By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 23:18 GMT, 26 March 2019 | Updated: 23:36 GMT, 26 March 2019
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Hospitality heavyweight Justin Hemmes has gained entry to Australia's billionaire's club for the first time thanks to his thriving property empire.
The 45-year-old has seen his fortune jump to a spectacular $1.05billion via his 89 properties, including popular Sydney venues The Ivy and the Coogee Pavilion.
The city's ultimate playboy has been riding Australia's property boom all the way to the bank, with the help of his sister Bettina, who is the part owner of the Merivale Empire.
Sydney pub baron Justin Hemmes (pictured with former partner Kate Fowler) has gained entry to Australia's billionaires this year
Australia's most eligible Bachelor? Millionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes, 45, (pictured) has seen his fortune grow in the past year
The 45-year-old has seen his fortune jump to a spectacular $1.05billion via his 89 properties, including popular Sydney venues The Ivy (pictured) and the Coogee Pavilion
The pub baron will no doubt be featured high on The Australian's list of the 250 wealthiest people in the country, which will be published on Saturday.
Mr Hemmes came close to making the billionaire's list last year but his fortune fell short at an estimated $951million in May.
His net worth four years ago was estimated at $200million.
But the road to billionaire status hasn't been straightforward for Mr Hemmes.
In 2008, rumours swirled that his first multi-million dollar project, The Ivy, was struggling to break even.
The now thriving venue opened in the height of the Global Financial Crisis.
Hemmes, who denied his financial problems at the time, rode out
