MALCOLM TURNBULL:
* Born in Sydney, 24 October, 1954
* Was co-captain of Sydney Grammar School, graduated in 1972
* Holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law from University of Sydney
* Worked as a journalist between 1975 and 1979
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* Studied a further law degree as a Rhodes Scholar in 1978 and was admitted to the bar in Sydney in 1980
* First sought Liberal preselection for federal seat of Wentworth in a 1981 by-election but was defeated by Peter Coleman
* Left the bar in 1983 to become general counsel for Consolidated Press Holdings Limited, the Packer family's media group
* Establishes law firm Turnbull McWilliam with partner Bruce McWilliam in 1986
* Sets up investment bank Whitlam Turnbull in partnership with Gough Whitlam's son Nick and former NSW premier Neville Wran in 1987
* 1994-1999 chairs internet service provider OzEmail, later sells stake in the company for an estimated $60 million
* 1993-2000 chairs the Australian Republican Movement
* 1995-2004 director of FTR Holdings
* 1997-2001 chairman and managing director of Goldman Sachs Australia
* Wins preselection for eastern Sydney seat of Wentworth following bitter fight with sitting MP Peter King in 2004
* Elected as member for Wentworth in October 2004
* Makes BRW 2005 Rich List with a net worth of $133 million
* Appointed parliamentary secretary for water by John Howard in January 2006
* Made minister for environment and water resources in January 2007
* Nominates for Liberal Party leadership in November 2007 but loses to Brendan Nelson by three votes and becomes shadow treasurer
* Beats Nelson by four votes to become opposition leader in September 2008
* Loses the Liberal leadership to Tony Abbott by one vote, 42 votes to 41, in December 2009
* Announces in April 2010 he will not recontest Wentworth at upcoming election but in May backflips and says he will run following "considerable" encouragement from constituents and colleagues
* Made communications minister in Abbott government in September 2013
* Refuses to stand in February 2015 leadership spill won by Tony Abbott by 61 votes to 39
* Speculation swirls about Turnbull challenging Abbott for job of prime minister ahead of WA's Canning by-election in September 2015
