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Inside the astonishing story of the CEO allegedly killed by a 15-year-old boy - as one of his final acts before his untimely death is revealed
Multi-millionaire entrepreneur and Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson had put his sprawling Brisbane mansion on the market just weeks before he was allegedly stabbed to death during a house party at the three-storey home.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with one count of murder after Mr Josephson was found critically injured at the gathering attended by 30 teenagers on Thursday.
Officers arrived at the six-bedroom 1930s Art Deco mansion in Clayfield, in the city's inner north, just after 8.15pm and found the CEO unresponsive in an upstairs room.
The Oriel Road property, which boasts a swimming pool and two car spaces, had been on the market for just 43 days when tragedy struck.
Mr Josephson and his wife Tamra bought the home for $1.91million in 2016, which nine years ago was above today's median house price of $1.88million for Clayfield.
The couple embarked on a major renovation, with Mr Josephson explaining at the time how they had planned to 'create a huge garage with a tennis court above it'.
'We were looking for a big family home and this was in very original condition,' he told the Courier Mail earlier this month.
The home is listed for sale under Tamra's name along with a neighbouring home on Stafford Street.
For almost two decades, Mr Josephson was the director of the Brisbane-based company he had established with his brother Michael in November 1999.
This followed a career as a leasing manager with shopping mall and commercial office space owners Westfield, Lendlease and Jones Lang LaSalle.
From one store in Carindale, Universal Store has grown to 80 outlets in every state and territory of Australia, as a leader in youth and streetwear fashion with an annual revenue of more than $288million
The company is now valued at $573.104 million on the Australian share market.
The Josephson brothers sold the business for $100million in September 2018 to private equity investors Five V Capital, Catalyst Direct Capital Management and BBRC Worldwide, which had previously invested in Bras N Things.
Universal Store Holdings was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in November 2020 and the brand has continued to grow since the Josephson brothers relinquished control almost seven years ago.
It delivered a net profit after tax of $34.3million during the 2023-24 financial year, marking a healthy 45.7 per cent increase.
Greg became the chief executive of Josephson Holdings in November 2018 and used his post-retail career to run a bed-and-breakfast and café on the Sunshine Coast.
He expanded his hospitality interests in 2021, buying the Noosa Reef Hotel in the ritziest part of the Sunshine Coast for $13.9million.
Greg Josephson's love of retail began after he graduated from Griffith University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in marketing.
At age 20, he became a leasing executive with Jones Lang LaSalle, before moving to Lendlease in 1991 and Westfield in 1995.
He expanded his hospitality interests in 2021, buying the Noosa Reef Hotel in the ritziest part of the Sunshine Coast for $13.9million.
Mr Josephson's love of retail began after he graduated from Griffith University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in marketing.
At age 20, he became a leasing executive with Jones Lang LaSalle, before moving to Lendlease in 1991 and Westfield in 1995.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said an altercation took place between the 15-year-old and the father-of-three, who are believed to be known to each other.
'There was some sort of altercation that's resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically, losing his life,' he told The Courier Mail.
'It's not a case of carrying knives, it's unfortunately allotted in a home.
'Police are not looking for any other party, so it was an individual, the 15-year-old is the sole offender that we believe was involved in this incident.
'The guests at the party were not involved in the incident as it unfolded.'
Officers found the 15-year-old boy near the property, on Barlow Street, and took him into custody. He was refused police bail and has been taken to hospital.
