He is popularly known as "Twiggy" Forrest and served as the former CEO of Fortescue Metals Group, which owns many  projects in the industries of

mining and cattle stations based in Perth, Australia. He is the current non-executive chairman of the group. Forrest entered the list of the richest businessmen in the

world, with his net worth in 2017 reaching more than 6.84 billion US dollars. He was the wealthiest businessman in Australia in 2008 and 2013,

and is ranked among the top ten richest people in Australia by BRW magazine.

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Forrest was born on August 2, 1961, in Perth, Australia. He faced speech difficulties during his childhood but overcame them, graduated from Hale School, and completed his studies

at the University of Western Australia, earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Politics.

He began his career after graduation, working as a stockbroker at Kirke & Mackinnon (or Kirk and Jacksons Securities). When he turned thirty, he founded Anaconda Nickel,

currently known as Minara Resources, and served as the company's CEO. The company grew significantly to become one of the largest mineral

exporters in Australia, alongside the Murrin Murrin joint venture. 

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In 2003, he acquired joint mining and processing projects, combining them into a single group called Fortescue Metals Group, and he remains

a major shareholder in “FMG” through his private company, Minderoo Group (or Metal Group). In 2007, he managed to acquire Niagara Mining.

In 2009, Forrest purchased Minderoo Station, which was previously family-owned, and he also purchased Nattawarda and Waro stations in 2014. Forrest's total

pastoral holdings exceeded 10,000 square kilometers. He subsequently acquired Harvey Beef, a meat processing company in Western Australia that

was the only company certified to export to China until 2014. 

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Forrest faced numerous issues and confrontations with Australian government authorities regarding his mining company, which ultimately led him to

step down as the company's CEO and become its non-executive chairman. Forrest has received numerous awards and honors, including at the Western Australian

Business News Pinnacle Awards in 2014, and being named Ernst & Young's Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.

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Forrest and his wife are among the most prominent philanthropists in Australia, having signed the Giving Pledge in 2013. He established the

Fortescue Vocational Training and Employment Centre, affiliated with the group, with the aim of providing Indigenous community members with skills and foundations for work in the mining industry. He donated

approximately 65 million dollars to develop higher education in Western Australia, established a children's charity, provided support to his alma mater Hale School, and

donated the proceeds from the sale of 5,000 tons of iron ore to Chinese relief efforts after China suffered a devastating earthquake.