Home FEATURED NEWS Asia’s 20 Richest Families From Ambani to Cheng

Asia’s 20 Richest Families From Ambani to Cheng

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Mukesh Ambani stands in the middle of a press event in February

Mukesh Ambani in February. Photographer: Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images

A reversal within the extraordinary development of Indian household fortunes has dragged down the general whole for the primary time.

Suddenly issues don’t look fairly so brilliant for the billionaires of India’s new Gilded Age.

Even earlier than a short-seller broadside in opposition to Gautam Adani knocked $153 billion off the worth of his corporations, the current phenomenal wealth development of the nation’s super-elite was beginning to sputter.

Four years in the past, when Bloomberg first compiled an Asia-specific rating of the 20 richest households, three Indian clans appeared, price a mixed $87.6 billion. By 2022, there have been 5, controlling $168.7 billion and tying in quantity with Hong Kong’s storied dynasties.

This yr, that breakneck development has reversed. The 5 households to make the listing — led by the Ambanis and Mistrys — have misplaced a mixed $17.1 billion, in response to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

That hit is the primary cause why the general web price of Asia’s wealthiest fell by $17.7 billion to $478.1 billion, the primary drop because the annual rating began in 2019.

While there are particular causes for every clan’s decline — for instance the Ambanis’ petrochemicals unit suffered from greater fuel-export taxes — all are actually having to cope with the implications of the Adani disaster.

The accusations of fraud in opposition to a businessman who’s aligned his infrastructure empire to the federal government’s nation-building priorities has shaken confidence in India Inc. They’ve additionally put a brand new, harsh highlight on the practices of the nation’s conglomerates relative to the expectations of Western monetary facilities.

“The continued dominance of Adani and his peers, along with rapidly rising levels of crony capitalism and inequality, raise complex questions about the trajectory and sustainability of India’s long-term growth story,” stated James Crabtree, government director in Asia for the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani Photographer: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg

Adani, who’s strongly denied the Hindenburg Research accusations, as a first-generation tycoon isn’t on Bloomberg’s dynastic-specific ranking*.

Yet among the practices questioned within the Hindenburg report — like government groups stacked with relations and intra-company flows of cash to prop up struggling divisions — aren’t unusual regionally.

For a few of these sprawling family-controlled conglomerates with operations in every little thing from fossil fuels to meals, such issues are simply the way in which enterprise is completed. To buyers in London or New York, these is usually a cause to run.

Governance is a well-known subject for the area. Some households, just like the Lees of Samsung Group, have already been by way of painful changes. After simplifying their company construction and with a yearslong management vacuum now resolved, the Lees’ fortune has rebounded $2.2 billion over the previous yr.

It’s additionally notable that the dynasty that’s gained probably the most is one identified to be averse to debt: Thailand’s Yoovidhyas, who made their fortune with Red Bull, have added $7.8 billion to their wealth, as European customers have been gulping down extra of the power drink because the finish of Covid lockdowns.

Chalerm Yoovidhya

Chalerm Yoovidhya, a son of the Red Bull inventor and firm shareholder, stands within the heart of a small crowd. Photographer: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Overall, dynasties exterior India remained comparatively secure, with their mixed fortunes slipping by lower than $1 billion, even with a tumultuous yr for markets.

With Asian corporations rising in international significance, all eyes can be on how India’s super-elite manages the transition because the households more and more look past their borders for funding.

“India is far from the only global emerging economy to have a corporate landscape dominated by buccaneering tycoons and opaque family-owned conglomerates.” Crabtree stated. “But it is the largest and most important.”


1

Company

Reliance Industries

Ambani portrait

Dhirubhai Ambani, the daddy of Mukesh and Anil, began constructing Reliance Industries’ precursor within the late Nineteen Fifties. After Dhirubhai died in 2002 with out leaving a will, his widow brokered a settlement between her sons over management of the household fortune. Mukesh is now on the helm of the Mumbai-based conglomerate, which owns the world’s largest oil-refining advanced and has been increasing into tech, retail and inexperienced power, together with his kids in command of these completely different enterprise models. He lives in a 27-story mansion that’s been referred to as the world’s most-expensive non-public residence.

Did you already know
Mukesh Ambani lived for months in delivery containers to construct what’s as we speak the world’s largest petrochemical refinery.

1957: Dhirubhai Ambani returns to India from Yemen, quickly beginning the precursor to Reliance Industries.

2002: Elder son, Mukesh, takes over the chairmanship.

