Philanthropist's Aide Accused of $1.6M Luxury Heist

Annalouise Spence, 51, has been charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, accused of defrauding her employer, billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson, of $1.6 million. The alleged offenses involved unauthorized purchases of luxury goods and services between December 2019 and November 2024. Spence allegedly used multiple credit cards belonging to Neilson to acquire items from high-end brands like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci.

These alleged fraudulent acquisitions reportedly include tens of thousands of dollars worth of artwork, luxury fashion, mattress toppers, and even a box at a Coldplay concert. Court documents also indicate Spence is accused of purchasing Coldplay concert tickets, first-class flights to Seattle, and baseball tickets totaling $29,118. Furthermore, she allegedly transferred Qantas frequent flyer points valued at $7,600 from Neilson's account to her own.

Spence also allegedly used a credit card in her own name to pay for a hotel stay in New York and a holiday rental in Mudgee, New South Wales. The charges extend to an unauthorized transfer of $37,651.50 for wooden bowls from a Maui-based artist. The court denied Spence bail on April 23, 2026, deeming the case against her overwhelming, with a custodial sentence likely if she is found guilty. The matter is scheduled to return to court on May 7, 2026.