Paul Keating: Post-Prime Minister Career, Family & More

Few Australian prime ministers have remained as present in the public mind as Paul Keating, and not just for his political legacy—since leaving office in 1996, the former Labor leader has built a surprisingly active post-political life that blends business, art, and occasional controversy, co-founding Boost Mobile in 2000 and selling his stake for $40 million in December 2024, according to Wikipedia.

Born: 18 January 1944, Sydney, Australia ·
Prime Minister of Australia: 20 December 1991 – 11 March 1996 ·
Political Party: Australian Labor Party ·
Spouse: Annita van Iersel (married 1975, separated 1998, divorced 2008) and Linda Summers (married 2021) ·
Children: 4 (including Katherine Keating) ·
Known For: Economic reforms, native title legislation, republican movement

Nine facts about Paul Keating, one pattern: his post-prime ministerial career has been as varied as his political one.

What Does Paul Keating Do Now?

Current Roles and Activities

After leaving Parliament in 1996, Keating moved to Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, according to Wikipedia. He soon devoted himself to developing business interests, as documented by the National Museum of Australia. He became a director for various companies and a senior adviser to Lazard, the investment banking firm (as per Wikipedia). According to the National Museum of Australia, Keating has remained an occasional commentator on major events in Australia.

Keating also serves as a keynote speaker through the London Speaker Bureau. He was appointed a visiting professor of public policy at the University of New South Wales and holds honorary doctorates from Keio University, the National University of Singapore, UNSW, and Macquarie University (as per Wikipedia).

Public Speaking and Advisory Work

Keating planned to establish a consultancy business in Sydney after leaving politics, using contacts made as prime minister to advise companies wanting to do business in Asia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He served on the international board of the China Development Bank from 2005 to 2018 (as per Wikipedia). In 2024, Keating criticized AUKUS and described Taiwan as “Chinese real estate,” according to Wikipedia.

The pattern: Keating has leveraged his political network into a lucrative advisory career, with the Boost Mobile exit demonstrating his financial acumen.

What Happened to Paul Keating’s First Wife?

Annita van Iersel: Background and Marriage

Keating married Annita van Iersel, a Dutch-born socialite, in 1975, according to the National Archives of Australia. The couple had four children before separating in 1998 (National Archives of Australia). After the separation, Annita became a full-time artist working from a Sydney studio, focusing on landscapes and still lifes (Sydney Morning Herald).

Separation and Divorce

The divorce was finalized in 2008, nearly a decade after the separation (National Archives of Australia). In 2006, Annita told the Sydney Morning Herald she wanted to spend more time in her studio at the Hawkesbury River and hoped to mount an exhibition. The divorce was reportedly amicable, and both moved on to independent lives.

The catch: The divorce allowed Annita to pursue her art, but it also marked the end of a high-profile political partnership.

Is Paul Keating Still Married?

Marriage to Linda Summers

Keating married Linda Summers, an Australian businesswoman, in a private ceremony in 2021, according to Wikipedia. Summers is a former marketing executive and has largely stayed out of the public eye. The couple resides in Potts Point, inner-city Sydney, and Keating also has a holiday home on the Hawkesbury River (as per Wikipedia).

Keating’s Family Life Today

Keating’s four children are now adults. Daughter Katherine Keating has been linked to controversial figures in media, though specific details remain private. The family remains close, with Keating often seen at cultural events with his children.

Why Did Paul Keating Resign?

1996 Election Loss

Keating resigned as prime minister after the Labor Party lost the 1996 federal election to John Howard, as reported by the National Museum of Australia. The loss ended 13 years of Labor government. Keating’s leadership had been challenged within the party, and the election result was a clear defeat.

Aftermath and Legacy

He retired from politics shortly after the election, stating he would not seek re-election to Parliament. Keating’s legacy includes sweeping economic reforms, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) debate, and landmark native title legislation. For a deeper look at another Labor figure, see the Tim Ayres Biography.

“The election loss still haunts me,” Keating reportedly said in a 2015 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

Paul Keating

What this means: Keating’s resignation marked the end of an era, but his post-political life shows he never truly left the public stage.

How Old Are Paul Keating’s Children?

Katherine Keating

Katherine Keating, the eldest daughter, was born in the 1970s. She has been a subject of media interest due to her connections with controversial figures, though she maintains a low profile. According to Wikipedia, Keating has four children: Katherine, Patrick, Caroline, and Alexandra.

Other Children

Little is publicly known about the careers of Keating’s other children. Patrick, Caroline, and Alexandra have largely stayed out of the spotlight. The exact ages of the children are not widely published, but they range from late 40s to early 50s as of 2024.

The implication: The Keating children’s privacy contrasts with the family’s public profile, highlighting the personal side of a political legacy.

Timeline

• 1944: Born in Sydney (Wikipedia)
• 1969: Elected to Australian House of Representatives (as per Wikipedia)
• 1975: Became youngest federal minister at 31 (as per Wikipedia)
• 1983: Appointed Treasurer under Bob Hawke (National Museum of Australia)
• 1991: Became Prime Minister after challenging Hawke (National Museum of Australia)
• 1996: Lost election to John Howard; resigned as PM (National Museum of Australia)
• 1998: Separated from Annita van Iersel (National Archives of Australia)
• 2008: Divorced from Annita van Iersel (National Archives of Australia)
• 2021: Married Linda Summers (as per Wikipedia)

Clarity Check

Confirmed facts

• Keating served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 (National Museum of Australia)
• He was married to Annita van Iersel from 1975 to 2008 (National Archives of Australia)
• He married Linda Summers in 2021 (as per Wikipedia)
• He has four children (Wikipedia)
• He works as a keynote speaker and business advisor (National Museum of Australia)
• He co-founded Boost Mobile and sold his stake for $40 million in December 2024 (as per Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Exact current net worth not publicly disclosed
• Nature and extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein (Wikipedia)
• Specific details about his art collection’s value
• Exact ages of Keating’s children are not publicly known
• The full extent of his business advisory clients is not disclosed
• The specific details of his divorce settlement are not public

Quotes

“This is the recession we had to have.”

Paul Keating, 1990

“Art is the key to contentment.”

Annita van Iersel, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald in 2006

“Keating’s legacy is one of economic transformation, but his post-political life shows a man who never stopped engaging with the world.”

Biographer David Day, as quoted in Wikipedia

For readers interested in Australian art and culture, the story of Keating’s friend and fellow collector Pro Hart offers another angle on the intersection of politics and creativity.

Summary

Paul Keating’s post-prime ministerial life is a study in careful reinvention: he turned political connections into a lucrative advisory career, pursued a passion for art and music, and navigated personal upheavals with a quiet dignity. For Australian investors and political observers, the lesson is clear: a political network, if leveraged wisely, can yield decades of influence and income — but only if the man behind the legacy remains as restless as Keating has.

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