Forbes' annual list of the world's wealthiest individuals includes three Malaysian women for the first time
This week, Forbes released its highly anticipated list of the world’s billionaires, worth a collective US$12.2 trillion (approximately RM53.6 trillion). Eighteen Malaysians made it to this year's list, ranging from industry tycoons like Tan Sri Robert Kuok and Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan to newcomers such as William Teh (son of Public Bank founder, the late Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow) along with his sisters Dr Lillyn Teh, Lillian Teh, and Diana Teh—the first Malaysian women to be included on Forbes’ Billionaires list.
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According to the list, the world’s wealthiest Malaysians collectively hit a net worth of US$54.7 billion (approximately RM240.38 billion). Topping the list as he did last year is Kuok, owner of the Kuok Group, who ranks #146 on Forbes World’s Billionaire List 2023. The Kuok Group has interests in hotels, real estate, and commodities including the Shangri-La Group, Kerry Logistics, Kerry Properties, Golden Screen Cinemas, and more. Hong Leong Group executive chairman Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan comes next, followed by Malaysian telecom and oil tycoon Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan, and Tan Sri Koon Poh Keong, group CEO of aluminium company Press Metal.
IOI Group managing director and CEO Dato’ Lee Yeow Chor makes a return in this year’s list along with his brother, IOI Properties Group executive vice chairman Lee Yeow Seng. NagaCorp CEO Tan Sri Chen Lip Keong, Genting chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Australian-based Malaysian investor Wong Kie Chie, and Hap Seng Consolidated’s Tan Sri Lau Cho Kun are also on this year’s list.
See also: Top 10 Malaysian Billionaires on Forbes' Richest in 2022
Philanthropist billionaire Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, who has interests in DRB-Hicom and MMC Corp, as well as Westports Malaysia bigwig Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, Sunway Group’s Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, and MR DIY founder Tan Yu Yeh round up the wealthiest Malaysians on the list.
Malaysia's wealthiest billionaires, according to Forbes:
- Tan Sri Robert Kuok: US$11.8 billion
- Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan: US$10.1 billion
- Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan: US$5.2 billion
- Tan Sri Koon Poh Keong: US$4 billion
- Tan Sri Chen Lip Keong: US$2.8 billion
- Dato' Lee Yeow Chor: US$2.8 billion
- Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay: US$2.3 billion
- Wong Kie Chie: US$1.8 billion
- Tan Sri Lau Cho Kun: US$1.7 billion
- Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary: US$1.6 billion
- Lee Yeow Seng: US$1.6 billion
- Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam: US$1.5 billion
- Lillyn Teh Li Hua: US$1.3 billion
- Lillian Teh Li Ming: US$1.3 billion
- William Teh Lee Pang: US$1.3 billion
- Diana Teh Li Shing: US$1.3 billion
- Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah: US$1.2 billion
- Tan Yu Yeh: US$1.1 billion