The Wealth List - Singapore Top 40 Richest

In this week series, I will detail the Who's who in Singapore. Living in Singapore, you definitely need to know the big and influential people here. There you go:  

Taken from Forbes-compiled Singapore 40 richest (as of March 2013), below details the 40 richest person in Singapore (for exact URL refer - http://www.forbes.com/singapore-billionaires/list/ )

1) Ng Robert & Philip - Net Worth $10.1b/Real Estate

Inherited from their late father, Ng Teng Fong, brothers Robert and Philip Ng is the richest among the Singapore billionaires. The Singapore Far East Organization is quoted on Forbes.com that it build one in six of the private homes in Singapore. Biggest part of their wealth is in public Tsim Sha Tsui Properties who is headed by the elder Robert. Younger brother Philip manages the Singapore's business.

2) Khoo Family - Net Worth $6.7b/ Banking

Late banker Khoo Teck Puat left fortune to his 14 children in 2004 when he passed away. Of the most important asset which was left by him was a stake in Stanchart which the Khoo family sold in 2006 fetching an estimated $4 billion. The family continues to control the Goodwood Group of Hotel.

3) Wee Cho Yaw - Net Worth $5b/ Banking

Mr Wee is the emeritus chairman of Singapore bank, United Overseas Banks. It was founded by his dad and run by him for 33 years until 2007, when he passed on the role of CEO to his son Wee Ee Cheong. The family also own a property developer and private equity company Kheng Leng. Singapore listed Haw Par, which family owns nearly one quarter of it, is the producer of Singapore iconic Chinese ointment Tiger Balm.

4) Kwee family - Net Worth $4.6b/ Real Estate

Kwee family is one of the biggest landlords as the four Kwee brothers jointly owned privately held property developer and hotel operator Pontiac Land. Its portfolio of prime properties includes Ritz-Carlton, the Regent, Conrad Centennial and the Capella in Singapore. Recent project include Capitol Center, a $600m luxury property development in which they have a 50% stake. Kwee Liong Kent, the eldest, is the managing director. Kwee Liong Tek is chariman. Other brothers Kwee Liong Seen and Kwee Liong Phing sit on board.

5) Richard Chandler - Net Worth $2.85b/ Investment

New Zealand native Richard Chandler, a resident in Singapore, runs Rchard Chandler Corp, a fund aimed at emerging markets that he found after splitting with his brother Christopher.

6) Kwek Leng Beng & family - Net Worth $2.4b/ Diversified

The Kwek family inherited conglomerate Hong Leong, started by their fathers in the 1940s. Kwek Leng Beng owns the Singapore business while his cousin Quek Leng Chan heads the Malaysian business. Kwek Leng Beng is the owner of City Development and Guocoland.

7) Kuok Khoon Hong - Net Worth $2.6b/ Palm Oil

Kuok holds a minority stake in Wilmar International and is also the CEO of its. Wilmar is the world's largest palm oil company. It is now expanding into speciality chemicals with Clariant and processed foods with Archer Daniels. His other investment includes Zhong Sheng Jian's Yanlord and London's Aviva Tower.

8) Eduardo Saverin - Net Worth $2.2b/ IT

Facebook co-founder Eduardo renounced his US citizenship in 2011 and took up Singapore resident. He has since sold more than half of his stake in Facebook and has started to invest in startups including Qwiki and Jumio, which created the online payment Netswipe.

9) Peter Lim - Net Worth $2b/ Investment

As a former stockbroker, Peter Lim make his big bucks from Wilmar International. Since then, he is busy partnering with UEM land to build Motorsport City in Iskandar region. His Thomson Medical is partnering with Johor's royal family to build a medical hub as part of a $3 billion integrated development called Vantage Bay which is being developed by Lim-controlled Rowsley. His other interests includes Yanlord, FJ Benjanmin and McLaren.

10) Ong Beng Seng and wife - Net Worth $1.6b/ Diversified

Their biggest asset is the stake in Mulberry, a British fashion company. They also control Hotel Properties, Club 21 and NSL. The wife oversees boutique hotel operator Como Group. Other interests include the Grand Prix and a stake in oil trader Kuo International, run by Peter Fu Chong Cheng, Christina's brother.

11) Raj Kumar & Kishin RK - Net Worth $1.5b/ Real Estate

Their privately held property empire includes Rag's Royal Holdings and Kishin's RB Capital.

12) Zhong Sheng Jian- Net Worth $1.7b/ Real Estate

He is the owner and founder of China property company Yanlord Land Group.

13) Lee Seng Wee - Net Worth $1.35b/ Banking

Sits on board of OCBC after serving as chairman for 8 years until his retirement in 2003.

14) Sam Goi - Net Worth $1.7b/ Frozen food

Sam Goi, also known as the Popiah King, is the world's largest maker of frozen rice wraps used to make spring rolls. He's expanded the portfolio of his privately held Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing with acquisitions in stake such as diary product firm Etika International Holdings. He also owns a property arm know as GSH Corporation.

15) Koh Wee Meng - Net Worth $1.4b/ Real Estate

Property tycoon, hotelier Koh is the owner of Fragrance Group. He spun off its hotel arm into Global Premium Hotel, listing the budget hotel chain last April and is now also expanding into commercial real estate. He broke off from family's jewellery business to get into proerty in the 1990s.

16) Lim Oon Kuin - Net Worth $1.5b/ Oil Trading

Lim is the founder of Hin Leong Trading, one of Singapore's largest independent oil traders at the age of 20 in 1963. He owns majority stake in Universal Terminal, Asia's largest oil logistics terminal. he also owns a fleet of 100 tankers via shipping arm Ocean Tankers run by his son, Evan.

