Ciputra

Ciputra
Born	Tjie Tjin Hoan (1931-08-24) 24 August 1931 Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, Dutch East Indies
Died	27 November 2019(2019-11-27) (aged 88) Singapore
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, investor, benefactor
Known for	Founder of Ciputra Group; founder of Ciputra University of Entrepreneurship; founder of Ciputra Artpreneur Museum

Ciputra (24 August 1931–27 November 2019), originally named Tjie Tjin Hoan (), was a prominent Indonesian entrepreneur, investor, and benefactor. He established the Ciputra Group, which stands as one of the nation's leading real estate enterprises, comprising three publicly traded subsidiaries such as Ciputra Development on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. Widely recognized for his charitable contributions, he founded ten educational institutions, including Ciputra University of Entrepreneurship in Surabaya, as well as the Ciputra Artpreneur Museum located in Jakarta.

Early life and education

Born on 24 August 1931 in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, then under Dutch colonial rule, Tjie Tjin Hoan was the third offspring of Chinese Indonesian traders Tjie Sim Poe and Lie Eng Nio, with ancestral origins traced back to Zhangzhou, Fujian. During the Second World War, his father was wrongfully charged with espionage by Japanese occupiers and vanished in 1943, presumed deceased while imprisoned.

Left orphaned at age twelve and growing up in hardship, Tjie resumed his schooling following the war's end. After completing secondary education in Manado, he pursued architecture at the esteemed Bandung Institute of Technology, earning his degree in 1960.

At twenty-five years old, he adopted the single name Ciputra; “Ci” is derived from his Chinese family name Tjie (徐), while “putra” translates to “son” in Indonesian.

Career

During his architectural studies, Ciputra collaborated with two peers, Budi Brasali and Ismail Sofyan, to launch a consulting business. Upon graduation, he opted to focus on property development rather than consulting services. With the confidence of Jakarta Governor Soemarno Sosroatmodjo, he assumed the role of CEO at Pembangunan Jaya (Jaya Group), a development company partially owned by the Jakarta provincial government. His tenure lasted 35 years, during which he became a minority stakeholder. Significant projects under his leadership included Ancol Dreamland and Senen Market.

Together with Brasali and Sofyan, he co-founded Metropolitan Group, where he held the position of President Commissioner. Supported by investors such as the Salim Group, this group developed Jakarta’s Pondok Indah area and expanded its ventures internationally.

Following his children’s overseas academic achievements, Ciputra created the family holding entity known as Ciputra Group, integrating family members into executive roles alongside professional managers. The group executed more than 30 major developments domestically and abroad, including Citra Raya in Surabaya.

The 1997 Asian financial crisis had a profound effect on Ciputra Group; the drastic depreciation of the rupiah intensified foreign currency debt obligations, while anti-Chinese unrest led to halted projects amid collapsing sales figures. The company underwent extensive debt restructuring processes, regaining profitability only by 2005.

In the aftermath of the crisis, Ciputra expanded investments beyond Indonesia into significant developments across China, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Among these was a collaboration with Hanoi’s local government to create an international satellite city.

The Ciputra Group comprises three subsidiaries listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange: Ciputra Development, Ciputra Surya, and Ciputra Property. Of these, Ciputra Development is ranked among Indonesia’s largest publicly traded property firms.

Philanthropy

Ciputra stood out as one of Indonesia's most notable benefactors. Attributing his achievements to the value of education, he established ten educational institutions along with the Ciputra University of Entrepreneurship located in Surabaya. A passionate art enthusiast, he inaugurated the Ciputra Artpreneur Museum in Jakarta in 2014, which features pieces by his favored artist, Hendra Gunawan.

Personal life

At the age of 24, Ciputra wed Dian Sumeler from Sulawesi. Together, they had four children: Rina, Junita, Cakra, and Candra. Each of them holds positions on the boards of both Ciputra Group and Ciputra Development; notably, their son Candra occupies the role of President at Ciputra Development.

Death

Ciputra passed away on 27 November 2019 at 88 years old while receiving medical care at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore for an illness. His spouse, Dian Sumeler Ciputra, died on 22 December 2021.

He was laid to rest on 5 December 2019 in a private cemetery situated in Jonggol, West Java.