A high-flying power couple whose split stunned Australia rubbed shoulders with some of the country's most influential figures until their 20-year marriage imploded in spectacular style.
Ellie Aitken, 42, and Charlie Aitken, 48, were the toast of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs social set until the lawyer lost her funds manager husband to her best friend Hollie Nasser.
The couple counted Australian business giants as friends, including WA mining magnate Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and media tycoon James Packer.
The relationship has left many shocked as both couples had been friends for years (pictured, Ellie Aitken, in red, alongside former Liberal Party deputy leader Julie Bishop, centre, with Hollie Nasser, in blue, at Ms Aitken's 40th birthday party in 2019)
The 48-year-old's Aitken Investment Management firm also attracted big names, such as Channel Seven's billionaire owner Kerry Stokes.
Until 2016, they lived in a spectacular $11million mansion in Darling Point before moving to a cottage in Bellevue Hill.
Ms Aitken was also in high demand on the boards of charities and organisations including the Australian Ballet - making her one of the city's finest networkers and charity fundraisers.
The top politicians she has been pictured with at star-studded events include former Liberal Party Deputy Leader Julie Bishop.
In 2016, she raised eyebrows when she was seen by Russell Crowe's side at a pre-Oscars party in Los Angeles in 2016.
Hollie Nasser, meanwhile, is the wife of Mr Aitken's business partner Chris Nasser, who has now stepped down from Aitken Investment Management amid the fallout from the split.
Ellie Aitken and Charlie Aitken (pictured) were married for two decades and have two children together
Mr Nasser is a wealthy pub boss who owned Fairfield's Crescent Hotel and is said to have pumped between $5million and $10million into AIM when it launched in 2015.
Newcastle-bred Hollie Alford, 36 - a former medical research associate - married Mr Nasser at a glittering ceremony in Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral in 2016 before the reception at Quay restaurant.
Together the best friends were feted as leading lights of Sydney's social circuit, regularly photographed at functions and charity events.
Ellie Aitken (pictured left) shared a post to Instagram in which she gushed about her close
