Four richest Indonesians add $6 billion to wealth in August
When the richest Indonesians add wealth at scale, markets notice: Indonesia's four wealthiest men gained a combined $6.3 billion in August 2026, according to Forbes data cited by VnExpress International. Low Tuck Kwong led with a $4 billion increase to $20.7 billion, powered by a stock rebound and stronger corporate earnings across the billionaire top tier. The rally marks a sharp turnaround for fortunes tied to Indonesian equities after a steep market plunge earlier this year.
Key Takeaways
- Indonesia's four wealthiest billionaires gained a combined $6.3 billion in August alone.
- Coal magnate Low Tuck Kwong added $4 billion, bringing his net worth to $20.7 billion.
- The IDX Composite rose 4.6% in August after a 10.5% gain in July.
- Prajogo Pangestu, Robert Budi Hartono, and Anthoni Salim each added hundreds of millions to nearly $1 billion.
- Stronger quarterly earnings at Bayan Resources, Barito Pacific, BCA, and Indofood fueled the gains.
Who gained the most among Indonesia's top billionaires?
Low Tuck Kwong, 78, was the standout winner. Forbes data shows his net worth climbed $4 billion to $20.7 billion within a month, making him Indonesia's richest person.
Shares of his coal mining company, Bayan Resources, rose 27% over the month and sit roughly 6% below where they started the year. Bayan posted strong second-quarter results, with revenue up 26% year-on-year to $918.5 million and net income surging 67% to $219.5 million.
Low is reportedly exploring a sale of his stake. Bloomberg recently reported that the founder, who owns 40% of Bayan with an additional 22% held by his daughter, is in talks with potential buyers led by Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, known as Haji Isam. Bayan said it was "not aware of any plans to take over and/or acquire" company shares.
How much did the other three richest Indonesians add?
Prajogo Pangestu, Indonesia's second-richest man, gained nearly $1 billion to reach $16.7 billion. Shares of Barito Pacific, where he serves as chairman, rose 5% over almost a month. The conglomerate spans petrochemicals, energy, and infrastructure; its renewable-energy arm, Barito Renewables, reported net profit up 29% year-on-year in the first half.
Robert Budi Hartono, ranked third, added $700 million for a net worth of $16.3 billion as of August 26. He and his brother are controlling shareholders of Bank Central Asia (BCA), which saw first-half net profit rise 1.8% to 29.5 trillion rupiah ($1.67 billion). Total loans grew 8% by June, exceeding one quadrillion rupiah for the first time across more than 1,200 branches.
Anthoni Salim, the instant-noodles tycoon ranked fourth, reached $11 billion—up $700 million from end-July. Indofood Sukses Makmur shares gained 6% over the month, while first-half net profit rose 7% year-on-year to 6.1 trillion rupiah.
Why did Indonesia's richest add so much wealth in August?
The gains track a broader recovery in Indonesian equities. The IDX Composite added 4.6% in August, building on a 10.5% rise in July as the market continued rebounding from a steep plunge earlier in 2026.
For investors tracking global wealth swings, the episode underscores how tightly Indonesia's top fortunes remain linked to listed holdings and quarterly corporate performance. For more coverage of billionaire net-worth moves, see our Net Worth & Wealth hub.
Full figures and company breakdowns are available from VnExpress International, which compiled the Forbes billionaire data.