The Australian media are reporting that Richard Pratt, the billionaire businessman, arts philanthropist and football figure, died at his Kew mansion, Raheen. He was 74.

A Pratt family spokesman said the chief of the Visy cardboard packaging empire lost his long-running battle with prostate cancer just after 7pm (local time). Just hours earlier the Pratt family had pleaded for privacy in the “very limited time before Richard dies”.

He and wife Jeanne were benefactors to a range of arts groups and organizations and also gave generously to charities, in particular through the Pratt Foundation.