Robert Kuok Hock Nien (simplified Chinese: 郭鹤年; traditional Chinese: 郭鶴年; pinyin: Guō Hè Nián; born 6 October 1923), is a Malaysian Chinese business magnate and investor. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at $11.3 billion on March 2016, making him the richest person in Malaysia and second richest in Southeast Asia after Dhanin Chearavanont of Thailand, according to Forbes List of World Billionaires 2013 which Robert Kuok was placed 76th. As of December 2012, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Kuok has an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion, making him the 40th richest person in the world.
Contrary to popular belief, Robert Kuok does not possess the honorific title of ‘Tan Sri’. Robert Kuok is media-shy; most of his businesses are privately held by him or his family. Apart from a multitude of businesses in Malaysia, his companies have investments in many countries throughout Asia. His business interests range from sugarcane plantations (Perlis Plantations Bhd), sugar refineries, flour milling, animal feed, oil, mining, finance, hotels, properties, trading, freight and publishing. Biggest source of wealth is stake in Wilmar International, the world’s largest listed palm oil company. He was a student from Raffles Institution and English College Johore Bahru as a secondary school.
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