This year, 18 Malaysian billionaires made it to Forbes’ annual World’s Billionaires List.
How did they amass a total wealth of US$48.3 billion, nearly twice the GDP of Cambodia?
It’s a combination of many factors, unique to each — but a deeper look into their journeys from nobodies to moguls reveals something else: most attended university.
Some Malaysian billionaires attended Universiti Malaya, the nation’s oldest and highest-ranking higher education body.
Other notable alumni from this uni include several Prime Ministers of Malaysia, such as Mahathir Mohamad, Ismail Sabri Yaakob and current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The rest studied abroad, at the likes of prestigious and expensive institutions in London.
Take, Quek Leng Chan, for example. Before becoming the executive chairman of the privately held Hong Leong Group, he was a former barrister-at-law from Middle Temple, London.
Chan is the second generation of a family of entrepreneurs who established the Hong Leong Company in the 1940s in Singapore, according to Tatler.
Only one out of the 15 listed Malaysian billionaires — Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary — did not go to uni. After high school, he started working as a rice trader.
Today, stakes in DRB-HICOM and MMC Corp make up most of AlBukhary’s wealth. He also has a stake in Media Prima, which owns the New Straits Times Press.
Learn more about their degrees, universities and net worths below:
If you are curious about where Malaysian billionaires like Ananda Krishnan went to uni, read on to find out more.
Malaysia’s billionaires and tycoons: What and where did they study before becoming the richest in the country?
Robert Kuok (#146)
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, Raffles College
Net worth as of April 4: US$11.1 billion
Quek Leng Chan (#179)
Education:
- LLB, University of London
- Middle Temple
Net worth as of April 4: US$10.1 billion
Ananda Krishnan (#511)
Education:
- Master of Business Administration, Harvard University
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, Melbourne University
Net worth as of April 4: US$5.2 billion
Koon Poh Keong (#699)
Education:
- Bachelor of Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Net worth as of April 4: US$4 billion
Chen Lip Keong (#1067)
Education:
- Medical Doctor, University of Malaya
Net worth as of April 4: US$2.8 billion
Lee Yeow Chor (#1067)
Education:
- LLB, Kings College London
Net worth as of April 4: US$2.8 billion
Lee Yeow Chor is one of the few Malaysian billionaires who read law in the UK.
Lim Kok Thay (#1312)
Education:
- Harvard Business School
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of London
Net worth as of April 4: US$2.3 billion
Kie Chie Wong (#1647)
Education:
- Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, University of New South Wales (according to a 2016 Annual Report by WTK Holdings Berhad)
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.8 billion
Lau Cho Kun (#1725)
Currently, there is no public information available on his educational background.
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.8 billion
Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary (#1804)
Education:
- Saint Michael’s School (according to various sources)
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.6 billion
Lee Yeow Seng (#1804)
Education:
- LLB, Kings College London
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.6 billion
G. Gnanalingam (#1905)
Education:
- Master, Harvard Business School
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Malaya
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.5 billion
Harvard Business School has attracted the likes of G. Gnanalingam and Lim Kok Thay.
Lillyn Teh Li Hua (#2133)
Education:
- Currently, there is no public information available on the educational background of late banker Teh Hong Piow’s children (Lillyn Teh Li Hua, Lillian Teh Li Ming, William Teh Lee Pang, and Diana Teh Li Shing).
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.3 billion
Lillian Teh Li Ming (#2133)
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.3 billion
William Teh Lee Pang (#2133)
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.3 billion
and Diana Teh Li Shing (#2133)
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.3 billion
Jeffrey Cheah (#2259)
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, Victoria University
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.2 billion
Tan Yu Yeh (#2405)
Education:
- Bachelor of Science, University of Malaya
Net worth as of April 4: US$1.1 billion
Popular stories
What the Iran-Israel war could mean for students who depend on ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
Europe’s best virtual university campus tours
Many fit, finance bros: Where & what the male cast of ‘Age of Attraction: Season 1’ studied at university
Marketing pros masked at ‘cougars’ and ‘flakes’: Where and what the women cast of ‘Age of Attraction: Season 1’ studied at university
