Meet the Five Richest People in Singapore Who Made It to Forbes Billionaires' List

As one of the costliest cities in the world, Singapore is home to dozens of billionaires. The Lion City remains a magnet to the world’s ultra-rich because of its business-friendly economy and status as a key financial hub in the Asia Pacific. These moguls come from different industries and are either self-made or have inherited wealth. According to data from Forbes’ 2021 list of wealthiest individuals in the city, the combined net worth of the five richest people in Singapore is nearly $80 billion, more than the size of Kenya’s entire economy.

Curious about what they do and what made them super rich? Keep reading as we bring you the five richest people in Singapore according to Forbes.

5. Forrest Li

Net worth: US$12.4 billion

Industry: E-sports, e-commerce

Multibillionaire Forrest Li is the man behind e-commerce giant Shopee and e-sports platform Garena, both of which operate under its New York-listed parent company, Sea Limited. Li also owns Singaporean professional football club Lion City Sailors FC. A true fan of the sport, Li even tapped football superstar Christiano Ronaldo as Shopee’s ambassador.

4. Robert & Philip Ng

Net worth: US$13.3 billion

Industry: Real estate

The Ng brothers are at the helm of the Far East Organization, one of the biggest real estate empires in Asia. Their father, Ng Teng Fong, founded the company in 1960 following his move to Singapore from China. Robert oversees Sino Group, a property conglomerate, and Far East’s counterpart in Hong Kong. His younger brother, Philip, is manning the family’s Singaporean businesses.

3. Eduardo Saverin

Net worth: US$14.6 billion

Industry: Social media and technology, investments

Known as the co-founder of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin is now a Singapore-based venture capitalist. He has been in the city-island since 2009, two years before officially renouncing his U.S. citizenship. Saverin founded venture capital firm B Capital in 2015 along with former Bain Capital exec Raj Ganguly. The 39-year-old billionaire still has a stake in Facebook, where he gets a significant portion of his wealth.

2. Goh Cheng Liang

Net worth: US$21.7 billion

Industry: Paints

Goh Cheng Liang draws his wealth from paints. He established his first paint store in Singapore in 1955 and now holds a significant stake in Japanese paints maker Nippon Paint Holdings. This self-made billionaire has three children.

1. Zhang Yong

Net worth: US$23 billion

Industry: Food

Singaporean Chinese billionaire Zhang Yong topped the list of wealthiest people in Singapore, with a net worth of $23 billion. He amassed his wealth from Haidilao, a hotpot restaurant chain with an estimated annual revenue of 10 billion yuan. Haidilao is the largest chain of its kind in China and has several branches across the globe including New York and London. Aside from its spicy offerings, the restaurant is known for its thoughtful customer service.