Former Melbourne stockbroker Timothy Clark, once likened to a character from “The Wolf of Wall Street,” met a tragic end when his small plane crashed into a sugarcane field near Brazil’s northern coastline last week. The wreckage of the single-engine Sling 4 revealed approximately 180 kilograms of cocaine, with the plane’s transponder switched off and no active flight plan filed. Clark, 46, was the sole occupant and died at the scene.
Clark’s life and career were marked by a network of colorful connections, including Melbourne underworld figures and controversial corporate personalities, as well as an ironic link to Jordan Belfort, the author of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Prior to his ill-fated mission, Clark’s apparent shift from stockbroker to international drug smuggler surprised few in his circle.
From Finance to the Underworld
Clark’s former colleagues and clients from the finance industry were not shocked by his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. An associate, who had known Clark for 15 years but wished to remain anonymous, claimed that the South American mission was not Clark’s “first rodeo.” The associate alleged that Clark had previously been involved in the importation of 200 kilograms of cocaine to a remote airstrip in Western Australia in December.
In January, a Melbourne man and a German national were charged by the Australian Federal Police, but Clark’s role in the alleged trafficking syndicate remains undisclosed for legal reasons. During his time as a private client advisor at Shaw and Partners, Patersons Securities, and Findlay Securities, Clark was known for his regular cocaine use, according to several former colleagues.
Social Gatherings and High-Risk Ventures
Andrew Wray, a former friend and client, recalled how cocaine was a staple at Clark’s social gatherings. “I know he liked cocaine,” Wray said. “I went to his parties, it was all stockbrokers, and I’m talking about the early 2000s, even the 1990s, and he would have parties at his apartment in the Docklands and there would always be a big pile of cocaine in the middle of the table.”
Wray described Clark as an avid traveler and “daredevil,” who once backpacked around Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Clark was known for pushing speculative investments in mining, energy, and technology companies, often promising exponential returns without warning of the significant risks. “I ended up losing a lot of money,” Wray said. “I got screwed with start-up mining companies and probably did $200,000 I reckon. Tim even owed me $30,000.”
Underworld Connections and Financial Dealings
Clark’s connections extended to prominent underworld figures, including Mick Gatto, whom he met through mutual acquaintances. Clark posted images of himself with Gatto, champion boxer Danny Green, and industrial mediator John Khoury in 2012. Although Gatto and Khoury did not respond to requests for comment, there is no suggestion they were involved in illegal activities or relied on Clark for financial advice.
However, Wray noted that Clark provided stock market tips to several underworld figures. “He was a stockbroker for the underworld and shit went bad,” Wray said. “I don’t think Tim wanted to come back to Australia, but he never said why.”
Entanglements with Criminal Figures
During his tenure at Findlay Securities from 2008 to 2010, Clark encountered Tom Karas, a Melbourne underworld associate accused by the Purana anti-gangland taskforce of laundering proceeds for the Mokbel drug empire. Karas, a former director of State Securities, denied employing Clark. Despite this, Karas owes nearly $67 million to the Tax Office, following a decade-long battle over his wealth’s source.
A former private client advisor recalled a meeting Clark arranged with two underworld figures at 101 Collins Street in 2012 to discuss a gold mine sale. “I still remember the cheap aftershave when I walked into this meeting room,” the advisor said. “The whole thing felt off, and I didn’t want anything to do with the deal.”
International Ventures and Final Years
In a twist of fate, Clark met Jordan Belfort, the infamous US broker, in 2012 during Belfort’s speaking tour in Melbourne. The pair spent an evening together, and Clark later posted an image of them in Dubai in 2022. Over the past decade, Clark resided in a gated community in Johannesburg, South Africa, while frequently traveling to Thailand, Bali, South America, and the Middle East.
Clark claimed to manage a gold mining company with leases in Zambia and other African nations. In 2017, he spent time in Bali with former Essendon footballer Rick Olarenshaw and his estranged wife. Last year, Olarenshaw returned to Australia, while his former wife served time in Kerobokan prison for breaching Indonesia’s pornography laws.
Clark’s life, marked by high-risk ventures and associations with controversial figures, ended abruptly in Brazil, leaving questions about his activities and connections unanswered. His story serves as a cautionary tale of ambition, risk, and the allure of the underworld.
