1. Ng Teng Fong
$6.7 billion
79. Married, 6 children
Through Far East Organization has developed more than 700
hotels, malls, condos in Singapore. Has extensive Hong Kong
portfolio. Other interests include food and drink maker Yeo Hiap
Seng, partnering with U.S. foodmaker Hain Celestial
Group (nasdaq: HAIN -
news -
people ) to market organic
foods in Asia. Older son Robert oversees Hong Kong interests;
younger son, Philip. manages Singapore interests.
2. Khoo family
$5.7 billion
Late banker Khoo Teck Puat left fortune to 14 children. Family
sold stake in Standard Chartered (other-otc:
SCBEF.PK -
news -
people ) Bank 2006 for $4
billion. Real estate holdings include landmark hotel Goodwood Park.
Recently gave $32 million to Peking University in China, $70
million for a hospital to be named after their father.
3. Wee Cho Yaw & family
$3.3 billion
78. Married, 5 children
Succession planning under way at Singapore's largest bank,
United Overseas Bank, founded by Wee's father in 1935. Wee, who
took control in 1974, stepped down as chief executive earlier this
year, handing reins to son Wee Ee Cheong; remains chairman.
4. Zhong Sheng Jiang
$2.5 billion
48. Married
Moved from China in 1988. Began building luxury residences back
in his native China 5 years later. Yanlord Land Group now listed in
Singapore.
5. Kwek Leng Beng & family
$1.1 billion
66. Married, 2 children
Heads Hong Leong Group, an international conglomerate started by
father, Kwek Hong Png, and Png's 3 brothers in 1940s. Today
interests include property company City
Developments (other-otc: CDEVY.PK -
news -
people ); Singapore's biggest
finance group, Hong Leong Finance; and London-listed Millennium
& Copthorne Hotels. Cousins Kwek Leng Kee (No. 20), Kwek Leng
Peck (No. 30) and Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan have
separate stakes in vast empire.
6. Kuok Khoon Hong
$960 million
58. Married, 4 children
Got start working for his uncle Malaysian billionaire Robert
Kuok's trading firms. Left in 1991 to cofound Indonesian palm oil
producer Wilmar with Martua Sitorus, now an Indonesian rich lister.
Merged with Kuok's palm oil business in June 2007 (kept Wilmar
name); now building one of world's largest biofuel refineries.
7. Peter Lim
$830 million
54. Married, 2 children
Son of fishmonger became successful stockbroker for wealthy
Indonesian clients; nicknamed King of the Remisiers (Singapore term
for stockbroker). Stopped managing other people's money in 1996 to
become full-time investor. Held on to stock of winning palm oil
producer Wilmar; his initial $10 million investment now worth $700
million. Also second-largest investor in distributor FJ
Benjamin.
8. Lee Seng Wee
$650 million
76.
Former chairman of Singapore's third-largest bank,
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., still sits on board. Also director
of family's Lee Foundation. In May appointed chairman of Temasek
Trust, a civic initiative launched by the government. Fortune down
due to new information on family split.
9. Denis Jen
$600 million
83. Married, 2 children
Orphan fled native China after Communist takeover. Launched
textile and trading businesses in Taiwan, Hong Kong before landing
in Australia and building real estate empire. Today portfolio
includes 5 shopping malls in Australia and pork producer, KR
Castlemaine. Keeps low profile.
10. Chew Hua Seng
$595 million
53. Married, 4 children
Former timber trader almost went bankrupt when a shipment was
lost at sea and banks called in loans. Invested in Singapore
government scheme to start private design school; turned initial
stake into Raffles Education, which operates 26 private colleges
from China to India to New Zealand.
11. Brian Chang
$590 million
64. Married, 3 children
South African-born Chang moved to Singapore and today chairs
Yantai Raffles Shipyard, whose stock price has nearly doubled since
last year's listing on Norway's over-the-counter board. Operates
one of Asia's largest dry docks. Owns 289-foot yacht, Asean
Lady, which survived 2005 Asian tsunami intact, despite being
off Thai coast.
12. Tan Boy Tee
$520 million
58. Married, 2 children
Founder and chairman of tug and barge operator Labroy Marine.
