Nigel Austin

Nigel Austin (#2973)

There was plenty of tough love. My family had a very successful business, but I was limited with resources when I went to college. I was forced to go out there and have a strong work ethic.

$ 1 B
Retail
Australia
M
55 Years

About Me

Nigel Austin is the founder and majority owner of the Cotton On clothing and stationery group. Its brands include Cotton On, Supre, Factorie and Typo. His company has close to 1,300 stores in 17 countries with 2025 revenue of around $1.5 billion. About half of these stores are in Australia, while the other half are spread across countries such as Singapore, South Africa and the U.S. Founded in 1991, Austin started selling acid-washed denim jackets from the trunk of his car in his hometown southwest of Melbourne. Now it sells inexpensive fashion basics, including T-shirts, leggings, sweatpants, shoes and underwear, as well as quirky stationery.

Achievements

Career Highlights

A snapshot of the defining milestones, leadership decisions, and breakthroughs that shaped Nigel Austin’s rise and global influence.

#3017 Billionaires (2026)
#50 Australia's 50 Richest (2025)

Wealth Growth

Net Worth Growth Over Time

Tracking Nigel Austin’s net worth journey over the years, highlighting key growth phases and financial milestones.

Current Net Worth: $1.3B (May 4, 2026)