2014: Mukesh’s twin kids, Isha and Akash, be a part of the boards of the retail and mobile-carrier models. Their youthful brother, Anant, takes on management of the inexperienced power enterprise in 2022.


2

Company

Djarum, Bank Central Asia

Hartono portrait

Oei Wie Gwan bought a cigarette model in 1950 and renamed it Djarum. The enterprise grew into one of many largest cigarette makers in Indonesia and, after Oei died in 1963, his sons diversified by investing in Bank Central Asia. That stake now makes up a lot of the household’s fortune.

Did you already know
Djarum-backed PT Global Digital Niaga, the proprietor of e-commerce group Blibli, had Indonesia’s second-largest IPO of 2022.

1950: Oei Wie Gwan buys the cigarette model that will develop into Djarum.

1963: Oei dies, leaving the corporate to his two sons, Michael Bambang Hartono and Robert Budi Hartono.

2016: Armand Wahyudi Hartono, Robert Budi’s son, turns into deputy president director of Bank Central Asia.


3

Company

Sun Hung Kai Properties

Kwok portrait

Kwok Tak-seng listed Sun Hung Kai Properties in 1972. The firm has since develop into considered one of Hong Kong’s largest actual property builders and the idea of the Kwok household fortune. His sons, Walter, Thomas and Raymond, assumed management when he died in 1990, although Walter misplaced his chairmanship in 2008 after a feud together with his brothers. Raymond now chairs the enterprise.

Did you already know
UBS will transfer its Hong Kong workplace to Sun Hung Kai’s new landmark mission in West Kowloon when it’s accomplished by 2025.

1972: Kwok Tak-seng, a grocery wholesaler, incorporates Sun Hung Kai.

1990: Son Walter Kwok turns into chairman after his father’s demise.

2018: Walter’s son, Geoffrey, is appointed non-executive director of Sun Hung Kai.


4

Company

Shapoorji Pallonji Group

Mistry portrait

The household enterprise was based in India in 1865, when Pallonji Mistry’s grandfather began a building enterprise with an Englishman. Shapoorji Pallonji Group now spans varied enterprise areas, together with engineering and building. Most of the household fortune is illiquid, although: It’s held in Tata Sons, the primary holding firm behind Tata Group that controls Jaguar Land Rover. Following a household feud, Tata Sons modified its standing to a non-public agency, limiting the Mistrys’ skill to promote its stake, and when Tata Sons supplied to purchase it out the 2 sides couldn’t agree on valuation. Pallonji died at age 93 in 2022, and his youthful son, Cyrus, handed away months later in a automobile crash.

Did you already know
The Mistrys personal a 110-acre stud farm that breeds Indian Derby profitable stallions.

1865: The Mistry household begins its enterprise.

1921: Founder Pallonji passes away and son Shapoorji Pallonji takes over.

1947: Shapoorji’s son, Pallonji Mistry, joins the development enterprise at age 18.

2012: Shapoor Mistry, the grandson of Shapoorji, turns into chairman of the group.

2019: Shapoor’s son, Pallon Mistry, joins the board of the group holding firm.


5

Company

Charoen Pokphand Group

Chearavanont portrait

Chia Ek Chor fled his typhoon-ravaged village in southern China and began a brand new life in Thailand, promoting vegetable seeds together with his brother in 1921. A century later, Chia’s son, Dhanin Chearavanont, is senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, a conglomerate with meals, retail and telecom models.

Did you already know
CP Group is partnering with Toyota Motor to decrease carbon emissions in Thailand.

1921: Chia Ek Chor and his brother arrange a seed store in Bangkok.

1970: Dhanin Chearavanont, the youngest of 4 brothers, turns into the group’s president after becoming a member of when he was about 25.

2017: Two of Dhanin’s sons develop into CEO and chairman of the group.

2020: Dhanin’s grandson, Korawad, founds Amity, a tech startup whose shoppers embrace a few of CP Group’s models.

Yoovidhya portrait

Chaleo Yoovidhya established T.C. Pharmaceutical in 1956 to promote remedy. He later diversified into shopper items and in 1975 invented an power drink he referred to as Krating Daeng, Thai for “red bull.” After Austrian marketer Dietrich Mateschitz found the beverage on a enterprise journey to Asia, he teamed up with Chaleo to switch the recipe and market Red Bull globally. The fortunes of the Yoovidhya and Mateschitz households may be largely attributed to the success of the power drink.

Did you already know
The inheritor of the Austrian co-founder of Red Bull grew to become Europe’s richest millennial after his father’s demise in 2022.

1956: Chaleo Yoovidhya founds T.C. Pharmaceutical.

