As Asia’s most-moneyed make their mark on the global stage, we chart the rise of the region’s richest families, most inventive entrepreneurs – and how they spend their epic wealth.
Chinese billionaire Gong Hongjia, also known as Kung Hung Ka, is a classic example of a successful serial entrepreneur who has ventured into many different fields. He is also vice-chairman of the world’s biggest surveillance products maker, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology.
The Sichuan-born CEO of hotpot chain Haidilao, which went public last year, tops Forbes’ list of Singapore’s 50 Richest, with an estimated net worth of US$13.8 billion. Zhang replaced brothers Philip and Robert Ng of Singapore’s Far East Organisation and Hong Kong’s Sino Group, who have held the number one spot on the list for the past decade.
Also known as William Ding, the NetEase founder got rich through video games including Fantasy Westward Journey, and introduced American comic books like Iron Man and Captain America to China. The founder and chief executive officer of NetEase, one of the world’s largest online and mobile games businesses, is placed at number 74 on Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires list.
With nearly US$50 billion, India’s Ambani family is the richest in Asia – and never hesitate to show off their wealth. From palatial homes to impressive charitable contributions, the Ambanis make the most of their fortune. Here’s how they spend it.
The 70-year-old son of a tailor, Yanai owns two golf courses and launched his clothing brand in 1984. He is currently worth US$24.8 billion. He lives in a US$50 million house in the woods outside Tokyo and owns another home in an exclusive neighbourhood in the Japanese capital.