Malaysian business legend Robert Kuok, known as the "Asia’s Sugar King," has once again firmly secured the title of Malaysia’s richest individual. According to the Bloomberg Global 500 Billionaires Index, Kuok ranks 120th among the world’s richest in 2025, with a net worth of US$21.1 billion (approximately S$27.2 billion), making him the highest-ranked Malaysian tycoon.
Based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as of December 31, 2025, Kuok’s wealth grew by about 21.5% compared to the previous year, an increase of roughly US$3.7 billion, reflecting continued expansion of his asset base.
Robert Kuok’s business empire spans Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, including Wilmar International—one of the world’s largest palm oil refining companies, Malaysia’s largest agricultural conglomerate PPB Group, and Kerry Properties, which operates the Shangri-La Asia hotel chain, among various diversified businesses.
However, Wilmar International has faced legal challenges in recent years. According to Sin Chew Morning Post, Indonesia’s Supreme Court ruled that the company was involved in bribery to obtain export permits during the 2021 Indonesian cooking oil shortage, ordering Wilmar to compensate for related losses. This ruling led to a loss of about US$348 million for Wilmar International in the third quarter of last year.
Furthermore, Wilmar’s related company in China, Guangzhou Yihai, was found in November last year by a Chinese court to be an accessory in a contract fraud case. The company was fined RMB 1 million (about S$184,000) and is also required to bear RMB 1.881 billion in victim losses.
Another Malaysian business giant, Hong Leong Group chairman Quek Leng Chan, ranked as the country’s second-richest man with a net worth of about US$6.9 billion. Although he did not make Bloomberg’s global top 500 list, his wealth grew by about 23% (approximately US$1.3 billion) compared to last year, mainly due to strong performance in the finance and food sectors.
On the global list, Ron Wanek, founder of the renowned American furniture brand Ashley Furniture, rounds out the Bloomberg Global 500 Billionaires Index with a net worth of US$7.4 billion, setting the threshold for inclusion.
According to Forbes’ real-time global billionaires list, as of the end of 2025, Robert Kuok retained his spot as Malaysia’s richest person with assets of about US$14.1 billion, ranking 194th globally. Quek Leng Chan placed second in Malaysia with US$10.5 billion, ranking 291st in the world, highlighting the ongoing competitiveness of Malaysia's wealthy on the global stage.
Robert Kuok’s business empire spans Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, including Wilmar International—one of the world’s largest palm oil refining companies, Malaysia’s largest agricultural conglomerate PPB Group, and Kerry Properties, which operates the Shangri-La Asia hotel chain, among various diversified businesses.
However, Wilmar International has faced legal challenges in recent years. According to Sin Chew Morning Post, Indonesia’s Supreme Court ruled that the company was involved in bribery to obtain export permits during the 2021 Indonesian cooking oil shortage, ordering Wilmar to compensate for related losses. This ruling led to a loss of about US$348 million for Wilmar International in the third quarter of last year.
Furthermore, Wilmar’s related company in China, Guangzhou Yihai, was found in November last year by a Chinese court to be an accessory in a contract fraud case. The company was fined RMB 1 million (about S$184,000) and is also required to bear RMB 1.881 billion in victim losses.
Another Malaysian business giant, Hong Leong Group chairman Quek Leng Chan, ranked as the country’s second-richest man with a net worth of about US$6.9 billion. Although he did not make Bloomberg’s global top 500 list, his wealth grew by about 23% (approximately US$1.3 billion) compared to last year, mainly due to strong performance in the finance and food sectors.
On the global list, Ron Wanek, founder of the renowned American furniture brand Ashley Furniture, rounds out the Bloomberg Global 500 Billionaires Index with a net worth of US$7.4 billion, setting the threshold for inclusion.
According to Forbes’ real-time global billionaires list, as of the end of 2025, Robert Kuok retained his spot as Malaysia’s richest person with assets of about US$14.1 billion, ranking 194th globally. Quek Leng Chan placed second in Malaysia with US$10.5 billion, ranking 291st in the world, highlighting the ongoing competitiveness of Malaysia's wealthy on the global stage.