'It was a wake up call': Mark Bouris, 68, opens up about his secret health scare and the costly mistake he made by ignoring the warning signs

Sky News AU

15-05-2025

Australian entrepreneur and media personality Mark Bouris has opened up for the first time about a serious health scare he faced in 2009.
The 68-year-old shared the personal revelation in a candid new blog post, reflecting on the experience and what it taught him about valuing his health.
"I didn't slow down. I thought I didn't have a choice," Bouris wrote.
"I worked myself into the ground, and it landed me in hospital with a serious illness."
The experience, he said, "was a wake-up call".
"I'm sure you've also heard stories of people suffering serious physical and mental consequences from burnout. I became one of them."
Born and raised in Punchbowl, Sydney, to a Greek father and Irish-Australian mother, Bouris credits his father- a factory worker- for instilling in him a strong work ethic.
In 1996, he founded Wizard Home Loans, which became one of the country's largest non-bank lenders.
Three years later, he launched Yellow Brick Road, a financial services company aimed at supporting suburban Australians.
Just two years into building his second company, Bouris found himself seriously ill in hospital, worn out from overwork.
"I often tell business owners that prioritising your health is non-negotiable," he reflected, now nearly two decades later.
"We're so worried about charging our phones but forget to recharge ourselves.
"Rest doesn't mean heading to the pub or replying to emails after hours. It means giving your body and mind real time to unwind."
In September, the father-of-two launched Project 100, a podcast dedicated to exploring the science and secrets behind living a longer, healthier life.
He also hosts Straight Talk and The Mentor, interviewing leading entrepreneurs, business figures, and politicians.
Despite advocating for balance, Bouris remains a prolific figure in the business and media worlds.
He's authored two books, fronted The Apprentice Australia and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, and regularly weighs in on key financial issues.
Recently, he urged Australians to rethink their retirement expectations amid the rising cost of living and increasing life expectancy.
"If you're 20 now, you won't be retiring until you're 80, maybe 90," he said on his Mentored podcast.
"If you think you're going to retire at 65 or if you think you're going to have enough money to retire at 65, you've got another thing coming."
As of 2025, Bouris' net worth is estimated to exceed $200 million.