over 160 dinosaurs for the park. This included a huge T. rex named "Jeff."
The dinosaur park, called "Palmersaurus," opened in December 2013. It was built along the resort's golf course. This led to a major golf championship being moved from the resort.
The resort faced problems and closed down in 2015. Many people lost their jobs. By 2017, the resort was not doing well. It was also involved in legal battles.
Soccer Team Ownership
Palmer bought the Gold Coast United football club in 2008. In 2009, he tried to limit how many fans could attend home games. This was to save money. After many complaints, this idea was stopped.
In February 2012, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) took away Palmer's license for the team. They said he broke their rules. Palmer disagreed and tried to fight this in court. He lost his case in March 2012.
After this, Palmer started a new soccer organization. It was called Football Australia.
Titanic II Project
In February 2013, Palmer announced plans to build a new ship. It would be a modern copy of the famous RMS Titanic. The ship was planned to be built in China. Its first trip was set for 2016, but this was delayed.
Palmer wanted the Titanic II to look very much like the original. It would be 883 feet long and carry many passengers and crew. Palmer said the ship would honor those who were on the original Titanic. His company, Blue Star Line, was named after the original White Star Line.
By 2015, it seemed the project had stopped. No construction had started. However, in September 2018, Blue Star Line announced that work would begin again.
In March 2024, Palmer held a press conference. He announced that the Titanic II project was being revived. He expected construction to start in 2025.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Statements
Public Advertisements
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Palmer offered to fund one million doses of a "cure." This medication included hydroxychloroquine. Health experts warned about serious side effects of this drug. The Australian drugs regulator, the TGA, considered legal action against Palmer.
Later, it was confirmed that the government planned to import the drug for emergency use. Palmer offered to help fund it. In April, Palmer claimed to have bought many doses of hydroxychloroquine. The TGA decided not to take action against his advertisements. However, doctors warned that trials for the drug were not promising. They also worried people might become careless about social distancing.
In June 2021, a radio network stopped playing an advertisement from Palmer. The ad claimed many deaths were linked to COVID vaccinations. The TGA said this was misleading. They explained that only one death could be linked to the vaccine itself.
Palmer also sent letters to homes across Australia. These letters urged people against COVID-19 vaccination. They used the same incorrect death figures.
Western Australia Border Case
In July 2020, Palmer argued that Western Australia's border closure was against the law. He challenged it in court. The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, called Palmer an "enemy of the state." Palmer said the border closure would harm many people. He compared COVID-19 deaths to road accidents and flu deaths.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, later stopped supporting Palmer's legal challenge. This was after public criticism. Mark McGowan praised this decision. He urged Palmer to drop the case.
In November 2020, the High Court of Australia supported the border closure law. Further challenges to the law also failed in 2021.
Other Activities and Interests
In 2002, Palmer became a visiting professor at Deakin University. He taught business until 2006. In 2008, he became a visiting professor at Bond University.
In December 2012, Palmer was named a joint secretary general of the World Leadership Alliance. This group promotes democracy. He also became president of its business chapter.
On Christmas Day in 2012, Palmer hosted a lunch for 650 people in need. Most of them were children and their families.
In 2015, Palmer helped a family who lost their home in a fire. He donated a house, car, and food.
Palmer is known for posting funny pictures and sayings, called "memes," on his Facebook page. These often have a silly or ironic style. They sometimes talk about media control or compare him to other politicians.
In September 2019, Palmer started a legal case against a YouTuber named Jordan Shanks. This was about a video Shanks made before an election. Shanks said he had not done anything wrong.
In September 2023, a court dismissed a claim by Palmer. He had argued that the ballot paper for a vote on an Indigenous Voice was flawed. This design had been used for many years.
Political Career
Early Political Involvement
Palmer was active in politics from a young age. In the 1970s, he was part of the Liberal Movement. In 1974, he joined the National Party of Australia. He was influenced by the Premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
In the 1980s, he worked on state election campaigns for the National Party. He was their campaign director in 1983 and media spokesman in 1986. Both elections were successful for the party.
Palmer supported the "Joh for Canberra" campaign. This campaign tried to get Bjelke-Petersen elected as Prime Minister in 1987. Palmer became a lifetime member of the party in 1992. He kept this membership even after the party merged in 2008.
Running for Parliament in 2013
In April 2012, Palmer said he would try to become a candidate for the Liberal National Party. He wanted to run in the 2013 federal election. Later, he decided to seek candidacy for a different area.
Palmer resigned his lifetime membership from the Liberal National Party in 2012. This happened after he made comments about government ministers.
In March 2012, Palmer claimed that Greenpeace was getting money from the CIA. He said this was because of their work on a coal export strategy. Greenpeace and the CIA denied his claims.
In April 2013, Palmer announced he was restarting the United Australia Party. This party would run candidates in the 2013 federal election. The party was officially registered.
Time as a Member of Parliament
Palmer ran for his party in the Fairfax area of Queensland in the 2013 election. He won by a very small number of votes. This led to an automatic recount. He made claims that the Australian Electoral Commission was corrupt. In the end, he was confirmed as the winner.
His party also won three seats in the Senate in 2013. These senators had a shared influence on decisions. However, the party soon faced problems. Two senators, Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus, left the party. They became independent politicians.