17) Tang Wee Kit - Net Worth $970m/ Retail

Son of late Tang Choon Keng, who founded Singapore's oldest department store, C.K Tang. Biggest asset is Tang Plaza on Orchard Roadm home to C.K Tang's flagship store and Marriot Hotel.

18) Lien family - Net Worth $965m/ Banking

Banker Lien Ying Chow left shares in UOB through family's holdings outfit which is headed by his widow, Margaret.

19) Asok Kumar Hiranandani - Net Worth $1b/ Real Estate

Co-founder of Royal Brothers, Asok separated from older sibling Rag in 2011. His assets are now included privately owned Royal Group Holdings which has built a new corporate headquarters and a 135- room Sofitel So Hotel designed by Karl Lagerfeld. He recently bought the 144-room Stamford Double Bay Hotel in Sydney for $58 million and is also expanding into Indonesia. All new projects are overseen by son Bobby, whom is expected to succeed him.

20) Tan Boy Tee - Net Worth $855m/ Shipping

Gain his fortune from $700 million sale of Labroy Marine in 2008, the tug and barge company he founded in 1978. He currently owns small stakes in a few Singapore-listed companies. In June he sold his 15% share of property firm Brothers Holdings for $10 million.

21) Chang Yun Chung - Net Worth $815m/ Shipping

Founder of Pacific International Lines, which owns a fleet of 153 vessels. Subsidiaries include Hong Kong-listed Singamas Container Holdings, which he also chairs.

22) Oei Hong Leong - Net Worth $765m/ Investments

Son of Indonesian billionaire Eka Tjipta Widjaja, Oei is a veteran investor. His investment acute was again on displayed as he recently bought and quickly sold a 21% stake in plastics and metals trader Intraco at a $1 million profit. His holdings include IPC, a Singapore-listed firm that buys and redevelops distressed properties in Japan.

23) Bhupendra Kumar Modi - Net Worth $755m/ Telecom

Owns Spice Group, which has interests in mobile devices, entertainment and financial services, is betting on the mobile Internet. He also owns more than two-thirds of flagship company S Mobility, real estate in Singapore, India.

24) Ho family - Net Worth $725m/ Banking

The late Ho Sim Guan is a former UOB director. The Ho family continues to hold big stake in UOB and also Haw Par.

25) Choo Chong Ngen - Net Worth $690m/ Real Estate

Owner of budget hotel chain, Hotel 81. Owns minor stake in competitor Koh Wee Meng's Fragrance Group.

26) Michael Kum - Net Worth $670m/ Hotel

Kum made his first fortune in offshore vessels, then turned to hotels after selling part stake in his Australian-listed Miclyn Express Offshore during its 2007 IPO. Since 2009, he has been acquiring 11 hotels in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.

27) John Chuang - Net Worth $605m/ Cocoa

Owner of Petra Foods, which sells cocoa ingredients to Nestlé, Cadbury and Mars.. Top, Delphi, Silver Queen are some of its own retail brands.

28) Peter Fu Chong Cheng - Net Worth $540m/ Diversified

He and siblings inherited Kuo International, one of Singapore's largest independent oil traders, from father, Peter Fu Yun Siak. Other interests include stakes in brother-in-law Ong Beng Seng's Hotel Properties and NSL.

29) Loo Choon Yong - Net Worth $535m/ Healthcare

Owner of Raffles Medical Group, one of country's largest health care providers, is benefiting from rising influx of medical tourists. It has 74 clinics in Singapore and 4 in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It has plans to expand Raffles Hospital and open a new medical center by next year.

30) Henry Ng - Net Worth $510m/ Diversified

Owns two-thirds of Pan-United, Singapore's biggest cement supplier, together with 3 siblings. The company was founded by their father, Ng Kar Cheong. The bulk of their fortune derives from their sale of shipbuilding business, Pan-United Marine, to Dubai Drydocks World in 2007.

31) Chua Thian Poh - Net Worth $470m/ Real Estate

Owner of Ho Bee Investment.

32) Ow Chio Kiat - Net Worth $445m/ Hotel

Owner of hotels and property outfit, Stamford Land. It has expanded into building apartments in Australia and New Zealand.

33) Ron Sim - Net Worth $435m/ Retail

Founder of OSIM International. He also owns US Retailer Brookstone GNC in South Asia and Richlife in China.

34) Cheng Wai Keung- Net Worth $355m/ Real Estate

Owner of Wing Tai Holdings, he was also the former Chairman of NOL. Currently sits on board of Temasek Holdings.

35) Lim Hock Chee - Net Worth $345m/ Retail

Owner of Sheng Siong supermarket chain and Singapore's third largest food retailer. 

36) Yao Hsiao Tung - Net Worth $325m/ Manufacturing

Founder of Hi-P International, who is Singapore largest electronics component makers, whose clients include Apple, Amazon and Nike.

37) Satinder Garcha - Net Worth $315m/ Real Estate

Made first fortune in Silicon Valley in 2000. Has since moved to Singapore and started Elevation Development, a property firm specializing in building luxury villas which he rents out to rich expat.

38) John Lim - Net Worth $310m/ Real Estate

Runs ARA Asset Management that manages property funds in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Assets include Suntec City Singapore and Beijing's Oriental Plaza Beijing.

39) Olivia Lum - Net Worth $310m/ Water Treatment

Founder of Hyflux.

40) Ho Kwon Ping - Net Worth $280m/ Hotels

Founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts.