In a significant ruling from the Western Australian Supreme Court, Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions in royalties to Wright Prospecting, a rival business founded by the family of her father's former partner, Peter Wright. The case, which has been ongoing for over 15 years, centers on disputes regarding mining rights and royalty income from the Hope Downs and East Angelas tenements in the Pilbara region. The court awarded Wright Prospecting half of the royalties from the mines, estimated at $14 million annually, which could total over $220 million in back payments due to the mines' profitability over the last 16 years.

While Rinehart's company successfully maintained its joint ownership of the tenements with Rio Tinto, it also faced challenges from her children, who claim a larger stake in the company. The court confirmed a previous agreement that would allocate 51% of the shares to Rinehart and 49% to her children. Additionally, another claimant, DFD Rhodes, won its case for royalties from Hancock's share of revenues. Despite these challenges, Rinehart's wealth, estimated at around $40 billion, positions her to absorb the financial impact without losing her status as Australia's richest person.