Rinehart is fiercely protective of her privacy. But the covers are about to be blown off, with production company Screentime acquiring the rights to journalist Adele Ferguson’s biography, Gina Rinehart: The Untold Story of the Richest Woman in the World.

The unauthorised biography, based on in-depth research and interviews with Rinehart’s colleagues, family, friends and former employees, gives a fascinating insight into the story of a pioneering family.

The production will be written by Michael Lucas and air as a six-hour mini-series.

“We are delighted that we won the race to secure the rights to the story of Gina Rinehart and her father, who have fascinated Australia for decade,” Screentime executive chairman Des Monaghan said.

Rinehart, a colourful and at times controversial billionaire, was believed to be worth $18.7 billion at the end of December.

Rinehart owns stakes in some of the biggest coal and iron ore projects in the country, through Hancock Prospecting.

Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting owns 70% of the massive Roy Hill iron ore project, but has yet to gain financing for its development.

Her bitter court battles with three of her four children for control of a multi-billion dollar trust made headlines around the world for much of last year.

It’s understood no one has yet been chosen to play the role of Rinehart.