Why former Rich Lister Nathan Tinkler says he is sorry

Former Rich Lister Nathan Tinkler’s comeback bid appears to be over, with the one-time mining magnate publicly apologising to his family and creditors after officially being declared bankrupt yesterday.

Read more: How Nathan Tinkler lost almost $1 billion in two years

Last month the Federal Court ruled Tinkler was bankrupt over a $2.8 million debt to GE Commercial associated with the forced sale of his luxury jet.

Tinkler disputed the amount owed and had three weeks to appeal the bankruptcy ruling, however, he missed Thursday’s deadline, according to the ABC.

Following the ruling Tinkler said he wanted to thank his former employees and say sorry to his family and creditors.

“I would like to apologise to the creditors and my family,” he said.

Fairfax reports Tinkler owes creditors a combined $250 million, which includes a $9.5 million debt to retailer Gerry Harvey, $165 million owed to financial firms, including Credit Suisse, and $2.16 million owed to the Australian Taxation Office.

However, Tinkler has previously claimed in a filing to the Australian Financial Security Authority his assets only include a property in Rosglen, New South Wales, and $2000 in cash.

The bankruptcy ruling comes almost a decade after Tinkler began his foray in the mining industry with the $1 million deposit he used to secure the Middlemount coal tenement in central Queensland.

In the space of just 18 months, Tinkler had landed himself on the BRW Rich List at the age of 32 with estimated wealth of $426 million.