Forbes has released its annual World’s Billionaires List that outlines every single billionaire on this planet we call home.
This year, there are 18 Malaysians on the list. Most are familiar faces, but four new names have joined the list this year. There are also some missing names that had made the cut last year.
The usual suspects
99-year-old Robert Kuok remains to be the richest Malaysian at number 146 on the World’s Billionaire List.
With a valuation of US$11.8 billion, Kuok is the man behind Kuok Group, best known for founding the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts chain in 1971.
The second Malaysian to show up is Quek Leng Chan, the 179th richest man in the world. He’s the executive chairman of privately held Hong Leong Co. (Malaysia). His net worth is US$10.1 million.
Ananda Krishnan, 85, is the third Malaysian on this list at number 511, who has stakes in Maxis, Astro Malaysia Holdings, and Bumi Armada.
At number 699 is 61-year-old Koon Poh Keong with a net worth of US$4 billion. He is the group CEO of aluminium company, Press Metal.
75-year-old Chen Lip Leong, founder of NagaWorld, is next at number 1,067. His net worth is US$2.8 billion.
Lim Kok Thay, 71, is number 1,312 with a net worth of US$2.3 billion. He’s the chairman of Genting.
Kie Chie Wong, 75, has the bulk of his wealth coming from a minority stake in Fortescue Metals Group. He is number 1,647 on the list with a net worth of US$1.8 billion.
Number 1,725 is Lau Cho Kun, 87, who is the largest shareholder in Hap Seng Consolidated. His net worth is US$1.7 billion.
With a net worth of US$1.6 billion, Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary, 71, is number 1,804. His wealth comes from his stakes in MMC Corp and DRB-HICOM.
At number 1,905 is G. Gnanalingam with a net worth of US$1.5 billion. He’s the co-founder of Westports Holdings, a multicargo port operator.
With a new worth of US$1.2 billion, 78-year-old Jeffrey Cheah is number 2,259 on the list. He’s the executive chairman of Sunway.
Last on the list is Tan Yu Yeh, the founder of MR. D.I.Y, with a net worth of US$1.1 billion.
New(er) faces
56-year-old Lee Yeow Chor is not technically fresh face on this list, but it’s the first time he’s listed as an individual. Previously, he and his brother, Lee Yeow Seng, had shared an entry as number 586 on the list.
Now with a net worth of US$2.8 billion, he is number 1,067. He has inherited stakes in IOI group, the palm oil and property empire built by his father.
Lee runs IOI Group with his brother, Lee Yeow Seng, who is also a newcomer on the list at number 1,804. At 45 years old, his net worth is US$1.6 billion.
Teh Hong Piow’s passing also sees four new names on the list. He had started and chaired Public Bank.
Following his passing in December 2022, his children Lillyn Teh Li Hua, Lillian Teh Li Ming, William Teh Lee Pang, and Diana Teh Li Shing who inherited his wealth are all number 2,133.
His daughters are the first Malaysian women to ever make it onto this billionaire list.
Absentees
Kuan Kam Hon, the executive chairman of Hartalega Holdings, had been number 1,513 on the list last year, but did not make an appearance this year. Shares for Hartalega had more than doubled in 2020 but fell in 2021 due to the falling demand for rubber gloves.
Interestingly, he’s still listed with a net worth of US$1.1 billion at the time of writing.
Another person affected by the slump in rubber gloves, Lim Wee Chai, also dropped off the list this year. He’s the founder of Top Glove and was number 1818 on the billionaires list in 2022.
Malaysia’s 12th richest last year, Lee Oi Hian and Lee Hau Hian, did not make an appearance. In 2022, Forbes reported they had a net worth of US$1.6 billion.
Francis Yeoh, number 17 on Malaysia’s 50 Richest 2022 list is also absent on the World’s Billionaire List. He is the executive chairman of YTL Corporation and had a net worth of US$1.2 billion last year.
- Learn more about Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Forbes’ lists here.
Featured Image Credit: Forbes (from left to right, Lim Wee Chai, Robert Kuok, and Lee Yeow Chor)