Company now building new rig-building yard; purchased 16% stake in
Norway's Master Marine.
13. Chua Thian Poh
$500 million
59. Married, 4 children
High school dropout earned first million by age 21 making hooks
and spikes for logging industry. Later founded luxury property
developer Ho Bee Investment; owns land at Sentosa Cove, Singapore's
popular waterfront address. Chairs the Singapore Chinese Chamber of
Commerce & Industry. Arts patron.
14. Robert Chandran
$490 million
57. Married, 2 children
Born in India; made first fortune in U.S. real estate. Founded
marine fuel trader Chemoil in 1981; today group is one of world's
largest suppliers of marine fuel. Also owns Franklin Baker,
Philippines' coconut products company that supplies all the coconut
for Girl Scout cookies.
15. Simon Cheong
$480 million
50. Married, 3 children
Former real estate investment banker set up own property firm in
1996; today his SC Global Developments is one of Singapore's
largest residential property developers. It also owns 41% of
Australia's housing developer AVJennings.
16. Cheng Wai Keung & family
$475 million
56. Married, 3 children
Inherited Wing Tai Holdings, a property, retail and textile firm
started by his family in Hong Kong in the 1950s; remains chairman.
With partners launched $1 billion fund to invest in Chinese real
estate.
17. Ho Sim Guan
$460 million
81. Married
Low-profile tycoon with stake in Wee Cho Yaw's (No. 3) UOB was
former bank executive. Also owns stakes in Malaysian beer and
rubber companies.
18. Lee Kian Soo
$450 million
62. Married
Got start working in shipyards before founding Ezra Holdings
with his wife in 1992; today firm provides vehicles and services
for offshore oil and gas industry. Lee is executive chairman; son
Lionel managing director.
19. Ng Chwee Cheng & family
$415 million
75. Married, 14 children
Former tire and battery service provider began trading
second-hand construction equipment; grew into rental firm Tat Hong,
now run by son Roland, who expanded into China, Australia this
year. Family also owns 32% of construction engineering firm
CSC.
20. Kwek Leng Kee
$360 million
Inherited stake in Hong Leong Group from father, Kwek Hong Khai,
one of 4 brothers who founded firm. Cousin of Kwek Leng Beng (No.
5) and Kwek Leng Peck (No. 30) holds no management positions at
family's companies.
21. Olivia Lum
$345 million
46. Single
Orphan and former chemist founded water treatment firm Hyflux in
1989. Learned to weld so she could personally build first water
treatment projects. This year spun off assets into a listed
infrastructure trust and struck joint venture with U.S. firm Marmon
Water. President of Singapore Water Association.
22. Ow Chio Kiat
$335 million
62. Married, 2 children
Chairs shipping, logistics, real estate firms, all of which he
built from a small tugboat company inherited from his father.
Considering listing a REIT with assets from property company,
Stamford Land. Has more than 1,000 bottles of wine.
23. Margaret Lien
$330 million
65. Widowed
Inherited shares in Wee Cho Yaw's (No. 3) UOB from her late
husband, Lien Ying Chow, who merged his Overseas Union Bank with
UOB in 2002. Collectively her family is second-largest individual
shareholder in the bank after Wee family. Devout Christian focuses
on charity work; heads Lien Foundation.
24. Kartar Singh Thakral
$305 million
73. Married, 5 children
Joined family's trading business in 1949; empire today includes
large real estate holdings in Australia (Thakral Holdings) and
consumer electronic manufacturing (Thakral Corp.). Kwek Leng Beng
(No. 5) attempted to take over Thakral Corp. last year but
failed.
25. John Chuang & family
$285 million
59. Married, 2 children
Son of a chocolate maker started own venture in 1984. Later
merged with father's firm. With help from 2 brothers, William and
Joseph, runs Southeast Asia's largest chocolate maker, Petra Foods.
With European partner Armajaro Holdings, invested $21 million in
cocoa plants in Germany and France this year.
26. Loo Choon Yong
$235 million
58. Married, 2 children
Medical doctor cofounded Raffles Medical 31 years ago. Today
operates a hospital and more than 60 clinics in Singapore and Hong
Kong. Began offering acupuncture and other traditional Chinese
medical services.
