40 Richest In Se Asia

[Buff-horns]

The 40 richest people in Southeast Asia

Justin Doebele, Forbes | September 09, 2005

It's been a good year for Southeast Asia's 40 richest businesspeople. In Forbes Asia's second annual ranking, three-fourths saw their fortunes rise, thanks to improving markets and economies across the region.

Those who specialize in commodities such as oil, palm and timber strongly benefited from rising demand.

Malaysian Robert Kuok, who has invested more than $5 billion in China, is ranked number one again, worth $5.3 billion. Number two Ananda Krishnan, a fellow Malaysian, was the year's biggest gainer, up $1.6 billion.

Southeast Asia is home to 22 billionaires, up from 18 last year. Four new self-made tycoons appear among the 40 elite.

The richest new entrant is Thai liquor baron Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, whose estimated $3 billion fortune has become more transparent lately as he tries to bring his company public.

Rank Name Net Worth Country Age Marital Status Offspring

1 Robert Kuok $5.3 billion Malaysia 82 Married 8 children

2 Ananda Krishnan $5.1 billion Malaysia 67 Married 3 children

3 Kwek Leng Beng $4 billion Singapore 64 Married 2 children

4 Ng Teng Fong $3.2 billion Singapore 77 Married 2 children

5 Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi $3 billion Thailand 60 Married 5 children

6 Lee Seng Wee $2.7 billion Singapore 74 -- --

7 Lim Goh Tong $2.6 billion Malaysia 87 Married 6 children

8 Quek Leng Chan $2.4 billion Malaysia 64 Married 3 children

8 Wee Cho Yaw $2.4 billion Singapore 76 Married 5 children

10 R. Budi Hartono $2.3 billion Indonesia 64 -- --

11 Chaleo Yoovidhya $2.2 billion Thailand 73 Married 5 children

12 Teh Hong Piow $2.1 billion Malaysia 75 Married --

13 Putera Sampoerna $2 billion Indonesia 56 Married --

13 Rachman Halim $2 billion Indonesia 58 Married --

15 Lucio Tan $1.9 billion Philippines 71 Married --

16 Henry Sy $1.6 billion Philippines 80 Married 6 children

17 Dhanin Chearavanont $1.4 billion Thailand 66 Married 5 children

18 Lee Shin Cheng $1.3 billion Malaysia 66 -- --

18 Thaksin Shinawatra $1.3 billion Thailand 56 Married 3 children

20 Jaime Zobel de Ayala $1.1 billion Philippines 71 Married 7 children

20 Tiong Hiew King $1.1 billion Malaysia 69 Married --

20 Francis Yeoh $1.1 billion Malaysia 51 Married --

23 Eduardo Cojuangco $750 million Philippines 70 Married 4 children

23 Liem Sioe Liong $750 million Indonesia 89 Married 3 children

25 Murli Kewalram Chanrai $720 million Singapore 82 Married

26 Eka Tjipta Widjaja $710 million Indonesia 82 Married 15 children

27 Syed Mokhtar Albukhary $680 million Malaysia 53 Married 4 children

28 Arifin Panigoro $610 million Indonesia 60 Married 2 children

29 Anant Asavabhokin $540 million Thailand 56 -- --

30 Vanchai Chirathivat $485 million Thailand 78 -- --

31 Boenjamin Setiawan $460 million Indonesia 73 -- --

32 Paulus Tumewu $445 million Indonesia 52 -- --

33 Chatri Sophonpanich $440 million Thailand 72 Married --

34 John Gokongwei Jr. $425 million Philippines 78 Married 6 children

35 George Ty $420 million Philippines 72 Married 5 children

36 Vichai Maleenont $380 million Thailand -- -- --

37 Oei Hong Leong $355 million Singapore -- Married

37 Tony Tan Caktiong $355 million Philippines 54 Married 3 children

39 Olivia Lum $240 million Singapore 45 Single --

40 Boonchai Bencharongkul $210 million Thailand 51 Married 3 children

Additional reporting by Tatiana Serafin and Cristina von Zeppelin.

source:http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/sep/09forbes.htm

[~G~]

18  Thaksin Shinawatra  $1.3 billion  Thailand  56  Married  3 children

Made him a bit richer yesterday paying for 2 new phone lines...

[bino]

Thaksin is actually #19. The numbering in the list in inaccurate. There are two 13's, two 18's, three 20's, two 23's and two 37's!

Not that it matters much.... $1.3 Billion is still a s***load of $$$!

Edited September 10, 2005 by bino

[Butterfly]

18  Thaksin Shinawatra  $1.3 billion  Thailand  56  Married  3 children

Made him a bit richer yesterday paying for 2 new phone lines...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why isn't the maid or driver listed in that report ?

[chownah]

There are two 13's because they are tied and if you look you will see that there is no 14....etc.

[~G~]

18  Thaksin Shinawatra   $1.3 billion   Thailand   56  Married   3 children

Made him a bit richer yesterday paying for 2 new phone lines...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why isn't the maid or driver listed in that report ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's right, if you add the shares on the names of children, close and distant relatives, (maids and drivers?), and so on... all effectively controled by himself, you shall get to a much higher figure.

[Heng]

The same reason they don't list all of the Sophonpanich's, Chearavanont's, and those who are fortunate enough not to be publicly listed.

[thedude]

The same reason they don't list all of the Sophonpanich's, Chearavanont's, and those who are fortunate enough not to be publicly listed. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

that's right. Charoen's listing as no.5 with $3 billion is only the tip of the iceberg. if you count his extended family's holdings in various other businesses, it would be a rather more disturbing number. there's a lot of hidden wealth in Thailand, for Charoen to not be listed previously and suddenly emerge as no.5 after only being able to quantify his beverage-related business says a lot about what is "out there".