2012: Chaleo dies, paving the way in which for his son Saravoot to develop into TCP Group’s CEO.


7

Company

New World Development, Chow Tai Fook

Cheng portrait

The Cheng household fortune began with Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, a Hong Kong-based jeweler. Its inventory image is 1929, the yr it was based. The Chengs additionally management New World Development, one of many metropolis’s largest actual property and infrastructure corporations.

Did you already know
New World Group piloted a 4.5-day work week final yr to spice up its employees’s psychological well being and productiveness.

1929: Chow Chi-yuen establishes Chow Tai Fook.

1970: Son-in-law, Cheng Yu-tung, units up New World Development.

2011: Elder son, Henry Cheng, is appointed chairman and government director of Chow Tai Fook.

2020: Henry’s son, Adrian Cheng, turns into New World Development’s CEO.


8

Company

BW Group, Wheelock

Pao/Woo portrait

Pao Yue-kong began a delivery enterprise when he purchased his first vessel, the Golden Alpha, in 1955. By 1979, the corporate had greater than 200 ships, making it the world’s largest independently owned bulk-shipping fleet on the time. Adapting to market circumstances, Pao diversified into actual property, utilizing proceeds from ship gross sales. When he died in 1991, his companies had been divided amongst his 4 daughters and their households. A large portion of the present household wealth is derived from Hong Kong property developer Wheelock, which was taken non-public in 2020.

Did you already know
Douglas Woo joined the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a prime advisory physique, for the primary time in 2023.

1955: Pao Yue-kong buys his first vessel.

1986: Pao retires and son-in-law, Helmut Sohmen, turns into chairman of World-Wide Shipping.

2014: Douglas Woo, Pao’s grandson, turns into chairman of Wheelock.


9

Company

Cathay Financial, Fubon Financial

Tsai portrait

The Tsai brothers based Cathay Life Insurance in 1962. In 1979, the household determined to separate up the enterprise, with Tsai Wan-lin and Tsai Wan-tsai taking management of Cathay Life Insurance and Cathay Insurance, respectively. Cathay Insurance was later renamed Fubon Insurance. The household now owns stakes in two giant financial-holding corporations in Taiwan and has diversified into sectors together with actual property and telecom.

Did you already know
Fubon Financial and Cathay Financial took a monetary hit in 2022 on account of mounting Covid claims.

1962: The Tsai brothers discovered Cathay Life Insurance.

2001: Tsai Wan-lin’s son, Hong-tu, turns into board chairman of Cathay Financial.

2005: Tsai Tzung-han, Hong-tu’s son, joins Cathay Life Insurance.

Lee portrait

Lee Byung-chull began Samsung in 1938 as a buying and selling firm exporting fruits, greens and fish. He bought into the tech business by organising Samsung Electronics in 1969, which has develop into the world’s largest maker of reminiscence chips and smartphones. When he handed away in 1987, his third son, Lee Kun-hee, took over the enterprise. He died in October 2020 after years of hospitalization following a coronary heart assault in 2014. Jay Y. Lee, who has cemented management over the conglomerate since, frolicked in jail for bribery expenses in a scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. He was launched on parole in 2021 and pardoned the next yr.

Did you already know
Jay Y. Lee gained a presidential pardon in August 2022, permitting him to carry a proper place at Samsung.

1938: Lee Byung-chull begins an organization exporting fruits, greens and fish.

1987: Lee Kun-hee turns into chairman of Samsung Group.

2022: Son Jay Y. Lee is promoted to government chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Lee portrait

Lee Kum Sheung invented oyster sauce and based Lee Kum Kee in 1888. When the unique oyster sauce manufacturing unit in Guangdong province burned down in 1902, the enterprise was rebuilt in neighboring Macau, the place it remained till it relocated to the extra affluent metropolis of Hong Kong. Third-generation member Lee Man Tat consolidated his management of the corporate, shopping for out his uncles and brother. The household ventured into the health-supplements enterprise in 1992 with LKK Health Products, a producer and vendor of natural cures. The clan additionally owns substantial actual property property, together with the Walkie Talkie tower in London. Lee Man Tat died in 2021 on the age of 91, and his son Sammy is now the group’s government chairman.

Did you already know
Zaha Hadid designed the brand new international headquarters of Lee Kum Kee’s health-products enterprise in Guangzhou.

1888: Lee Kum Sheung invents oyster sauce and establishes Lee Kum Kee.

1920: Second-generation member Lee Shiu Nan takes over the enterprise.

1972: Lee Man Tat, the founder’s grandson who was generally known as the “Sauce King,” turns into chairman of Lee Kum Kee.

