Rene Rivkin Dead

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Sydney businessman Rene Rivkin has been found dead in his Sydney home.

Police say the 61-year-old was found in a bedroom of the house by a family member at 5:15pm today.

They initially established a crime scene but now say there are no suspicious circumstances.

They are preparing a report for the coroner.

Mr Rivkin was born in the Chinese city of Shanghai and migrated to Sydney with his Russian-Jewish parents in 1951.

He believed he was always blessed with luck and at the age of 14, he was accidentally allocated shares in the float of a broadcasting company.

Mr Rivkin doubled his money, beginning a life-long obsession with stockbroking.

He studied law at Sydney University but started his first company soon after graduating in 1969.

Success fuelled other passions - exotic cars, antiques and cigars.

He was known for entertaining visiting celebrities on his yachts.

In 1985 a business magazine named him 'Stockbroker of the Year'.

But Mr Rivkin was convicted of insider trading in April 2003.

Speaking on ABC TV at the time, he said he was the victim of a witch hunt.

"The fact that it's the greatest injustice in the history of the country makes me feel quite good," he said.

He was to serve nine months of period detention but the sentence was delayed to allow him to undergo treatment for depression and brain tumours.

Mr Rivkin told ABC TV that while he struggled with the depressive disorder hypomania, he was not afraid of death.

"Being an atheist, of course, I don't believe in any afterlife," he said.

"I find it very convenient that all you do is fall asleep and never wake up again.

"There's nothing wrong with that, it doesn't hurt."

Mr Rivkin is survived by his wife Gayle and four sons.