They might be the owners of multi-million dollar companies now, but they’ve all began their journey from the groove at some point. Today, we are going into the fortunes and businesses of a few of the richest families in Asia, as per Bloomberg.
The amount of wealth these families hold will leave you surprised and mind blown. Take a look below!
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1. Chearavanont Family from Thailand
Company: Charoen Pokphand Group
Wealth: $31.7 Billion (₹23,42,93,11,50,000 approximately)
In the year 1921, Chia Ek Chor fled his village in southern China and shifted to Thailand to begin a new life. Initially, he sold vegetables along with his brothers but, around a century later his son, Dhanin Chearavanont turned out to be a senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, a conglomerate with food, retail and telecom units.
2. Ambani Family from India
Company: Reliance Industries
Wealth: $76 Billion (₹56,15,29,80,00,000 approximately)
Dhirubhai Ambani, who was the father of Mukesh and Anil Ambani began establishing Reliance Industries in the year 1957. After he died in the year 2002, his sons inherited the family business and fortune. Mukesh Ambani currently holds the world’s largest oil refining complex. He is also the owner of Antilla, a 27-storey massive mansion that is expectedly the world’s most costly private residence. Just a few days back, Mukesh Ambani also turned out to be the fifth richest man in the world.
3. Kwok Family from Hong Kong
Company: Sun Hung Kai Properties
Wealth: $33 Billion (₹24,38,22,15,00,000 approximately)
Kwok Tak-Seng, a grocery seller, began Sun Hung Kai Properties long back in the year 1972. Today, the company has turned out to be one of Hong Kong’s largest real estate developers which are welcoming fortune to the family. In the year 1990, when Kwok dies, his sons, namely, Walter, Thomas and Raymond, took control over the company.
4. Hinduja Family from India
Company: Hinduja Group
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Wealth: $15.1 Billion (₹11,15,86,73,50,000 approximately)
Parmanand Hinduja began his business in trade and banking in the year 1914. And, in the year 1952 Srichand Hinduja became part of the family business. Many years later, the Hinduja Group, controlled by four brothers, branched into several businesses in industries like energy, automotive, finance and health care. The family now is the owner of real estate in India, as well as in other cities which includes London as well.
5. Hartono Family from Indonesia
Company: Djarum, Bank Central Asia
Wealth: $31.3 Billion (₹23,12,61,61,50,000 approximately)
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Oei Wie Gwan took over a cigarette brand in the year 1950s and changed its name to Djarum. After that time, the business has developed multi-fold and the company has turned out to be one of the largest cigarette makers in Indonesia. After Oei’s died in 1963, his sons, Michael and Budi invested in Bank Central Asia which shapes up half of the family’s fortune.
6. Lee Family from South Korea
Company: Samsung
Wealth: $26.6 Billion (₹19,65,89,96,00,000 approximately)
Most of us may not be aware of this but, in the year 1938, Lee Byung-Chul began Samsung as a trading company to export fruits, vegetables and fish. It was only in the year 1969 that he entered into the electronics business by establishing up Samsung Electronics, which has now turned into the world’s largest maker of memory chips and smartphones. After his death in 1987, Lee’s third son, Lee Kun-hee inherited the business. Unfortunately, in October 2020 Lee Kun-hee also lost his life after years of hospitalisation because of a heart attack in the year 2014. Lee Jae-Yong, Kun-hee’s eldest son has now taken over to lead the company.
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7. Yoovidhya Family from Thailand
Company: TCP Group
Wealth: $24.2 Billion (₹17,88,10,17,00,000 approximately)
T.C. Pharmaceuticals was initially built up by Chaleo Yoovidhya in the year 1956 but, later the company turned out into selling consumer goods. In the year 1975, the company discovered an energy drink named Krating Daeng, which is Thai for ‘red bull’. After some time, when an Austrian businessman consumed the energy drink during a business trip, he joined up with Chaleo to upgrade the recipe and market Red Bull all over the world. And, the rest is history. Yoovidhya has expressed fortune thanks to the success of Red Bull. Though, after Chaleo’s demise in the year 2012, Saravoot Yoovidhya, his son has occupied the position of chief executive officer in the TCP group.