1985: Lee Man Tat’s son, Charlie, joins the enterprise.

2014: The Lee Kum Kee Family Council, established in 2002, appoints three members of the fifth technology to the board.


12

Company

Far East Organization

Ng portrait

Ng Teng Fong moved to Singapore from China in 1934. He labored at his mother and father’ soy sauce manufacturing unit and as a bicycle repairman. Instead of carrying on the household enterprise, he ventured into property growth and arrange Far East Organization in 1960. He additionally made inroads into Hong Kong and based Far East’s sister outfit, Sino Group. Now, his elder son Robert is in command of the Hong Kong operations, whereas his youthful son Philip oversees the enterprise in Singapore.

Did you already know
Far East Organization plans to develop a 200-room lodge in Sydney’s Rocks district.

1960: Ng Teng Fong establishes Far East Organization in Singapore.

1991: Son Robert Ng turns into chairman of Sino Land.

2017: Daryl Ng, Robert’s eldest son, is appointed as deputy chairman of Sino Land, Tsim Sha Tsui Properties and Sino Hotels.


13

Location

Singapore, Malaysia

Kwek/Quek portrait

Kwek Hong Png and his three brothers based Hong Leong Co. in Singapore in 1941. His eldest son, Kwek Leng Beng, runs operations within the city-state that vary from property growth to hospitality and finance. Nephew Quek Leng Chan was despatched to Malaysia to steer that a part of the household enterprise, which has develop into one of many nation’s largest conglomerates.

Did you already know
City Developments, one of many household’s property models, has purchased the historic St Katharine Docks in London.

1941: Kwek Hong Png units up Hong Leong in Singapore.

1995: Kwek Leng Beng takes over from his father as government chairman of Hong Leong Group.

2018: Sherman Kwek, Leng Beng’s son, turns into CDL’s group CEO.

Sy portrait

Henry Sy was born in China and immigrated to the Philippines when he was 12. He helped his father promote rice, sardines and cleaning soap earlier than he opened his first shoe retailer in 1958. From a tiny store in downtown Manila, the enterprise has grown right into a conglomerate with pursuits together with retail, banking and property. Today, the group runs hundreds of retail shops and banking branches.

Did you already know
SM Supermalls is rolling out the most important chain of charging stations for electrical autos within the Philippines.

1958: Henry Sy opens a shoe retailer referred to as Shoemart in Manila.

1993: Harley Sy, the founder’s son, joins SM Investments’ board.

2018: Third-generation Hans Sy Jr. takes over as president of SM Engineering Design and Development.


15

Company

Aditya Birla Group

Birla portrait

The Aditya Birla Group is considered one of India’s oldest family-owned companies, with pursuits in industries together with metals, monetary providers and retail. It began as a cotton-trading firm within the nineteenth century earlier than Ghanshyam Das Birla, who financed Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle for independence from British rule, created what has develop into one of many nation’s largest aluminum makers. His great-grandson, Kumar Mangalam Birla, is now the enterprise’s chairman.

Did you already know
Aditya Birla Group was among the many bidders for Holcim’s Indian property, which the Adani Group ultimately purchased.

1857: Seth Shiv Narayan Birla begins buying and selling cotton.

1887: His son, Baldeo Das Birla, units up a enterprise in Calcutta.

1918: Baldeo’s son, Ghanshyam Das Birla, establishes Birla Jute Mills, which ultimately turns into Birla Group.

1936: Basant Kumar Birla, Ghanshyam’s son who by 15 was already energetic in Birla corporations, turns into chair of Kesoram Industries.

1965: Basant’s son, Aditya Vikram Birla, joins the group to work in textiles.

1995: Kumar Mangalam Birla, Aditya Vikram’s son, turns into chairman on the age of 28 after his father’s demise.

2023: Ananya and Aryaman Birla, Kumar Mangalam’s kids, be a part of the boards of family-run companies.


16

Company

China Hongqiao, Weiqiao Textile

Zhang portrait

Zhang Shiping began the predecessor of China Hongqiao in 1994. The veteran Communist Party member made full use of the market reforms ushered in by former chief Deng Xiaoping to show his firm into a significant aluminum maker in China. After his passing, his son Zhang Bo grew to become chairman of the aluminum enterprise whereas his daughter Zhang Hongxia took cost of the textile enterprise, Weiqiao.

Did you already know
The household’s non-public flagship holding firm and DelicateBank’s Chinese venture-capital fund are growing an industrial zone for new-energy autos in Shandong, China.

