World's Richest Woman to 'Jealous' Poor: Drink Less

And stop complaining, says Gina Rinehart
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2012 7:00 AM CDT
Updated Sep 2, 2012 8:49 AM CDT
World's Richest Woman Tells 'Jealous' Poor to Drink Less
Gina Rinehart may think this is two beers too many.   (©Maya83)

Australia's Gina Rinehart may be the world's wealthiest woman, but she's almost certainly not winning any votes for most beloved. The mining tycoon tackled the subject of those who are "jealous" of the rich in a magazine column, and offered them some advice: "Spend less time drinking or smoking and socializing, and more time working." Oh, and stop complaining. Not surprisingly, her words of wisdom haven't gone over well, reports the AFP.

Rinehart, who is sitting on a $30.1 billion family fortune, pointed out that "there is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire" and encouraged the idea of hard work (while also pushing the government to lower the minimum wage). That didn't sit well with one senior minister/frequent Rinehart critic, who pointed out that "these sorts of comments are an insult to the millions of Australian workers who go to work and slog it out to feed the kids and pay the bills." Chimes in an incredulous mining union official: "What planet is she living on? She should spend less time ranting and more time sharing." (More Gina Rinehart stories.)

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