RENE RIVKIN - FAMOUS BIPOLAR STOCKBROKER
Rene Rivkin: The Drama-Filled Rise of a Finance Maverick
Before Rene Rivkin became one of Australia’s most infamous stockbrokers, his life started in a way that almost sounds like a movie. Born on June 6, 1944, in China, he was the child of Russian-Jewish refugees who had narrowly escaped the horrors of World War II. His family eventually landed in Australia, where young Rene grew up in a world far removed from his parents’ struggles—but one that came with its own battles.
From the jump, Rivkin wasn’t just smart—he was next-level brilliant. He attended the elite Sydney Boys High School, where he flexed his sharp intellect and natural charisma, quickly becoming a standout among his peers. But Rene wasn’t about that boring, play-by-the-rules life—he had an unstoppable drive for success, and that meant thinking bigger. He went on to study law at the University of Sydney, setting the stage for his high-powered career in finance.
But while he was stacking up achievements, his personal life told a different story. Rivkin’s childhood was marked by deep emotional wounds, the biggest being his father’s tragic suicide. This loss cast a long shadow over his life, shaping both his relentless ambition and his inner demons. Even as he climbed the ranks of Australia’s financial elite, the weight of his past never truly left him—a struggle that would later manifest in scandals, legal troubles, and personal battles that kept the tabloids buzzing.
From immigrant beginnings to stock market stardom, Rivkin’s journey was anything but predictable. He built an empire on bold deals and high-risk moves, but beneath the success was a man battling his own mind. His early life wasn’t just a backstory—it was the blueprint for the triumphs, controversies, and struggles that defined his legacy.
Rene Rivkin: The Stock Market Maverick Who Redefined Australian Finance
Rene Rivkin wasn’t just a stockbroker—he was a finance superstar, a risk-taker, and a walking headline. His rise to fame in Australia’s financial world was nothing short of meteoric, fueled by his sharp investment instincts, bold personality, and flair for the extravagant.
At a remarkably young age, Rivkin shattered records by becoming the youngest member of the Australian Stock Exchange. His ability to predict market movements and craft winning investment strategies set him apart in an industry dominated by older, more traditional players. But unlike the conservative finance moguls of his time, Rivkin had an undeniable charm, an eye for opportunity, and a taste for the high life—and people couldn’t get enough of it.
The Rivkin Report: A Financial Empire in Print
In the 1980s and 1990s, Rivkin took his influence beyond the trading floor with the launch of The Rivkin Report, a widely read stock market advisory newsletter. This publication wasn’t just another finance journal—it was a must-read for thousands of Australian investors, offering sharp financial analysis, stock market predictions, and exclusive investment recommendations. His stock picks carried serious weight, making or breaking fortunes and further cementing his reputation as one of Australia’s most trusted financial minds.
As The Rivkin Report soared in popularity, so did his personal brand. Investors—both big and small—hung onto his every word, treating him like a stock market oracle. His reach extended far beyond the finance sector, with appearances on TV, radio, and newspapers, where he was often called upon to share his insights on Australia’s economy, global markets, and high-stakes trading strategies.
A Lavish Lifestyle with a Dark Side
With wealth came excess, and Rivkin didn’t hold back. He lived a larger-than-life lifestyle, indulging in luxury cars, designer suits, extravagant parties, and multimillion-dollar mansions. Whether he was cruising in a Rolls-Royce or making deals over fine champagne, Rivkin exuded power, confidence, and success—the very image of a self-made mogul.
But behind the glitz and glamour, there was another side to his story. While Rivkin’s public persona was that of a fearless market genius, his private life was marked by intense personal battles. He struggled with severe mental health issues, including depression and bipolar disorder, which were exacerbated by the constant pressure of maintaining his high-flying image. The financial world saw him as a legend, but behind closed doors, he was fighting demons that money and success couldn’t erase.
From Market King to Controversial Figure
Rivkin’s rise to power made him a household name, but his journey was far from smooth. His reputation as a financial guru came with whispers of controversy, setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events in the years to come. While he continued to shape Australia’s financial landscape, his bold risks, legal troubles, and personal struggles would soon dominate headlines—forever changing his legacy.
A Series of Unfortunate Financial Setbacks
Before his infamous legal downfall, Rivkin’s financial empire began showing cracks. After a major stock market collapse, he made the risky decision to sell off his shares in Rivkin James and Capel, attempting to diversify his assets in a bid to maintain his fortune. Among his investments was a production plant, a venture that he had high hopes for—until disaster struck. A devastating fire wiped out the facility, resulting in massive financial losses and adding to the mounting pressure on his shoulders.
But as much as these setbacks hurt his finances, they were nothing compared to the scandal that would forever define his downfall.
The Qantas Insider Trading Scandal: The Fall from Grace
The defining blow to Rivkin’s once-untouchable reputation came in the form of the Qantas insider trading scandal—a legal battle that would turn him from a stock market legend to a convicted criminal. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) launched an investigation into Rivkin’s trading activities and found damning evidence that he had engaged in insider trading.
At the heart of the scandal was a single phone call—a conversation between Rivkin and Gerry McGowan, the Executive Chairman of Impulse Airlines, which was in negotiations with Qantas. During this chat, Rivkin was allegedly tipped off about confidential business dealings, giving him an unfair advantage in the stock market. Within hours of the call, he purchased 50,000 Qantas shares, using his privileged knowledge to make a move that would later cost him everything.