1994: Shandong Hongqiao is based as a sino-foreign three way partnership, with Zhang Shiping holding a majority stake.

2011: Son Zhang Bo turns into China Hongqiao’s CEO.

Kadoorie portrait

In the Eighties, Elly Kadoorie and his older brother Ellis arrived in Hong Kong to work for the Sassoons, a distinguished household of the Baghdad Jewish diaspora. The brothers later arrange a brokerage and amassed stakes in banking, actual property and power-generation services. Major investments embrace CLP Holdings, the electrical energy provider to Kowloon and the New Territories, in addition to Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels, the group that owns the Peninsula Hotel chain. Michael, Elly’s grandson, now chairs each companies.

Did you already know
The Peak Tram, one of many household’s trophy property underneath its lodge enterprise in Hong Kong, relaunched its providers in August 2022 after a yearlong improve.

Eighties: The Kadoorie household arrives in Hong Kong, later beginning a brokerage enterprise.

1944: Elly Kadoorie dies, leaving the enterprise to sons Lawrence and Horace.

1997: Lawrence’s son, Michael, is appointed chairman of CLP’s board.

2018: Philip Lawrence Kadoorie, Michael’s son, turns into non-executive director of CLP.

Jindal portrait

Om Prakash Jindal began a single-unit metal plant in 1952 and grew it into OP Jindal Group, a conglomerate that spans sectors from metal to power, cement and sports activities. By the time he died in a helicopter crash in 2005, he had develop into energy minister within the northern Indian state of Haryana. His widow, Savitri, took over because the group’s chairwoman, with 4 of their sons managing the companies.

Did you already know
Savitri Jindal grew to become Asia’s richest girl in 2022, taking up from Yang Huiyan of Chinese developer Country Garden.

1952: Om Prakash Jindal begins a single-unit metal plant in Hisar, a metropolis in India’s Haryana state.

1982: Son Sajjan Jindal turns into the supervisor of a loss-making metal plant in Tarapur, close to Mumbai.

2001: Sminu Jindal, Om Prakash’s oldest granddaughter, takes over as managing director of Jindal Saw.

Hinduja portrait

Parmanand Hinduja, initially from Shikarpur, now in Pakistan, traveled to Mumbai to ascertain a enterprise in commerce and banking in 1914. Five years later, he opened an workplace in Tehran, the place the group’s headquarters remained till 1979. Parmanand died in 1971, and his sons Gopichand and Srichand left for London eight years later whereas Prakash moved to Geneva and Ashok remained in Mumbai. The Hinduja Group presently has companies in industries comparable to power, automotive, finance and well being care. The household owns actual property in India and in cities together with London, and was concerned for years in a dispute over a letter dividing their fortune.

Did you already know
The Hinduja Group is growing the Old War Office, an imposing constructing close to 10 Downing Street, into considered one of London’s most luxurious lodges.

1914: Parmanand Hinduja begins the household enterprise.

1952: Srichand Hinduja joins his father within the enterprise.

2010: Dheeraj Hinduja, Srichand’s nephew, turns into chairman of Ashok Leyland.

2020: Srichand’s grandson, Karam Hinduja, takes cost of what’s now SP Hinduja Banque Privee.

Chirathivat portrait

The Chirathivats management Central Group, which is now considered one of Thailand’s largest non-public industrial conglomerates with greater than 50 subsidiaries. The clan of Chinese descent was initially headed by Tiang Chirathivat, who migrated from Hainan to arrange a small household store in Bangkok in 1947. His sons ran the empire for about half a century earlier than his grandson Tos took over.

Did you already know
Central Group acquired UK division retailer chain Selfridges Group in a joint cope with Signa Holding.

1947: Tiang Chirathivat units up Central Group as a small household store in Bangkok.

1956: Son Samrit Chirathivat opens the group’s first division retailer, which at the moment was the most important in Thailand.

2013: Grandson Tos Chirathivat turns into group CEO.

2020: Great granddaughter, Pimpisa Chirathivat, is appointed company director of design and technical providers at one of many group’s lodge companies.

*The rating of Asia’s richest households was compiled as of March 14, 2023. It excludes first-generation wealth comparable to that of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Jack Ma, in addition to fortunes within the fingers of a single inheritor. For every clan, the general web price combines the wealth from completely different household branches.

With help from: Pui Gwen Yeung, Venus Feng, Yoojung Lee, Alex Sazonov, Benjamin Stupples, PR Sanjai, Bhuma Shrivastava and Kevin Dharmawan.

Editing by: Emily Cadman, Cecile Vannucci and Brian Chappatta.

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