In his first speech to Parliament, Palmer said the government was not listening to Australians. He also said that the two-party system was harming democracy.
Palmer was often absent from Parliament. He attended fewer sitting days than most other MPs. He was also rarely seen in his own local area. He preferred to stay at his home on the Gold Coast.
In May 2016, Palmer announced he would not run for re-election. He said he would retire from politics. This meant his seat in Fairfax went back to the Liberal National Party.
Later Political Activities
Palmer closed down his party's state branches in 2016. In April 2017, he announced the party would be fully closed.
However, in February 2018, Palmer said he would bring his party back. The party was restarted in June under its original name, the United Australia Party. The party claimed past leaders of the original UAP as their own.
In January 2019, Palmer released a mobile game. It was called "Clive Palmer: Humble Meme Merchant." In the game, players collect Tim Tams and avoid Palmer's political rivals.
In April 2019, Palmer announced he would run for the Senate in Queensland. He spent a lot of money on advertising for the 2019 election. Most of his ads attacked the Australian Labor Party. He and his party did not win any seats.
During the 2019 election, Palmer used a song by Twisted Sister in his ads. He changed the lyrics to "Australia ain't gonna cop it." Twisted Sister said he used their song without permission. In April 2021, a court ordered Palmer to pay $1.5 million for using the song illegally.
In the 2020 Queensland state election, Palmer spent about $8 million on advertising. His ads mainly attacked the Labor Party. No candidates from his party were elected.
In 2021, a politician named Craig Kelly joined Palmer's party. Kelly was known for questioning scientific findings on climate change and vaccines. Like Kelly, Palmer has been criticized for spreading incorrect information about COVID-19 and vaccines.
In December 2021, a survey found Palmer was Australia's "least likeable politician." Only 8% of Australians had a positive view of him.
For the 2022 federal election, Palmer spent a huge amount of money, over $123 million. His party received 4.7% of the votes. They did not win any seats in the House of Representatives, but they won one seat in the Senate.
The United Australia Party was officially closed down again on 8 September 2022. However, their one senator, Ralph Babet, still says he represents the party.
In the weeks before the 2023 vote on an Indigenous Voice, Palmer spent $2 million on advertisements for the "No" campaign.
In February 2025, a court ruled that Palmer could not register the United Australia Party again. This was for the next federal election.
On 19 February 2025, Palmer announced he had joined a new party, Trumpet of Patriots. This was after the court ruling. Palmer said the new party's policies would be like those of Donald Trump. He planned to spend $90 million on their campaign.
Palmer spent about $60 million in the 2025 federal election. This included many text messages and online ads. However, his party did not win any seats in Parliament. After this, Palmer announced he was retiring from politics. He said he wanted to focus on helping others.
Personal Life
Palmer lives in a large home on Sovereign Islands, a private community on the Gold Coast. Records show that he, his family, and friends own many homes there. He also owns properties in other parts of Australia and overseas.
Palmer was married to his first wife, Susan, for 22 years. She passed away from cancer in 2006. They had a son, Michael, and a daughter, Emily. In 2007, Palmer married Anna. They have two daughters, Mary and Lucy. Palmer is a Roman Catholic.
In October 2009, Palmer had a health scare while watching a soccer game. Doctors later said it was just a heart flutter. He has also had sleep problems. In February 2022, Palmer had COVID-19 and pneumonia.
In February 2022, it was reported that Palmer bought a car once owned by Adolf Hitler. He also bought a Rolls-Royce that belonged to King Edward VIII. These cars are for a planned vintage car museum in Queensland.
Wealth and Financial Standing
In 2016, Palmer's wealth was estimated at $600 million. By 2019, it grew to over $4 billion. In 2025, his wealth was assessed at over $20 billion. This makes him one of Australia's richest people.
| Year | Financial Review Rich List |
Forbes Australia's 50 Richest |
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| Rank | Net worth (A$) | Rank | Net worth (US$) | |
| 2010 | 7 | $3.92 billion | ||
| 2011 | 5  |
$5.05 billion |
n/a | not listed |
| 2012 | 8  |
$3.85 billion |
29 |
$0.80 billion |
| 2013 | 16 |
$2.20 billion |
31 |
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| 2014 | 28 |
$1.22 billion |
50 |
$0.55 billion |
| 2015 | 30 |
$1.40 billion |
n/a |
not listed |
| 2016 | 112 |
$0.57 billion |
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| 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | 20 | $2.84 billion |
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| 2019 | 15 |
$4.09 billion |
20 |
$1.80 billion |
| 2020 | 8 |
$9.18 billion |
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| 2021 | 7 |
$13.01 billion |
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| 2022 | 7  |
$19.50 billion |
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| 2023 | 5 |
$23.60 billion |
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| 2024 | 6 |
$22.75 billion |
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| 2025 | 5 |
$20.12 billion |
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| Legend | |
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| Icon | Description |
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Has not changed from the previous year |
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Has increased from the previous year |
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Has decreased from the previous year |
Legal Dispute with Friendlyjordies
In 2019, a YouTuber known as Friendlyjordies made a video about Palmer. Palmer started a legal case against him. However, Palmer later decided to stop the legal action.
See also
- Mineralogy (mining company)
- Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery
- Palmer United Party
- Queensland Nickel
- Titanic II
- United Australia Party
