<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian businessman who was jailed for insider trading is now among the country's richest people after cashing in on the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/artificial-intelligence" rel="" target="_blank" title="artificial intelligence (AI) boom."><span>artificial intelligence (AI) boom.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/oliver-curtis-roxy-jacenko-husband-walk-from-jail-aftre-year/f3ee37e2-2ced-4703-9ddd-0899fd6c36cf" rel="" target="_blank" title="Oliver Curtis walked out of a NSW prison on June 23, 2017"><span>Oliver Curtis walked out of a NSW prison on June 23, 2017</span></a><span> after serving 12 months of a two-year sentence for conspiring to commit 45 illicit trades, which banked him and former pal John Hartman $1.43 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Less than 10 years after his release, Curtis, 41, has made his debut on the </span><a href="https://www.afr.com/rich-list/eight-new-billionaires-among-15-rich-list-debuts-this-year-20260428-p5zrn9" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian Financial Review (AFR) rich list"><em><span>Australian Financial Review (AFR) rich list</span></em></a><span> with an estimated personal fortune of $1.25 billion.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/capital-gains-tax-discount-changes-australian-business-owners-being-lured-to-united-states-or-new-zealand/631bddd6-b7df-4456-a707-7599ffb9c2d7" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Far better off': Aussie bosses warn of mass exodus after tax changes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-27-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/8a193af4-9f50-47d9-94e0-41f86bd51fdc" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Deceit and treachery': Iran explodes over US strikes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Curtis has earned this impressive net worth through Singapore-based AI infrastructure start-up Firmus, which is on track for a nearly $7 billlion valuation after computer chip giant Nvidia doubled its investment last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former investment banker is now the 125th-richest person in Australia, according to the AFR.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/oliver-curtis-makes-australian-financial-review-rich-list-for-first-time/17be5ce1-d1fc-4508-b8e2-27fc56926795" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Curtis is in good company as a rich list debutant.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are 15 other first-time entries, including the founders of chicken chain El Jannah and clothing brand White Fox.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His path to the rich list is one that is as well-documented as it is tumultuous.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Curtis, the husband of well-known public relations boss Roxy Jacenko, began Firmus alongside his cousin Tim Rosenfield in 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-announce-renewed-search-for-gus-lamont/04e7de9e-4cdf-4a78-9267-e08202cc2180" target="_blank"><strong><span>Creek beds, waterways focus of new Gus Lamont search</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Just nine years ago, Curtis was a newly-released parolee after a year-long stint at Cooma Correctional Centre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He served the minimum sentence for insider trading, which took place between May 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, resulting in a net profit of $1,432,228.85.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the time, Justice Lucy McCallum said Curtis "shows no sign of progression beyond the self-interested pursuit of material wealth which prompted his offending".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The money was spent on luxury cars, a Bondi apartment and trips overseas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His co-conspirator Hartman later became the Crown's star witness and served a 15-month sentence at Silverwater jail.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WORLD:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/teenager-with-tourettes-barred-from-flight-after-he-yells-out-bomb/985f6a98-104a-46dd-a794-ccfa283934fb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Teen with Tourette's barred from flight after yelling out 'bomb'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Curtis was back in business plotting his billionaire redemption arc within months of walking free and reuniting with Jacenko and his children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Before Firmus, he co-founded cryptocurrency medical start-up e-Nome with his father Nick Curtis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company fizzled out quickly and Curtis then pivoted to AI, launching Firmus two years later in 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite his criminal record, Curtis was given the green-light to run Firmus as a publicly-listed company in March this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Firmus is expected to float on the ASX by September.</span></div></div>