Sunday, February 15, 2009

Malaysia's Richest

#1 Robert Kuok
Net Worth $10 billion Age 84 Marital Status Married, 8 children
Revered mogul has fingers in many businesses, including Hong Kong property, media. Most valuable is his holding in palm oil giant Wilmar International, run by nephew Kuok Khoon Hong, into which he merged his plantation and agribusiness last year. Has stake in Transmile Group, air cargo outfit whose subsidiary defaulted on $10 million loan in May.

#2 Ananda Krishnan
Net Worth $7.2 billion Age 70 Marital Status Married, 3 children
In June 2007 took his telecom company, Maxis, private in leveraged buyout; Saudi Telecom became an investor in his group. AT&T is rumored to be in talks to buy out Maxis' 74% stake in India's Aircel. Fortune slipped because of his languishing Astro All Asia Networks.

#3 Lee Shin Cheng
Net Worth $5.5 billion Age 69 Marital Status Married, 6 children
Former plantation-field supervisor heads IOI Group, one of world's biggest palm oil groups. In September 2007 made first foray into Indonesian plantations via two JVs. In March agreed to pay $135 million to acquire stakes in several plantation companies in Sarawak, Malaysia's largest state. Real estate developer also building shopping malls, resorts in Malaysia

#4 Teh Hong Piow
Net Worth $3.5 billion Age 78 Marital Status Married, 4 children
Bank clerk opened own bank in 1965. Now his Public Bank, which he still chairs, has 241 branches in Malaysia along with 66 in Hong Kong and China, and 9 in Cambodia. Enjoys soccer, photography.

#5 Lee Kim Hua & family
Net Worth $3.4 billion Age 79 Marital Status Widowed, 6 children
Widow of casino magnate Lim Goh Tong, who died in October 2007. Late husband was a public works contractor who transformed a jungle on Kuala Lumpur's outskirts into one of world's most successful casino resorts. Son Lim Kok Thay (No. 15) heads Genting. Believed to share fortune with kids, grandkids.

#6 Quek Leng Chan
Net Worth $2.4 billion Age 67 Marital Status Married, 3 children
Head of conglomerate Hong Leong Group Malaysia gets big part of fortune from stake in its Guoco Group, whose stock slipped 20% in the past year. In June 2007 stepped in as executive chairman of GuocoLeisure. Upped stake in U.K. casino and online gaming company Rank Group, fueling speculation that he may bid for it.

#7 Yeoh Tiong Lay & family
Net Worth $2.1 billion Age 78 Marital Status Widowed, 7 children
Founder of conglomerate YTL Corp. handed reins to son Francis years ago. Its proposal to build bullet train from Malaysia to Singapore scuttled after 5 years, apparently as result of political backlash. Now bidding with Bombardier for rights to build 90-mile metro in Mumbai. Recently inked deal to develop Thai luxury resort with joint venture partner, New York investment bank Lehman Brothers.

#8 Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary
Net Worth $1.8 billion Age 56 Marital Status Married, 5 children
Former rice trader controls infrastructure group Malaysia Mining Corp. (MMC), with stakes in Malaysia's Johor Port; country's largest independent power producer Malakoff; natural gas distributor Gas Malaysia. Inking projects in Saudi Arabia, Jordan.

#9 Vincent Tan
Net Worth $1.3 billion Age 56 Marital Status Married, 11 children
Got his start as a McDonald?s franchisee. Self-made entrepreneur, runs Berjaya group of companies, which has annual revenues of $4 billion. Has stakes in 6 listed companies. Shares of main holding Berjaya Corp and Berjaya Land, which has big investments in Vietnam real estate, have both jumped in the last year, making him a new billionaire. With a friend, shares ownership of an enormous 289-foot yacht called Asean Lady, which he uses mostly for business. Loves scuba diving.

#10 Tiong Hiew King
Net Worth $1.1 billion Age 78 Marital Status Married, 4 children
His timber flagship, Rimbunan Hijau, is considering merging its palm oil estates and forest assets around the world into one entity and listing it in Hong Kong. Already merged his 3 Chinese-language publishing firms. His ailing circuit-board maker, Tri-M Technologies, recently bought an energy company in bid to revive itself


#11 Azman Hashim

#12 William H.J. Cheng

#13 Lee Swee Eng

#14 Ong Beng seng

#15 Lim Kok Thay

#16 Vinod Sekhar

#17 Lee Oi Hian

#18 Yaw Teck Seng

#19 Anthony Fernandes

#20 Mokhzani Mahathir

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