In this success post, we are going to share the story of Robert Budi Hartono, a Chinese Indonesian tobacco billionaire with a net worth of around $10 billion.
He owns and runs the privately held Djarum, the world third-largest market of clove cigarettes. Djarum has recently grabbed shares from the number two cigarette firm, Sampoerna.
Robert Budi Hartono also has a stake with his brother, Michael Bambang Hartono, in one of the biggest banks of Indonesia, Banks Central Asia, formerly controlled by the Billionaire Liem Sioe Liong.
In the year 2009, Robert Budi Hartono’s net worth is around $8 billion, and he was nominated to be the richest Indonesian.
Robert Budi Hartono Career
Starting from Mr. Oei Wie Gwan bought a small business in the field named as Djarum Clove Gramophon. In the year 1951, it changed its name to Djarum. Oei began marketing cigarette under the brand Djarum which turned to be successful in the market. After a fire nearly gutted in the factory. In the year 1972, Djarum began to export their product abroad.
Three years later, brand Djarum Filter was introduced, the first brand to be produced by machines, followed by the brand Djarum Super, announced in the year 1981.
Together with his brother, Michael Hartono, at the age of 22, Robert inherited one of the leading cigarette companies today, Djarum. Djarum was previously a small business called by the name as Djarum Gramophon. Which was later purchased by his father, Oei Wie Gwan, in the year 1951 and changed its name to Djarum.
Robert and his brother inherited Djarum after his father died. At that point in time, Djarum factory burned down and suffered an unstable condition. But in the hands of the two Hartono brothers, Djarum could grow into giants.
In a month of November 2012 listing, Budi Hartono and his brother Michael Hartono were reported by Forbes Magazine as the richest men in Indonesia in the year 2012. With a combined wealth of $15 billion. Budi Hartono was listed by Forbes as being worth around $7 billion.
Robert Budi Hartono Personal life
He is married with three children and lives in Kudus, Indonesia.
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