The wealth story hasn't been all good news in the past year.
The wealth story hasn't been all good news in the past year.
While the bulk of those who invested directly in the markets have fared well, it is notably the resources sector that has outperformed; many other sectors, especially property, have fallen from their peaks of late last year.
But there was another group of investors hurt, and most of these were in resources.
The crash of margin lending operations Opes Prime and Lift Capital has potentially wiped out fortunes for several well-known company directors, not to mention numerous other investors whose losses won't be known until the litigation ends.
Some of the big names hit by Opes Prime or Lift were Rick Crabb and Gillan Swaby from Paladin Energy Ltd, who have about $60 million at risk, and famous middle distance runner Herb Elliott, a director of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.
Equinox Minerals Ltd chief executive Craig Williams' 4.1 millionshare stake, worth about $20.8 million, had been sold by Merrill Lynch as a result of links to Lift.
Mr Crabb has suffered a similar fate.
Merrill Lynch has sold 6.4 million Paladin shares worth $29 million.
Ms Swaby also had shares in Deep Yellow Ltd caught up in the drama.
Mr Elliott has almost $20 million in stock commandeered by security holders in the collapse, about half his stake at the time.
Of course, the story may not end there.
There is significant litigation expected over this matter, with many investors contesting the margin lending contracts under which they purportedly signed over ownership of their shares to stockbrokers or ANZ.
While only a small amount of litigation has started, its known that litigation funder IMF Australia is looking at acting on behalf of some investors.
Far less dramatic, and much more just a result of cyclical trends, has been the erosion of paper fortunes, especially in the property sector.
Most notable has been the drop in values of shareholders in Peet Ltd, with the shares off about 30 per cent since November, in line with the whole sector and not as badly affected as some.
Chairman Tony Lennon's holding has shrunk to around $200 million from $292 million about six months earlier.
Warwick Hemsley's holding has also dropped from above $80 million to about $58 million.
Hit for different reasons were Alan and Kylie Brierty, whose stock in Brierty Ltd has slumped dramatically after a recent profit downgrade to the earnings forecast in its prospectus.
The pair still has $21 million in stock between them.
The Maddington-based civil construction company last month warned investors that profit might be as much as 20 per cent below forecast, just four months after listing on the ASX.
Brierty shares have dropped to around 50 cents each from their heights at around $1.80 a share when they listed in early December.
The Briertys have been buying up stock in the company in recent days.
Those who have seen their share values fall can take heart from the experience of iiNet founder Michael Malone, who has largely restored his fortune after dramatic issues two years ago halved the value of his holding.
At about $47 million, his personal stake has yet to reach its peak of more than two years ago when it was over $60 million, but it has come up from around $10 million at its lowest point in that period - during which time he spent at least $4.3 million buying more stock.
