hanifhamzah

1)Robert Kuok
$9 billion diversified
85. Married, 8 children

Onetime rice, sugar trader heads multinational Kuok Group. Biggest source of wealth is stake in Wilmar International, palm oil outfit run by his nephew. Other big holdings are Hong Kong real estate group Kerry Properties, hotel operator Shangri-La Asia. Has an interest in South China Morning Post ( SCHPY.PK - news - people ) publisher. With Filipino tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.'s San Miguel, plans to spend up to $1 billion to develop public land for farming to boost agricultural sector.

2)Ananda Krishnan
$7 billion telecom
71. Married, 3 children

Runs Maxis Communications, Malaysia's largest cell phone service provider, with more than 10 million subscribers; took it private in June 2007 in $12 billion deal, then sold 25% to Saudi Telecom the same month. Last year sold Excel, the exhibition venue in London's Docklands, for reported $230 million and bought 20% stake in British regional newspaper chain Johnston Press, luckily a small holding, as stock has dropped more than 80% since as it struggles with debt. Modern art collector, has homes in Kuala Lumpur, London and south of France; has a son who is a monk living in the forest.

3)Lee Shin Cheng
$3.2 billion palm oil
70. Married, 6 children

Former plantation field supervisor heads ioi Group, one of world's leading operators of palm oil plantations, refineries. Took its IOI Properties private in April. IOI's stock has doubled since November but still down a third since last year amid falling commodity prices.

4)Lee Kim Hua
$2.5 billion gaming
80. Widowed, 6 children

Widow of Lim Goh Tong, who transformed a jungle on outskirts of Kuala Lumpur into one of world's most successful casino resorts. Genting Group now run by her son Lim Kok Thay (No. 14) but inheritance held in trust to benefit Lee, her children and grandchildren.

5)Teh Hong Piow
$2.4 billion banking
79. Married, 4 children

Former bank clerk opened first bank in 1966. Now his Public Bank has 14,000 employees; branches throughout Malaysia, also in Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, China. Set up Public Islamic Bank as a subsidiary in November 2008. Donates to medical institutions and to the Malaysian Nature Society to fund planting of trees.

6)Quek Leng Chan
$2.3 billion diversified
68. Married, 3 children

Heads conglomerate Hong Leong Group Malaysia, with interests in finance, entertainment, real estate. Bought 5% stake in Mokhzani Mahathir's (No. 16) Kencana Petroleum and 3% in Intercontinental Hotels Group last year. Family's GuocoLand is planning retail, residential, office projects in China. Inherited business from his father, one of 3 brothers to start a banking group in 1920s.

7)Yeoh Tiong Lay
$1.8 billion diversified
79. Married, 7 children

Founded YTL Corp., one of Malaysia's largest conglomerates, run by son Francis.

8)Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary
$1.1 billion diversified
57. Married, 5 children

Former rice trader controls Malaysia Mining Corp. (MMC); has stakes in Malaysia's Johor Port, independent power producer Malakoff, natural gas distributor Gas Malaysia. Inking projects in Saudi Arabia, Jordan. Lost billionaire status earlier this year but back up top thanks to rebound of MMC stock. His Albukhary Foundation offers scholarships to students from poor countries to pursue college education in Malaysia.

9)Tiong Hiew King
$1 billion timber
74. Married, 4 children

Dubbed by some as Asia's Rupert Murdoch--his Chinese Media International has 5 newspapers, 30 magazines in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, North America. His Rimbunan Hijua, which means "forever green," has palm oil, timber assets. Big player in New Zealand, where he owns timber, property and fish farming companies; also in Papua New Guinea, where he has an English-language newspaper, hypermarkets and controversial logging operations.

10)Vincent Tan
$750 million diversified
57. Married, 11 children

Has run Berjaya, which means "success" in Malay, since 1984; interests in hotels, lotteries, real estate, finance. Operates 7-Eleven, Wendy's ( WEN - news - people ), Starbucks ( SBUX - news - people ), Borders in Malaysia. Opened first Krispy Kreme ( KKD - news - people ) store there in April. Also operates water and sewage treatment and sanitary landfills in Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Selling stake in moneylosing U.S. eatery Roadhouse Grill; setting up a school in China.

11)Azman Hashim
$470 million finance
69. Married, 5 children

Longtime banking executive has been executive chairman of Amcorp since 1993. Malaysian financial services group. Opened Brunei operations in May. Chairman of the Malaysian Investment Banking Association. Loves scuba diving, painting and fast cars. A singer, has also recorded numerous albums.

12)William H.J. Cheng
$390 million retail
66. Married, 3 children

Runs the Lion Group, which has interests in plantations, steel, property. Though nicknamed "Steel King," biggest source of wealth is his indirect stake in Chinese retailer Parkson Retail, which he chairs. Also known as Cheng Heng Jem.

13)G. Gnanalingam
$260 million ports
64. Married, 3 children

Former tobacco and advertising executive cofounded, heads Westports Malaysia, one of nation's biggest ports. Private company valuation up because of better information from outside analysts; expects volume to contract for first time since it started as a container business in 1996. Has stake in transit hub KL Sentral.

14)Lim Kok Thay
$225 million gaming
57. Married, 3 children

Son of late Lim Goh Tong, has run Genting since 2003. Building gaming resort on Singapore's Sentosa Island, slated to open in 2010. His Star Cruises is working with Filipino tycoon Andrew Tan's Alliance Global to develop resort complex in Manila Bay.

15)Anthony Fernandes
$220 million airlines
45. Married, 2 children

Perennially optimistic travel tycoon on move during recession. His AirAsia,region's largest budget airline, adding flights to Bali, Taipei; secured debt financing for 15 new planes. Stock down just 2% in past year. Its 2-year-old long-haul discount airline AirAsia X began flying from Kuala Lumpur to London in March; Richard Branson is an investor.

16)Mokhzani Mahathir
$215 million oil services
48. Married, 5 children

Son of former pm Mahathir Mohamad runs petroleum company Kencana; former chairman switched roles and was redesignated chief executive in September. Investors include Quek Leng Chan (No. 6). Recently became chairman of fiber optic cable outfit Opcom Holdings, replacing his brother, its founder, who was named deputy international trade and industry minister. Also Malaysian Grand Prix chief, authorized Porsche ( PSEPF.PK - news - people ) dealer.

17)Lee Oi Hian
$210 million diversified
58. Married, 4 children

Chief executive of Kuala Lumpur Kepong, involved in plantation, property, retail. Bought palm oil business, Ladang Perbadanan-Fima last year; disposed of stake in Barry Callebaut Malaysia. Its Crabtree & Evelyn brand being hit by economic downturn. Also chairs Malaysia Palm Oil Council, chemicals company Batu Kawan; serves as director of U.K. chemicals maker Yule Catto & Co. Plc.

18)Chan Fong Ann
$209 million palm oil
78. Married

Joined board of Lee Shin Cheng's palm oil group, IOI 1985; remains a nonexecutive director and one of its biggest individual shareholders with a nearly 3% stake.

19)Kamarudin Meranun
$205 million airlines
48. Married, 5 children

Deputy chief executive of AirAsia, which he cofounded with Anthony Fernandes (No. 15). Also close partner with Tony in several other businesses including AirAsia x, in which he owns a bigger stake; Tune Hotels, which has 5 locations and is opening 7 more; and Tune Money.

20)Chong Chook Yew
$200 million real estate
87. Widowed, 4 children

Columbia University grad has run family's Selangor Properties since 2000. Stock down just 5% in past year, buoyed by successful housing project in Claremont, Australia.