Gina Rinehart set to go to war with little known mining heiress Angela Bennett

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Two of Australia's richest women are set to go head-to-head in a bitter court battle over billions of dollars worth of iron ore royalties and ownership.

A decade-long dispute between companies owned by Gina Rinehart and Angela Bennett will begin in the West Australian Supreme Court on Monday.

The civil proceedings are expected to last for up to four months, and centre around a partnership made by the businesswomen's fathers, Lang Hancock and Peter Wright, back in the 1980s.

Wright Prospecting and Hancock Prospecting are the private companies involved in the case, but it's not expected either Ms Rinehart or Ms Bennett will make an appearance in the courtroom at any time.

The battle comes down to royalties and ownership of two sets of iron ore mining tenements, known collectively as Hope Downs, in WA's Pilbara region. 

A decade-long dispute between companies owned by Gina Rinehart (pictured) and Angela Bennett will begin in the West Australian Supreme Court on Monday

Ms Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting owns both sets with mining group Rio Tinto.

Wright Prospecting, owned by Ms Bennett and her nieces Leonie Baldock and Alexandra Burt, is arguing royalties from the mines known as Hope Downs 1, 2 and 3 received by Hancock Prospecting from Rio Tinto should be shared equally with them.

Wright Prospecting is also claiming a stake in Hope Downs 4, 5 and 6, which could be worth billions of dollars.

It's understood Hancock Prospecting will argue that Wright Prospecting does not have any interest in the Hope Downs mines and is not entitled to a payout. 

Wright Prospecting had made their initial claim against Hancock Prospecting back in 2013. 

Another aspect to the high-profile court case is Ms Rinehart's two eldest children, John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart, who are running their own legal argument, claiming a stake in the Hopes Down fortune.

Wright Prospecting, owned by Ms Bennett (pictured) and her nieces Leonie Baldock and Alexandra Burt, had made their initial claim against Hancock Prospecting back in 2013

Who is mining heiress Angela Bennett?

Ms Bennett ranked 20th on this year's Rich List, with a fortune of $4.63billion.

While Ms Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, is famous for her wealth, little is known about Ms Bennett, with photos of the billionaire even harder to come by.

The 79-year-old has seven children and also owns family investment company AMB Holdings.

The company has a 50 per cent share in Wright Prospecting. 

Ms Bennett is Australia's third richest woman, according to the AFR's Rich List, with only Ms Rinehart and Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins ahead of her. 

She made headlines in 2009 when she sold her mansion in Perth's Mosman Park for a whopping $57.5million, smashing records for WA's most expensive home.

Who is Gina Rinehart?

Ms Rinehart is Australia's richest person with a estimated wealth of $37.41billion, topping the rich list for the fourth year in a row.

She took on her father's company following his death in 1992, and as executive chairman turned the once financially distressed firm into the incredibly successful business it is today.

The majority of her wealth comes from the Roy Hill iron ore mine she built.

The 69-year-old has four children. 

In June, she was crowned Western Australian of the Year.

Her wealth primarily comes from the success of her massive Roy Hill mine in Pilbara, WA, which exported more than 60 million tonnes of iron ore in 2021-22, and Hancock Prospecting, which delivered a bumper profit of $5.8billion in 2022. 

The civil proceedings are expected to last for up to four months, and centre around a partnership made by the businesswomen's fathers, Lang Hancock and Peter Wright, back in the 1980s (pictured is Gina Rinehart with her late father Lang Hancock in 1982)

Ms Rinehart reflected on the success of Hancock Prospecting, which she transformed from an ailing company into one of Australia's foremost mining corporations. 

'It's actually a very long way from where my family company was 30 years ago and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved in this time for our company and what we've been able to contribute to West Australia and our country and our future,' she said. 

Mrs Rinehart is also a committed philanthropist, supporting numerous medical, educational, sporting, health and community organisations.

In 1993, she established the Hancock Family Breast Cancer Foundation before later raising awareness about the devastating disease by painting over 100 Roy Hill trucks pink.