Jack Bendat

Jack Bendat AM (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.

Jack Bendat AM
Born	(1925-05-06)6 May 1925 United States
Died	17 February 2022(2022-02-17) (aged 96)
Nationality	Australian
Occupations	Businessman Property developer Philanthropist
Known for	Owner of the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx

Early life

Bendat was born in the United States to a Polish-born father.^[1] He served as a private in the United States 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.^[4] In December 1989, Bendat purchased radio station 6KY from Wesgo.^[5]

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.^[6] In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Australia,^[7] and in 2009 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.^[8][9]

Bendat bought the Perth Wildcats basketball club in 2007.^[10][11] 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 Perth 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.^[12] He sold the Wildcats in July 2021.^[13][14][15]

Personal life and death

Bendat's father died in 2005 at 101 years old.^[1]

Bendat was married to Eleanor until her death in 2018, at the age of 92.^[16] They had two children. Their son, Paul, died of cancer in 2017.^[17] Bendat died on 17 February 2022, at the age of 96.^[1]

Net worth

Year	Financial Review Rich List		Forbes Australia's 50 Richest
	Rank	Net worth (A$)	Rank	Net worth (US$)
2014[18]	70
2015
2016
2017
2018[19]	111	$704 million
2019[20]	139	$679 million
2020[21]	170	$634 million
2021[22]	182	$639 million

Legend
Icon	Description
	Has not changed from the previous year
	Has increased from the previous year
	Has decreased from the previous year

References

1. Butler, Steve (23 February 2022). "Jack Bendat dies: Pioneer of business, basketball and philanthropy dies aged 96". The West Australian. Retrieved 23 February 2022. American-born Dr Bendat died on February 17, just two months shy of his 97th birthday.
2. Beyer, Mark (24 February 2022). "Jack Bendat dies aged 96". Business News. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
3. Hutchison, Geoff (January 2012). "Who are you? Jack Bendat". Mornings with Geoff Hutchison (Interview). Interviewed by Geoff Hutchison. ABC Radio Perth. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
4. "Dr Bendat focuses on giving back to WA". Perth Wildcats. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
5. Wesgo tries many paths to growth Australian Financial Review 20 April 1990
6. Butler, Steve (28 March 2013). "Bendat builds big red army". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
7. Hamlyn, Charlotte; Holdaway, Scott (24 February 2022). "Jack Bendat, WA businessman and former Perth Wildcats owner, dies at age of 96". abc.net.au. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
8. "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Dr Jack Bendet". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2019. For service to the community through philanthropic contributions to a range of charitable and cultural organisations.
9. Clarke, Tim; Sonti, Chalpat (8 June 2009). "48 WA residents honoured". WAtoday. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
10. Stensholt, John (31 March 2014). "Wildcats: a slam dunk for Jack Bendat at 89". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
11. O'Donoghue, Craig (22 July 2020). "Jack Bendat looking to sell NBL powerhouse Perth Wildcats". The West Australian. Retrieved 21 June 2021. 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.
12. Robinson, Chris (6 May 2015). "Bendat Basketball Centre the new name for WA's main facility, named after Jack Bendat". PerthNow. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
13. "Sports Entertainment Group take over from Jack Bendat as new owners of Perth Wildcats". ABC News. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
14. "SEN sign agreement to acquire Perth Wildcats". wildcats.com.au. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
15. "Statement on Perth Wildcats". National Basketball League. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
16. Robinson, Chris (12 October 2018). "Perth Wildcats mourn loss of Eleanor Bendat". Perth Now. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
17. Mayne, Stephen (21 August 2017). "Vale Paul Bendat: anti-pokies activist, philanthropist, friend". Crikey. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
18. "BRW Rich 200 list 2014: 70. Jack Bendat". BRW. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
19. Stensholt, John, ed. (25 May 2018). "2018 AFR Rich List: Who are Australia's richest people?". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
20. Bailey, Michael (30 May 2019). "Australia's 200 richest people revealed". Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
21. Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (30 October 2020). "The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed". Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
22. Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (27 May 2021). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 28 May 2021.