Tech billionaire Richard White has settled his legal dispute with a beauty entrepreneur who claimed the $13.1 million mansion he bought when they were lovers was intended for her.
Shares in White’s company, WiseTech Global, plummeted as he battled Linda Rogan in Federal Court, and $6 billion was wiped off the company’s market value on Monday over fears of lawsuits against it.
The adverse publicity about Mr. White led WiseTech’s board of directors to review “the full range of matters” in recent media reports, while “seeking more information and seeking outside advice.”
WiseTech shares fell 15 per cent on Monday before White’s fight with Logan ended when she filed a discontinuation notice in the Federal Court.
A spokesman for Mr White told The Australian newspaper: ‘Mr White and Ms Rogan have reached an agreement in proceedings before the Federal Court relating to a commercial dispute.
‘Ms Rogan has withdrawn all her allegations and no further legal action will be taken by the parties.
“Given that this was a personal matter, Mr. White decided to avoid any distraction from his primary objective, which is to implement WiseTech’s growth strategy and continue to create value for its shareholders and customers.”
Logan had claimed that White, whose estimated wealth of $9.7 billion dropped by about $2 billion on Monday, offered to invest in his business in exchange for sex.
Tech billionaire Richard White has settled his legal dispute with beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan (above), who he claimed bought her a $13.1 million mansion when they were lovers.
At the center of the legal process was a mansion Rogan said White bought him to live in with his three children, in Vaucluse, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Rogan, who never moved into the house, claimed White got the keys back after his partner Zena Nasser discovered they were in a sexual relationship.
Last year, Logan successfully sought a local court order for White, 69, to reimburse him for $92,123 he allegedly spent furnishing the Vaucluse home.
Mr. White overturned that order and in August issued a bankruptcy notice against Ms. Logan, which she sought to have set aside.
Rogan, who owns laser clinics in Sydney, Cairns and New Zealand, said she met White through Nasser, a former criminal defense lawyer.
Nasser allegedly sent Rogan an Instagram message in June 2022 that read: ‘We have some mutual friends and you appeared on my page… I never do this but I thought I had to message this stunning lady x. ‘
One month later, Ms Nasser visited Ms Rogan’s Rose Bay Bionik Wellness clinic and introduced her to Mr White via Facetime.
Rogan said he met Richard White, who until recently had an estimated wealth of $9.7 billion, through his partner Zena Nasser. Mr. White and Mrs. Nasser pictured.
The two women later discussed a dinner meeting at Rockpool Bar & Grill, and Ms. Nasser told Ms. Rogan, “You’ll meet Richard, he’s so smart…”
Mrs. Rogan: ‘Should I invite my husband?’
Mrs. Nasser: ‘Richard doesn’t get along with men. Don’t tell him I said that. Ha ha ha.’
In another message, Ms. Nasser allegedly said that Mr. White would only join them “because I told him you helped me get sexy haha.”
Ms Nasser had also allegedly told Ms Logan: “Richard and I are not married, we maintain separate residences, but we are normally together most nights.”
She continued: ‘I love it. He says he works hard. It’s a perfect combination.’
Ms Logan allegedly responded: ‘Oh my God. That’s the dream… Jesus. Amazing. Ha ha ha.’
According to an affidavit from Ms. Rogan, the trio met for dinner at Bambini Trust Restaurant & Wine Room in August.
Billionaire businessman Richard White allegedly told beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan (above) “Fark, you look stunning” after seeing her in a racy video she sent on WhatsApp.
“During dinner, Richard said things to me like, ‘I’m a businessman. I have a company, WiseTech. “I am a billionaire,” Ms. Rogan said in her affidavit.
Ms. Rogan said that after that dinner, Mr. White offered to invest in her business and warned her that it would be necessary to buy out his partners.
One of those partners was Rogan’s husband, Gil Sartena, from whom she had been separated since 2017 but who still shared a house.
Rogan said in his affidavit that during another dinner in August 2022, White told him that he had bought an apartment for Nasser to live in and that he could do the same for her.
Later that month, Ms. Rogan and Mr. White allegedly inspected the Vaucluse property, according to court documents.
When Rogan sent White a sexy video of her on WhatsApp, he allegedly responded a minute later saying, “FFF Fark, you look stunning.”
Ms. Nasser allegedly said of Mr. White in an Instagram message to Ms. Nasser, “take as much of his knowledge as you can,” adding, “I’m not jealous… he knows.”
Linda Rogan (above) alleges she realized tech billionaire Richard White wanted a sexual relationship when he booked them into a single suite at New York’s Park Lane hotel.
Rogan said in his affidavit that he flew to New York on September 17, 2022, at Mr. White’s request.
“When I arrived at the Park Lane Hotel to check in, I was informed that only one suite had been reserved,” he wrote.
‘I realized that Richard expected me to enter into a sexual relationship with him to fulfill his promise that he would invest in my business.
“So I stayed with Richard in his suite and our relationship became sexual.”
Ms Rogan said that on her return to Sydney she was invited to Mr White’s home in Bexley, where they discussed purchasing the Vaucluse property.
Mr White allegedly told Ms Rogan: “The structure will ensure that no one traces the property back to you or me.” Zena will never know that I own this house.
“You will live in this house forever,” White allegedly told Rogan after his lawyer purchased it for $13.1 million.
Rogan alleged that as he was preparing to move into the house the following month, he received a message from Nasser, who told him: “You didn’t have to lie…
‘Richard admitted it…please don’t come near me again.’
At the center of the legal process was this mansion that Ms Rogan said Mr White bought her to live in with her three children, in Vaucluse, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
According to Rogan, he was told to return the keys to the house in November. It sold in February of last year for $11.5 million.
Ms Rogan alleged that Mr White’s bankruptcy action against her was “prompted by malice and is an abuse of process” and wanted the application dismissed.
Sources close to White confirmed that he and Nasser welcomed a daughter named Jasmine through a surrogate in July.
Ms Rogan, who also owns laser clinics in Cairns and Auckland, was once touted as a potential cast member of reality show The Real Housewives of Sydney.