How a clerk from the Japanese occupation became the Sugar King of Asia

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in 1923, Robert Kuok built a sprawling business empire from scratch, moving from wartime rice trading to controlling 80% of the Malaysian sugar market. Despite his immense wealth and influence across Asia, the centenarian remains notoriously media-shy, preferring to keep his vast holdings private and his profile low.

Robert Kuok’s ascent began during the Japanese occupation of Malaya and Singapore between 1942 and 1945. Working as a clerk for the industrial conglomerate Mitsubishi, he gained critical experience in the rice trade, a skill set he later applied to his family’s business in Johor. After his father died in 1948, Kuok founded Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd in 1949 with his siblings and a cousin. By 1961, his strategic investments in sugar refineries allowed him to dominate the Malaysian market, earning him the moniker "Sugar King of Asia" while producing 10% of the world's sugar supply.

The Kuok Group of Companies eventually diversified into a massive conglomerate spanning hotels, real estate, and freight shipping. His hospitality brand, Shangri-La, launched in Singapore in 1971, while his property interests expanded into Hong Kong by 1977. Today, his fortune is largely tied to Wilmar International, the world's largest listed palm oil trader. Despite his success, Kuok has maintained a private approach to business, often keeping his companies closely held by family members rather than the public market.

Beyond commerce, Kuok has wielded significant political influence, acting as a bridge between the Malaysian and Chinese governments. He served on the Council of Eminent Persons in 2018 to advise the Malaysian government and was a Hong Kong Affairs Advisor during the transition of sovereignty. Though he has been a billionaire for decades—with estimates ranging from $11.8 billion to $17.7 billion in 2023—he famously rejected the "Tan Sri" title offered by the King of Malaysia. Now a centenarian residing in Hong Kong, his life story was documented in his 2018 memoir, which received the Best Book of the Year award from the Singapore Book Publishers Association.

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