In a Q&A with Forbes Australia editor-in-chief SARAH O’CARROLL, the founder and CEO of Dicker Data talks about fast cars, his life’s passions and his brand-new toy, the Bombardier Global XRS jet.
DAILY ROUTINE:
I try to get up at 7:00am and be at my desk at 7:30am. Emails first, then whatever I have on that day. Finish up between 5pm and 6pm, then relax with wine and a cigar.
BREAKFAST:
Used to be a Red Bull, but lately, I skip breakfast.
FAVOURITE MEAL:
Hamburger.
BEDTIME
9:30pm.
FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT
McDonald’s.
BEER OR FAVOURITE TIPPLE
Stella Artois, although I prefer NZ Sauvignon Blanc and single malt whisky and water (chilled).
IDEAL SATURDAY NIGHT
A good movie, wine, cigars.
THREE DINNER GUESTS
Just the people I care about and who care about me.
WEEKEND AWAY IN AUSTRALIA
Not really my speed, holidays.
BEST DRIVE
Pretty much anywhere in Europe, in a 12-cylinder Ferrari.
FAVOURITE AIRLINE
Emirates.
BEST OVERSEAS ESCAPE
Probably my house in Italy.
NEXT ON YOUR TRAVEL LIST
Ferrari Challenge in Abu Dhabi.
FAVOURITE DESIGNER
Italian car designer Marcello Gandini (he did the Muira, Countach, Diablo).
CREATIVE INSPIRATION
A dark room.
WORK OF ART
Muira, Ford GT 40 (1966 Le Mans), Countach.
MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Home.
CURRENT CAR
A lot of Ferraris, McLarens, XY GTHO, XA GT, Mad Max Interceptor. My day-to-day drive is a Ferrari or McLaren.
FOOLPROOF CHRISTMAS GIFT
Cash.
MOST EXTRAVAGANT PURCHASE
Private jet Bombardier Global XRS.
BOOK YOU RECOMMEND
Barbarians at the Gate. Taken for a Ride.
BIOGRAPHY YOU LOVED
Elvstrom Speaks.
SONG
Like a Rolling Stone.
BAND
Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan.
TV SERIES
Doctor Who, X Files, Seinfeld, The Queen’s Gambit.
MOVIE
Casablanca.
PODCAST
The Ben Shapiro Show.
HOW YOU UNWIND
Wine, cigar, thinking.
SPORT YOU LOVE WATCHING
F1, ski racing.
FAVOURITE TEAM
Scuderia Ferrari.
BIGGEST INFLUENCE
Probably my father.
BEST FRIEND
She knows.
WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH
Dry humour, Seinfeld.
BEST ADVICE
Full speed.
HERO
None, but I admire Mick Doohan, Canadian Downhill racer, Ken Read, US football quarterback, Tom Brady.
YOUR LEGACY
I did it my way.
PROUDEST MOMENT
Floating Dicker Data and taking over Express Data, but there are quite a few others.
GREATEST FLAW
Not wanting to do something unless it’s so hard it’s almost impossible.
BUSINESS PERSON YOU ADMIRE
Musk goes hard and has fun doing it.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
Achieving things. That is what life is all about.
WHAT YOU MISS
Sailing.
WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF
Escalating everything to something so difficult it’s almost impossible.
WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD
Online democracy. Parliamentary democracy has outlived its usefulness.
