InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Entering October 2025, the wealth landscape of Indonesia's conglomerates has shifted again. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Thursday (9/10/2025), most national tycoons remain in the global elite ranks with total fortunes reaching hundreds of trillions of rupiah. From the energy, banking, technology, to the palm oil plantation sectors, these major entrepreneurs continue to show their dominance in the national and global economy.

At the top position, Prajogo Pangestu, founder of the Barito Pacific Group, reasserted his status as Indonesia's wealthiest person. His fortune is recorded at US$44.3 billion (around Rp735.16 trillion), surging 49.2% this year. With a business portfolio encompassing petrochemicals, new renewable energy, and power generation through companies like PT Barito Renewables Energy Tbk (BREN), PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk (TPIA), and PT Petrindo Jaya Kreasi Tbk (CUAN), Prajogo is now ranked 45th among the world's richest people.

Second place is held by Low Tuck Kwong, owner of PT Bayan Resources Tbk (BYAN), one of the country's largest coal companies. His wealth reached US$25.3 billion (Rp419.85 trillion), despite a 9.2% drop due to global energy commodity price fluctuations.

Meanwhile, in third and fifth places respectively are Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono, the duo controlling the Djarum Group and Bank Central Asia (BCA). Although their fortunes decreased by more than 20%, they remain Indonesian business icons with a strong network in the financial, digital, and manufacturing sectors.

Anthoni Salim: Multi-Sector Conglomerate with a Strong Footprint in Palm Oil

Anthoni Salim, owner of the Salim Group, holds the fourth position with a total wealth of Rp278.84 trillion. Under the Indofood Group banner, Anthoni is widely known as a major entrepreneur in the food, energy, and mining sectors. However, the Salim Group is also a key player in the palm oil industry through two major companies: PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk (Lonsum) and PT Salim Ivomas Pratama Tbk (SIMP).

These two companies own thousands of hectares of palm oil estates spread across various provinces in Indonesia and are integrated with downstream industries such as cooking oil and oleochemicals. Through this business chain, Anthoni Salim helps underpin Indonesia's position as the world's largest palm oil producer.

Sukanto Tanoto: Palm Oil and Fiber King of Southeast Asia

Meanwhile, Sukanto Tanoto, founder and owner of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), is ranked sixth with a fortune of US$15.3 billion (Rp254.22 trillion). He is known as one of the most influential figures in the global palm oil industry. Through the RGE Group, Sukanto has developed a business empire that includes palm oil plantations, viscose fiber, energy, and real estate.

RGE oversees companies like Apical Group—one of the world's largest palm oil processors and exporters—as well as Asian Agri, which manages over 160,000 hectares of palm oil estates in Indonesia and partners with tens of thousands of plasma farmers. RGE also owns Sateri, a leading viscose fiber producer supplying the global textile industry.

Despite being based in Singapore, Sukanto's business roots remain strong in Indonesia. He is recognized as a key proponent of sustainable plantation practices, with significant investments in energy efficiency and green supply chains.

New Wave: Tech and Renewable Energy Tycoons

A surprise comes from the technology sector. Otto Toto Sugiri and Marina Budiman, founders of PT DCI Indonesia Tbk (DCII), Indonesia’s largest data center company, recorded a sharp surge in wealth as DCII shares rose more than 500% this year.

Otto's fortune now stands at US$12.6 billion (Rp209.27 trillion), while Marina holds US$9.3 billion (Rp154.46 trillion)—making her the only woman in Bloomberg's top eight richest Indonesians list for October 2025.

Top Eight Richest Indonesians October 2025 (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)

Although most of the conglomerates' wealth is still driven by the energy and financial sectors, the palm oil industry continues to show extraordinary resilience amidst global economic dynamics. In the hands of entrepreneurs like Anthoni Salim and Sukanto Tanoto, palm oil is not merely an export commodity but a symbol of national industrial competitiveness and sustainability that continues to adapt to the demands of the global green economy. (T2)