PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — As of October 2025, Indonesia’s billionaire landscape has once again shifted. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index released Thursday (October 9, 2025), the nation’s top tycoons continue to hold strong among the global elite, with combined wealth reaching hundreds of trillions of rupiah. From energy and finance to technology and palm oil, Indonesia’s business magnates remain key players on both the national and international stage.
At the top of the list, Prajogo Pangestu, founder of the Barito Pacific Group, reaffirmed his position as Indonesia’s richest person with a net worth of US$44.3 billion (approximately Rp735.16 trillion), marking a 49.2% increase this year. With ventures spanning petrochemicals, renewable energy, and power generation, Prajogo now ranks 45th richest in the world.
Through companies such as PT Barito Renewables Energy Tbk (BREN), PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk (TPIA), and PT Petrindo Jaya Kreasi Tbk (CUAN), he has become a symbol of Indonesia’s shift toward green industry, combining industrial expansion with a strong commitment to clean energy.
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In second place is Low Tuck Kwong, owner of PT Bayan Resources Tbk (BYAN), one of Indonesia’s largest coal mining firms, with a total net worth of US$25.3 billion (Rp419.85 trillion). His fortune declined 9.2% due to global energy price fluctuations.
Meanwhile, brothers Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono of the Djarum Group and Bank Central Asia (BCA) hold the third and fifth positions respectively. Despite a 20% decline in their wealth, they remain influential figures across banking, digital technology, and manufacturing.
Anthoni Salim: Multi-Sector Tycoon with Deep Roots in Palm Oil
Ranked fourth, Anthoni Salim, head of the Salim Group, has a total fortune of Rp278.84 trillion. Under Indofood Group, he is widely known for his presence in the food, energy, and mining sectors. Yet, few realize that Salim Group is also a key player in the palm oil industry through PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk (Lonsum) and PT Salim Ivomas Pratama Tbk (SIMP).
These companies manage thousands of hectares of oil palm plantations across Indonesia and are vertically integrated with downstream operations producing cooking oil and oleochemicals. This integration reinforces Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest palm oil producer.
Though Salim’s core businesses lie in food and energy, his palm oil ventures underscore the commodity’s strategic importance to the national economy — not only for smallholders but also for major corporations driving exports and domestic downstream industries.
Sukanto Tanoto: The Palm Oil and Fiber King of Southeast Asia
Coming in sixth is Sukanto Tanoto, founder and owner of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), with a net worth of US$15.3 billion (Rp254.22 trillion). A pivotal figure in the global palm oil industry, Sukanto built a vast business empire encompassing palm plantations, viscose fiber, energy, and real estate.
RGE oversees leading companies such as Apical Group — one of the world’s largest palm oil processors and exporters — and Asian Agri, which manages over 160,000 hectares of plantations in Indonesia and partners with tens of thousands of plasma farmers. RGE also owns Sateri, a global leader in viscose fiber production for the textile industry.
Although based in Singapore, Sukanto’s business roots remain firmly planted in Indonesia. He is recognized as a champion of sustainable plantation practices, investing heavily in energy efficiency and green supply chains.
Despite a 24.8% decline in net worth this year, Sukanto continues to symbolize the resilience of Indonesia’s palm oil entrepreneurs, bridging local production with global supply chains. Today, RGE manages assets worth over US$35 billion across Asia, Europe, and North America.
The Rise of Technology and Renewable Energy Tycoons
The biggest surprise this year came from the technology sector. Otto Toto Sugiri and Marina Budiman, co-founders of PT DCI Indonesia Tbk (DCII) — the country’s largest data center operator — saw their fortunes soar as DCII shares surged more than 500% this year.
Otto’s wealth reached US$12.6 billion (Rp209.27 trillion), while Marina’s climbed to US$9.3 billion (Rp154.46 trillion), making her the only woman among Indonesia’s top eight billionaires in October 2025.
Indonesia’s Top 8 Richest People (Bloomberg Billionaires Index, October 2025)
| Rank | Name | Net Worth | Main Industry |
| 1 | Prajogo Pangestu | Rp735.16 trillion | Energy & Petrochemicals (Barito Pacific Group) |
| 2 | Low Tuck Kwong | Rp419.85 trillion | Coal Mining (Bayan Resources) |
| 3 | Budi Hartono | Rp295.42 trillion | Banking, Tobacco (Djarum, BCA) |
| 4 | Anthoni Salim | Rp278.84 trillion | Food, Energy, Mining, Palm Oil (Indofood, Lonsum, SIMP) |
| 5 | Michael Hartono | Rp270.72 trillion | Banking, Digital (BCA, Blibli) |
| 6 | Sukanto Tanoto | Rp254.22 trillion | Palm Oil, Fiber, Energy (RGE Group, Apical, Asian Agri) |
| 7 | Otto Toto Sugiri | Rp209.27 trillion | Technology (DCI Indonesia) |
| 8 | Marina Budiman | Rp154.46 trillion | Technology (DCI Indonesia) |
While most of Indonesia’s wealth still stems from energy and finance, the palm oil industry continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience amid global economic uncertainty.
Through the leadership of figures like Anthoni Salim and Sukanto Tanoto, palm oil has evolved beyond a mere export commodity — it now stands as a symbol of national competitiveness and sustainable growth, aligning Indonesia with the global green economy. (P2)
