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VETERAN hotel and property magnate Tan Sri Robert Kuok has once again been named Malaysia’s richest individual, according to the latest global billionaire rankings published by Forbes.
The 102-year-old tycoon, who is based in Hong Kong, is ranked 204th worldwide with a net worth of US$14.2 billion (RM55.7 billion), making him the highest-placed Malaysian on the annual list.
Kuok’s wealth increased from US$12.1 billion (RM47.5 billion) recorded last year, although his position in the global rankings slipped from 101st previously.
A further 14 Malaysians were also included in the latest billionaire list.
Among them, Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan of Hong Leong Group is ranked 486th with a net worth of US$7.6 billion (RM29.8 billion).
He is followed by Lee Thiam Wah, founder of 99 Speed Mart Holdings Bhd, who occupies the 595th spot with a fortune estimated at US$6.8 billion (RM26.7 billion).
Also featured is Tan Sri Paul Koon Poh Keong of Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, ranked 645th with the same estimated wealth of US$6.8 billion.
Other Malaysians on the list include Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah of Sunway Bhd, placed 749th with US$5.6 billion, while brothers Datuk Lee Yeow Chor and Lee Yeow Seng of IOI Corporation Bhd rank 934th and 1,074th respectively with fortunes of US$4.6 billion and US$4 billion.
Businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary is ranked 1,163rd globally with an estimated net worth of US$3.7 billion.
Globally, the number of billionaires on the Forbes list expanded sharply this year, with around 400 additional names compared with 2025.
Their combined wealth reached a record US$20.1 trillion (RM78.9 trillion), an increase of about US$4 trillion from the previous year.
Technology entrepreneurs continue to dominate the rankings.
Elon Musk tops the list with a fortune estimated at US$839 billion, followed by Larry Page with US$257 billion and Sergey Brin with US$237 billion, both co-founders of Google.
They are followed by Jeff Bezos of Amazon with US$224 billion and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, whose wealth is estimated at US$222 billion. - March 11, 2026
