Frydenberg's past will catch up with him before he gets a chance to shape the Libs' future

Only three of the past 10 federal treasurers made it through to being prime ministers.

John Howard, who was Malcolm Fraser's last treasurer had to wait 13 years between these jobs, and his succession was far from automatic.

But most of the rest served in their positions expecting that they would be, could be or should be the natural successor to the prime minister.