Perth Sunday Times

Heath at the Helm
By SIAN BRIGGS and LEE TATE
16 April 2006



HEATH Ledger has taken control of his burgeoning multimillion-dollar fortune from his businessman father, Kim.

But Kim Ledger says there has been no estrangement from his movie-star son. "We're closer than ever," he says.

The pair discussed money matters when Kim went to Los Angeles for the Oscars.

"We both agreed that Heath should handle things – it was one of the reasons I went over there," Kim confided to PC. "Heath has Michelle (Williams) and Matilda (their six-month-old daughter) in his life now and it's right for him to have charge of his own destiny."

The 26-year-old actor, whose assets are in property and cash, is freshly cashed-up after the sale of his beachside Sydney mansion. Heath has also made profits from sales of property in Los Angeles and Perth, and has several commercial properties here and overseas. He and Williams have bought a four-storey family home in Brooklyn, New York. They plan to commute to Hollywood and other movie sets for work.

The actor's Hollywood stock had a shot in the arm after his 2005 film successes.

Word has it that he rejected a lucrative offer to star in Spider-Man and was paid only a small salary for Monster's Ball and Brokeback Mountain, for which he received his Oscar nomination. However, he will receive a percentage of gross earnings of Brokeback.

Since he began his 16-movie career, Heath has let his father, who has several automotive-related companies, manage his finances and his sister, Kate, handle his media.

Now that he's taking the financial ropes, he will deal directly with the team of accountants, lawyers and banks which also handle Kim's affairs.

"It's great because when Heath rings up me or his sister, we talk about family matters rather than business," Kim says.

"He's my only son and I and his mother are very proud of him."

Heath, who has said he's taking the coming 12 months off, has directed a music clip for an old Perth schoolmate – singer N'fa, from 1200 Techniques.

He oversaw the shoot in January when he was in Australia for the premiere of Brokeback Mountain and then edited it in New York.



Article edited by HH Administration to remove private financial information.

(Thanks Melva W for contributing this article!)