Jack Bendat Explained

Jack Bendat
Birth Date:6 May 1925
Birth Place:United States
Nationality:Australian
Known For:Owner of the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx

Jack Bendat (6 May 1925 – 17 February 2022) was an American-born Australian businessman most known for his ownership of the Perth Wildcats basketball team between 2007 and 2021. Previously involved in construction and media businesses with longtime business partner Kerry Stokes, Bendat was involved in philanthropic and sporting interests.

Early life

Bendat was born in the United States to a Polish-born father.[1] He served as a private in the US Army during World War II, including in Papua New Guinea.[2] He migrated with his family from California to Perth, Western Australia, in 1966.[3]

Career

Bendat, along with business partners, Kerry Stokes and Kevin Merifield, were involved in the development of shopping centres in Perth and regional Western Australia. His business accomplishments include building Bunbury Plaza, one of the first country shopping centres in Western Australia, and went on to work on development of 11 shopping centres around the state. He also established country media service GWN (now GWN7).[4]

One of Bendat's major contributions has been the Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the St John of God Subiaco Hospital. Bendat's contribution to the community was recognised as WA Citizen of the Year in 2002.[5] In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Australia,[6] and in 2009 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.[7] [8]

Bendat bought the Perth Wildcats basketball club in 2007.[9] [10] In his time as owner, the club won six NBL championships: 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19 and 2019–20, and expanded significantly, drawing larger crowds to their new home court at RAC Arena. In April 2015, Bendat purchased the licence for the Perth WNBL team, the West Coast Waves and renamed them the Perth Lynx, and the following month, on his 90th Birthday, the WA Basketball Centre was renamed the Bendat Basketball Centre in his honour.[11] He sold the Wildcats in July 2021.[12] [13] [14]

Personal life and death

Bendat's father died in 2005 at 101 years old.

Bendat was married to Eleanor until her death in 2018, at the age of 92.[15] They had two children. Their son, Paul, died of cancer in 2017.[16] Bendat died on 17 February 2022, at the age of 96.

Net worth

YearFinancial Review
Rich List		Forbes
Australia's 50 Richest
RankNet worth (A$)Rank
2014[17]
2015
2016
2017
2018[18] $704 million
2019[19] $679 million
2020[20] $634 million
2021[21] $639 million
Legend
Icon Description
Has not changed from the previous year
Has increased from the previous year
Has decreased from the previous year

Notes and References

  1. News: Butler . Steve . Jack Bendat dies: Pioneer of business, basketball and philanthropy dies aged 96 . 23 February 2022 . The West Australian . 23 February 2022 . American-born Dr Bendat died on February 17, just two months shy of his 97th birthday. . subscription.
  2. News: Beyer . Mark . Jack Bendat dies aged 96 . 24 February 2022 . businessnews.com . 24 February 2022 . subscription.
  3. Who are you? Jack Bendat . January 2012 . 3 June 2015 . Hutchison . Geoff . Jack Bendat . Geoff Hutchison . Mornings with Geoff Hutchison . 720 ABC Perth .
  4. Web site: Dr Bendat focuses on giving back to WA . Perth Wildcats . 25 January 2012 . 3 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140415113832/http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/5hapv494i7x31rdfoleynovvt . 15 April 2014 . dead .
  5. News: Bendat builds big red army . The West Australian . 28 March 2013 . 3 June 2015 . Butler, Steve.
  6. Web site: Hamlyn. Charlotte. Holdaway. Scott. Jack Bendat, WA businessman and former Perth Wildcats owner, dies at age of 96. abc.net.au. 24 February 2022. 24 February 2022.
  7. 1140806. 8 June 2009 . Dr Jack Bendet . Member of the Order of Australia. AM . For service to the community through philanthropic contributions to a range of charitable and cultural organisations. . 30 September 2019 .
  8. News: 48 WA residents honoured . WA Today . 8 June 2009 . 3 June 2015 . Clarke, Tim . Sonti, Chalpat .
  9. Web site: Stensholt . John . Wildcats: a slam dunk for Jack Bendat at 89 . Australian Financial Review . 31 March 2014 . 21 June 2021.
  10. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Jack Bendat looking to sell NBL powerhouse Perth Wildcats. TheWest.com.au. 22 July 2020. 21 June 2021. subscription. Bendat took a controlling stake in the club in 2006 when he purchased 70 per cent of the Wildcats and worked with Andrew Vlahov and Mack Hall. He then assumed full control in 2007 and lifted the club to an extraordinary era of success on and off the court..
  11. News: Bendat Basketball Centre the new name for WA's main facility, named after Jack Bendat . PerthNow . 6 May 2015 . 3 June 2015 . Robinson, Chris.
  12. Web site: Sports Entertainment Group take over from Jack Bendat as new owners of Perth Wildcats. abc.net.au. 1 July 2021. 8 October 2021.
  13. Web site: SEN sign agreement to acquire Perth Wildcats. wildcats.com.au. 1 July 2021. 8 October 2021.
  14. Web site: Statement on Perth Wildcats. nbl.com.au. 1 July 2021. 8 October 2021.
  15. News: Robinson, Chris . Perth Wildcats mourn loss of Eleanor Bendat . Perth Now . 12 October 2018 . 29 May 2021 .
  16. News: Mayne, Stephen . Stephen Mayne . Vale Paul Bendat: anti-pokies activist, philanthropist, friend . Crikey . 21 August 2017 . 29 May 2021 .
  17. News: BRW Rich 200 list 2014: 70. Jack Bendat . . 27 June 2014 . 3 June 2015.
  18. Web site: 2018 AFR Rich List: Who are Australia's richest people?. The Australian Financial Review. 25 May 2018. Stensholt, John. 26 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Australia's 200 richest people revealed. The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. 30 May 2019. Bailey. Michael. 31 May 2019.
  20. Web site: The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed. subscription. The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. 30 October 2020. Bailey, Michael. Sprague, Julie-anne. 31 October 2020.
  21. News: Bailey, Michael . Sprague, Julie-anne . The 200 richest people in Australia revealed . . 27 May 2021 . 28 May 2021.

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