8. Sy Family from the Philippines
Company: SM Investments
Wealth: $19.7 Billion (₹14,55,40,64,50,000 approximately)
Henry Sy, actually from China moved to the Philippines when he was merely 12 years old. At that time, he supported his father by selling rice, sardines and soap prior to opening the first shoe store in the year 1958. From a small shoe shop, the company has grown into aggregation with interests including retail, banking and property. Today, the group runs around 2,800 retail stores and has owned around 2,000 banking branches.
9. Mistry Family from India
Company: Shapoorji Pallonji Group
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Wealth: $22 Billion (₹16,25,32,70,00,000 approximately)
The Mistry family business occupied flight in the year 1985 in India when Pallonji Mistry’s grandfather began a construction enterprise along with an Englishman. Today, the group has interests in different business areas including engineering and construction. Additionally, the group has constructed a few of Mumbai’s landmarks, which includes the Reserve Bank of India building.
10. Ng Family from Singapore
Company: Far East Organization
Wealth: $13.8 Billion (₹10,19,66,13,00,000 approximately)
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Ng Teng Fong worked in his parents’ soy sauce factory and also as a bicycle repairman but, in place of joining into the family business, he entered into property development and established Far East Organization in the year 1960. He also became successful in building his business in Hong Kong where he discovered Far East’s sister outfit, Sino Group. Today, his elder son Robert is responsible for the Hong Kong operations, while his younger son Philip looks after the business in Singapore.
11. Torii/Saji Family from Japan
Company: Suntory
Wealth: $16.3 Billion (₹12,04,38,25,50,000 approximately)
Shinjiro Torii, the man who discovered Suntory began his first store of wine and Western-style liquors in the year 1899. In the year 1961, his son took the responsibility of the company as the President and under him, the company grew into a multi-billion dollar aggregating with interests ranging from alcoholic beverages to healthy foods. Today, the company is led by Nobutada Saji, the grandson of the founder.
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12. Chirathivat Family from Thailand
Company: Central Group
Wealth: $12.9 Billion (₹9,53,16,16,50,000 approximately)
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The Central Group was actually led by Tiang Chirathivat, who moved from Hainan to Thailand. The company began as a small family shop in Bangkok in the year 1947 and today, it is one of Thailand’s largest private commercial conglomerates, with over 50 subsidiaries. To Chirathivat, the grandson of Tiang is today handling the Central Group.
13. Kwek/Quek Family from Singapore
Company: Hong Leong Group
Wealth: $16.5 Billion (₹12,19,16,02,50,000 approximately)
In the year 1941, Kwek Hong Png established Hong Leong Co. along with the support of his three brothers. The corporation manages operations in a variety of sectors, from property development and hospitality to finance. Kwek Hong’s nephew is today heading one of the largest conglomerates in Singapore.
14. Ho Family from Hong Kong
Company: SJM
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Wealth: $14.6 Billion (₹10,78,77,21,00,000 approximately)
Stanley Ho got the license to establish the initial casino in Macau with his business partners in the year 1962. Today, the Ho family is responsible for SJM Holdings which holds multiple casinos and hotels. Ho’s wealth has been distributed among his daughter Pansy Ho, his fourth wife Angela Leong and his son Lawrence Ho.
15. Kadoorie Family from Hong Kong
Company: CLP Holdings
Wealth: $16.1 Billion (₹11,89,60,48,50,000 approximately)
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Elly Kadoorie reached Hong Kong with his older brother to work for the Sassoons, a well-known family of the Baghdad Jewish diaspora during the period of 1880s. Eventually, the two brothers established a brokerage and amassed stakes in banking, real estate and power-generation facilities. Their significant investments included CLP Holdings & Shanghai Hotels. Today, Elly’s grandson, Michael heads the business.
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