The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Low Tuck Kwong's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Low Tuck Kwong could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 7.3 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Low Tuck Kwong could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 3.2 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Low Tuck Kwong could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 4.7 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Low Tuck Kwong could pay for it entirely for 6.5 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Low Tuck Kwong could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 27.2 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Low Tuck Kwong with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.6 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Low Tuck Kwong's fortune is equivalent to 111 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Low Tuck Kwong could buy 29,491,697 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 5 trucks to transport them. Although Low Tuck Kwong will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Known as the coal king, Singapore-born Low Tuck Kwong is the founder of Bayan Resources, a coal mining company in Indonesia.
He also controls Singapore's renewable energy company Metis Energy (formerly known as Manhattan Resources) and has interests in The Farrer Park Company and Samindo Resources.
Low is backing SEAX Global, which is building a submarine sea-cable system for internet connectivity linking Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Low worked for his father's construction company in Singapore as a teenager and then moved to Indonesia in 1972 for greater opportunities.
In August 2024 he transferred a stake in Bayan, worth $6.6 billion at the time, to his daughter Elaine.
Financial Assets
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison