About
John McGrath is one of Australia’s best-known real-estate figures. He founded McGrath Estate Agents in 1988 and, after decades of expansion, still serves as chief executive and managing director. Under his guidance the network has grown to more than 150 offices along Australia’s east coast and is widely regarded for its tech-forward, customer-first approach to buying and selling homes. McGrath was also a founding director—later chair—of REA Group, the parent company of realestate.com.au, sitting on that board from 1999 to 2018. Even after listing McGrath Limited on the ASX in 2015 and returning the company to private ownership in 2024 through a Knight Frank–Bayleys buyout, he continues to chase his stated goal of building “the greatest real-estate company in the history of the world.”
Before Fame
McGrath’s path wasn’t glamorous at first. Growing up in Sydney, he dreamed of playing professional rugby league, but two collapsed lungs and other injuries forced him to rethink his future. Following advice from a career counsellor he enrolled in a part-time real-estate course and landed a junior rental-clerk job after failing the Higher School Certificate. Within five years he stunned the industry by selling a Point Piper mansion for AU$11.25 million—a national record at the time—and used the momentum to open his own agency at just 24. Those early years were lean, yet his determination eventually turned a single storefront into a household brand.
Trivia
- Rugby dream detour: The injuries that ended his sporting hopes pushed him toward property, where he quickly found his calling.
- Record breaker: That AU $11.25 million sale in his mid-twenties was the deal that put him on every industry radar.
- Conference creator: He started the Australasian Real Estate Conference (AREC), now the region’s largest property event.
- TV presence: Viewers know him as an investor on the first season of Shark Tank Australia (2015) and as a former judge on renovation series The Block.
- Author & analyst: Each spring he publishes the McGrath Report, forecasting national housing trends—his 2025 edition identifies four major shifts across the east-coast market.
Family Life
Away from the spotlight, McGrath enjoys a quieter routine with his partner, Kelly, and their two dachshunds, Schnitzel and Pickle. Describing himself as an introvert, he prefers simple pleasures like Sunday roasts, movie nights, and long walks. Those close to him say this low-key side balances the high-energy role he plays in the boardroom and at auctions.
Associated With
- Knight Frank & Bayleys: These global property groups joined forces to take McGrath Limited private in 2024, giving the brand fresh capital for further expansion.
- REA Group: McGrath spent nearly two decades helping steer the online-listing giant, shaping how Australians search for property today.
- Shark Tank peers: On the 2015 panel he invested alongside fellow entrepreneurs Naomi Simson, Janine Allis, Steve Baxter, Glen Richards, and Andrew Banks, bringing real-estate expertise to the tank.
- Industry protégés: Top agents such as Mat Steinwede credit McGrath’s mentorship for their success, pointing to his insistence on authenticity and client service.
John McGrath’s story—part resilience, part salesmanship—shows how a setback on the sporting field can spark a career that reshapes an entire industry.
