Asia’s dynamic landscape of wealth has consistently captured global attention, showcasing individuals who top the Forbes real-time list of billionaires. Have you ever wondered who the richest people in Asia will be in 2024?
As of June 2024, Mukesh Ambani is the richest person in Asia, boasting a net worth of $113.5 billion. Let’s dive into the top 10 wealthiest people in Asia this year.
The Top 10 Richest People in Asia
Rank | Name | Country | Net Worth (in USD Billions) |
1 | Mukesh Ambani | India | 113.5 |
2 | Gautam Adani | India | 85.7 |
3 | Prajogo Pangestu | Indonesia | 61.8 |
4 | Zhong Shanshan | China | 59.3 |
5 | Colin Zheng Huang | China | 50.7 |
6 | Zhang Yiming | China | 43.4 |
7 | Savitri Jindal & family | India | 41.2 |
8 | Ma Huateng | China | 40.4 |
9 | Tadashi Yanai & Family | Japan | 36.8 |
10 | Li Ka-shing | Hong Kong | 35.4 |
Profiles of the Richest People in Asia
1. Mukesh Ambani
Source of Wealth: Diversified
Age: 67
Residence: Mumbai, India
Citizenship: India
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, is the richest man in Asia. He owns the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His telecom company, Jio, has nearly 470.29 million subscribers. In August, Jio Financial Services launched a joint venture with BlackRock, announced in July 2023, to offer innovative investment solutions in India.
2. Gautam Adani
Source of Wealth: Infrastructure, commodities, self-made
Age: 62
Residence: Ahmedabad, India
Citizenship: India
Gautam Adani heads the Adani Group, a $81 billion enterprise spanning ports, airports, energy, and green initiatives. Starting as a trading firm in 1988, he is now India’s top airport operator and controls Gujarat’s Mundra Port. In 2022, he acquired Holcim’s Indian assets, becoming India’s second-largest cement producer.
3. Prajogo Pangestu
Source of Wealth: PT Barito Pacific
Age: 80
Residence: Jakarta, Indonesia
Citizenship: Indonesia
Prajogo Pangestu is the wealthiest man in Indonesia, leading PT Barito Pacific and a key player in petrochemicals, plastics, mining, and thermal energy. His wealth surged in 2023 when Petrindo Jaya Kreasi and Barito Renewables Energy went public.
4. Zhong Shanshan
Source of Wealth: Beverages, pharmaceuticals, self-made
Age: 69
Residence: Hangzhou, China
Citizenship: China
Zhong Shanshan, the founder of Nongfu Spring, a bottled water firm and owner of Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy, is the richest man in China. His journey from construction work to entrepreneurship has made him a significant figure in the beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
5. Colin Zheng Huang
Source of Wealth: E-commerce
Age: 44
Residence: Shanghai, China
Citizenship: China
Colin Huang founded PDD Holdings, previously Pinduoduo. He still owns 28% of the company despite stepping down as chairman. He has also established an online gaming company, Xinyoudi, and an e-commerce platform, Ouku.com.
6. Zhang Yiming
Source of Wealth: TikTok, self-made
Age: 40
Residence: Beijing, China
Citizenship: China
Zhang Yiming founded ByteDance, best known for the app TikTok, which has over 1 billion users. He holds a two percent stake in ByteDance, which ventures into news, education, and gaming.
7. Savitri Jindal & Family
Source of Wealth: Steel
Age: 74
Residence: Hisar, India
Citizenship: India
Savitri Jindal chairs the Jindal Group, which involves steel, power, cement, and infrastructure. After her husband OP Jindal’s death, the companies were divided among their sons. She is also India’s richest woman, contributing significantly to education and healthcare.
8. Ma Huateng
Source of Wealth: Online games
Age: 52
Residence: Shenzhen, China
Citizenship: China
Ma Huateng, known as Pony Ma, leads Tencent Holdings, which owns WeChat and is interested in global gaming, Tesla, and Spotify. Tencent is also developing new AI technologies.
9. Tadashi Yanai & Family
Source of Wealth: Fashion retail, self-made
Age: 75
Residence: Tokyo, Japan
Citizenship: Japan
Tadashi Yanai founded Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo and other brands. Uniqlo has over 2,400 stores in 25 countries. After launching its first store in Mumbai, India, in October 2023, Uniqlo aims to become a leading brand in India.
10. Li Ka-Shing
Source of Wealth: Diversified, self-made
Age: 96
Residence: Hong Kong
Citizenship: Hong Kong
Li Ka-shing founded Cheung Kong Plastics in 1950. His Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated over $3.8 billion. CK Hutchison Holdings, controlled by Li, and Vodafone Group recently agreed to merge their British telecom businesses to form the country’s largest mobile operator.