The Price of a $2,664.94 Profit: Prison, Banishment, and a Ruined Legacy
The irony? Rivkin’s profit from the insider trading deal was a mere $2,664.94—a drop in the ocean compared to his multimillion-dollar fortune. But the legal and reputational damage was irreversible. When the case went to trial, ASIC came down hard, determined to make an example out of one of Australia’s most high-profile financial figures.
The verdict? Guilty.
Rivkin was sentenced to nine months in prison, though he was granted the unusual privilege of serving his time only on weekends. But for a man who had spent his entire life at the top, the psychological toll of his conviction and disgrace proved to be unbearable. In addition to his jail sentence, Rivkin was permanently banned from the stock market, effectively cutting him off from the very world he had once dominated.
The insider trading scandal wasn’t just a legal setback—it was the catalyst for his ultimate unraveling. The pressures of public disgrace, financial loss, and personal battles with mental health sent him spiraling, setting the stage for the darkest chapter of his life. His once-glamorous empire had crumbled, and the man who had everything was left with nothing but regret and despair.
Rene Rivkin’s Bipolar Battle: The Highs, The Lows, and the Breaking Point
Rene Rivkin wasn’t just a stock market hotshot—he was a larger-than-life personality, a risk-taker, and a financial rockstar. But beneath the designer suits, Rolls-Royces, and high-stakes trades, he was waging an intense, often brutal war with bipolar disorder. His life was a rollercoaster of dizzying highs and soul-crushing lows, and in the end, it was a battle he couldn’t fully outrun.
Manic Episodes: The Market Maverick Who Played Big and Lived Larger
When Rivkin was riding a manic wave, he was unstoppable—a power player radiating energy, charisma, and the kind of confidence that made people hang onto his every word. He moved markets, made bold predictions, and played the stock game like a high-stakes gambler who always bet on himself.
His relentless ambition and sky-high energy pushed him to create The Rivkin Report, an investment newsletter that turned him into Australia’s finance guru. He splurged on luxury yachts, private jets, a personal chauffeur, and a collection of designer watches—because why not? When you’re at the top, you live like it.
But with great highs come risky moves. Rivkin’s impulsivity and larger-than-life persona made him take questionable financial leaps, trust the wrong people, and overspend like the money would never stop flowing. Unfortunately, the market—and life—don’t always play fair.
The Downward Spiral: When the Crash Hits Hard
When the highs burned out, the lows hit like a tidal wave. The same man who once commanded boardrooms with his sharp wit and charm became overwhelmed by self-doubt, paranoia, and emotional exhaustion.
His infamous Qantas insider trading conviction shattered everything he had built. The once-revered stockbroker became a disgraced figure, and the weight of public humiliation, legal battles, and financial losses sent him into a deep emotional freefall.
The depression was relentless. He withdrew, crying uncontrollably, spiraling into self-loathing, and drowning in the feeling that he had lost everything. The market crash was nothing compared to the crash happening inside his own mind.
Medication, Hospitalization, and a Mind in Crisis
Rivkin was prescribed Prozac in an attempt to stabilize his extreme mood swings, but even medication couldn’t undo the damage done by years of emotional turmoil and stress. His bipolar disorder only worsened under the strain of legal battles and relentless media scrutiny, leading to multiple hospital stays.
At one point, Rivkin was even admitted to Long Bay Psychiatric Hospital, a clear sign that his mental health had reached a breaking point. The once-brilliant financial mind that had outsmarted the stock market was now trapped in a storm of self-destruction and despair.
A Body Betraying Him: The Tumor That Changed Everything
As if his mental struggles weren’t enough, Rivkin was diagnosed with meningioma—a brain tumor that required surgery. The combination of physical illness, career collapse, and relentless inner turmoil left him emotionally and physically drained.
His world—once defined by power, wealth, and influence—was now shrinking into a prison of pain, regret, and hopelessness. The bipolar highs that once built his empire had vanished, leaving only the crushing lows behind.
Rene Rivkin: The High-Stakes Genius Who Lived Fast and Fell Hard
Rene Rivkin wasn’t just a stockbroker—he was a finance icon, a market maverick, and one of Australia’s most polarizing figures. With his razor-sharp instincts and lavish lifestyle, he built an empire, becoming a household name in investment circles. But behind the designer suits and high-rolling success was a man battling bipolar disorder, legal scandals, and crushing personal struggles.
His rise was dazzling—from becoming the youngest member of the Australian Stock Exchange to founding The Rivkin Report, his stock market newsletter that had investors hanging on his every word. But his daring moves came with high risks, and his infamous Qantas insider trading conviction marked the beginning of his downfall. Banned from trading, stripped of his power, and drowning in legal trouble, Rivkin spiraled into severe depression.
His personal life followed suit—his marriage crumbled, his health deteriorated, and his mental battles intensified. Despite medication and treatment, the weight of his disgrace, financial collapse, and bipolar disorder proved overwhelming. In 2005, while visiting his mother, Rivkin tragically took his own life, shocking a nation that had followed his highs and lows for decades.
Rivkin’s legacy is a double-edged sword—a reminder of how genius and self-destruction can collide. His story sheds light on mental health struggles in high-pressure industries, proving that even wealth and power can’t silence inner demons. Today, his name lives on, both as a finance trailblazer and a tragic figure whose life was a rollercoaster of success, scandal, and suffering.
Fun Fact
Beyond his high-stakes world of finance, Rene Rivkin had a serious taste for the finer things in life—especially art. He wasn’t just a collector; he was a connoisseur with an eye for masterpieces, curating an enviable collection featuring works by legends like Picasso and Degas. His passion for art wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was an extension of his larger-than-life persona, a reflection of his love for opulence, creativity, and the bold strokes of genius that he saw in both business and beauty.