Robert Budi Hartono
Robert Budi Hartono | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 28, 1941 Semarang, Central Java, Dutch East Indies |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Proprietor and operator of Djarum; ownership in Bank Central Asia |
Robert Budi Hartono (born 28 April 1941) is an Indonesian billionaire in the tobacco sector, with an estimated net worth of US$25.3 billion as of September 2023. He is the proprietor and operator of the privately owned Djarum, recognized as the third-largest producer of clove cigarettes worldwide. Recently, Djarum expanded its portfolio by acquiring shares in Sampoerna, Indonesia's second-largest cigarette company. Alongside his brother, Michael Bambang Hartono, Robert holds a substantial ownership interest in Bank Central Asia, one of the country's major banking institutions, which was previously under the control of billionaire Sudono Salim. According to Forbes, Robert ranks as the second wealthiest person in Indonesia and 61st on the global list.
Career
At the age of 22, Robert and his brother Michael inherited Djarum following the death of their father, Oei Wie Gwan. Oei had originally bought the small enterprise, initially called Djarum gramophone, in 1951 and later renamed it Djarum. After a destructive fire at their factory in 1963, the brothers modernized the business and broadened its scope. By 1972, Djarum had begun exporting its products internationally. The launch of machine-manufactured brands such as Djarum Filter in 1975 and Djarum Super in 1981 represented key developments in the company’s expansion.
Under Robert and Michael's guidance, Djarum evolved from a small family-run operation into a leading force within the tobacco industry. By September 2019, Forbes identified the Hartono brothers as Indonesia's wealthiest individuals with a combined fortune of $35 billion; Robert's individual net worth had increased to $18.6 billion from $6.5 billion in 2012.
Early life
Born in 1941 as Oei Hwie Tjhong in Semarang, Central Java, Dutch East Indies, Robert Budi Hartono was the second son of Oei Wie Gwan and Goei Tjo Nio. His elder sibling, Michael Bambang Hartono, was born two years earlier in 1939.
Present life
Currently, he lives in Kudus, Indonesia, where he resides with his wife and their three children.