Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest laughs off persistent rumours of ‘lovechild’

Billionaire WA mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has hosed down persistent Perth rumours he has up to three secret children, laughing off the suggestion.

Mr Forrest, who in July announced he was splitting with wife of 31 years Nicola Forrest, said he had not had any children since the couple’s youngest, Sydney, was born about 20 years ago.

“Get up to speed,” the Fortescue Metals Group chair told The Australian in response to the suggestions of other children, ruling out the rumours as totally untrue.

Revelations of Mr and Ms Forrest’s marriage ending confirmed long-term speculation in Perth business circles that they had been living separate lives for months.

Speculation about the marriage was fuelled in June when about 50 million shares in FMG — valued at more than $1 billion — were shifted to holding company Coaxial, owned by Ms Forrest.

Since the split was announced, Ms Forrest was spotted in Paris last month with daughter Grace at the Rugby World Cup.

She is now the nation’s third-richest woman with a fortune of about $14.6b.

Fortescue has been rocked by a raft of executive departures over recent months, including former chief executive Fiona Hick after just six months and chief financial officer Christine Morris after just two months in the job.