27. Yao Hsiao Tung
$230 million
66. Married
Invested $33,000 in a lossmaking equipment manufacturer in 1980.
It became Hi-P International, a contract electronics manufacturer
with 25 plants as far-flung as China and Mexico and more than
15,000 employees. Remains chairman.
28. Wong Ngit Liong
$225 million
65.
Fulbright Scholar, trained electrical engineer founded Venture
Corp. in 1994 after long career at Hewlett-Packard
(nyse: HPQ -
news -
people ); today it is
Singapore's largest contract electronics maker. Completed takeover
of rival GES last year. Also owns stake in bulk container company
Goodpack.
29. Oei Hong Leong
$210 million
59. Married, 4 children
Son of one of Indonesia's richest men, Eka Tjipta Widjaja, has
made a name for himself as active investor. Stakes in steel, health
care, tech companies. Bought land on which he'll reportedly build a
Buddha artifacts museum; said to have personal collection of more
than 10,000 items.
30. Kwek Leng Peck
$200 million
Inherited stake in Hong Leong Group from father, Kwek Hong
Leong, cofounder of family firm. Accountant by training, sits on
boards of various Kwek family companies and is executive director
of family's Hong Leong Asia and City E-Solutions.
31. Ho Kwon Ping
$195 million --
55. Married, 3 children
Rebellious youth was thrown out of Stanford University.
Inherited conglomerate from late father and focused on upscale
Banyan Tree resort chain; opening new properties in Barbados,
Mexico, Greece and a maternity hospital in Kuwait that includes a
spa. Wife, Claire, manages group's retail operations.
32. Victor Sassoon
$185 million
49. Married
With brother Sunny, runs privately held coffee chain Coffee Bean
& Tea Leaf. Bought U.S. chain in 1998 from its American owners;
now in 16 countries, more than 500 locations and growing. Buddies
with Paula Abdul, who is a fan of his coffee. Also owns franchise
to sell Rolex watches in Singapore.
33. Goh Lik Tuan
$170 million
55. Married, 2 children
Began selling electronic hobby kits in 1975, which turned into
electronic contract manufacturer GES. Sold company last year to
Wong Ngit Liong's (No. 28) Venture Corp. in deal valued at more
than $600 million.
34. David Lam
$165 million
55. Married, 3 children
Patented a modular, reusable shipping container; started
Goodpack Ltd., which rents boxes to shippers all over the world.
Took company public in 2000, now holds 20%. Also patented an idea
for a camcorder to be worn on the head.
35. Lee Seng Tee
$155 million
Brother of Lee Seng Wee (No. 8) has separate stake in
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Longtime director in Lee Group of
companies is known for public service. Last year received honorary
degree from New Zealand's Victoria University for financial support
of Antarctic research.
36. Christina Ong
$150 million
Married, 2 children
Daughter of a late Singapore tycoon; married to Malaysian rich
lister Ong Beng Seng. Managing director of Club 21, whose holdings
include Ishop, which claims to be Asia's largest
Apple (nasdaq: AAPL -
news -
people ) reseller, and a stake
in U.K. luxury brand Mulberry; also has joint venture with Giorgio
Armani to expand A/X Armani Exchange. Through Como Group has
portfolio of luxury hotels, spas. Chairman of Singapore's National
Parks Board.
37. Ron Sim Chye Hock
$135 million
48.
Married, 3 children
As a youngster sold noodles on street, earning 50 cents a day.
In 1980 began selling kitchen appliances, household goods; later
added massage chairs. His company, OSIM International, took over
U.S. retailer Brookstone in 2005, now looking to expand in
Mideast.
38. Albert H.C. Teo
$125 million
39. Raymond Goh
$115 million
Studied business in Australia, became marketing executive at an
offshore vessel service provider. Founded own service outfit,
Swiber Group, in 1996. Took public last year; stock has
quadrupled.
40. Sim Wong Hoo
$105 million
52.
Single
Started small computer repair store in 1981, which became
multimedia company Creative Technology (nasdaq:
CREAF -
news -
people ). Company got $100
million from Apple last year as part of a patent infringement
settlement, which also allows Creative to make iPod accessories,
such as external speakers.
