There are now 49 billionaires in S'pore,10 more than in 2024: 2025 Forbes list

There are 49 Singaporean billionaires in 2025, and paint tycoon Goh Cheng Liang is Singapore’s richest man, according to Forbes’ 2025 annual list of global billionaires released on Apr. 1.

Medical devices firm founder Li Xiting took second place, while tech billionaire Forrest Li is third.

There were 39 billionaires in Singapore in 2024.

In total, the collective net worth of Singapore billionaires hit US$145.2 billion (S$194.1 billion) in 2025.

It was US$115.5 billion (S$154.4 billion) in 2024.

Singapore's top three billionaires ranked 182nd, 185th and 347th globally, respectively.

Meta co-founder Eduardo Saverin ranked 51st globally with a net worth of US$34.5 billion (S$46 billion).

The Brazilian national is a permanent resident in Singapore.

Shuffle at the top

Goh holds a majority stake in Japan’s Nippon Paint Holdings.

He finished ahead of Li Xiting, co-founder and chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics.

Goh's net worth of US$13 billion (S$17.4 billion) slightly beat out Li Xiting's net worth of US$12.8 billion (S$17.1 billion).

Li Xiting topped the Singapore list in 2024.

Forrest Li, chief executive of Singapore-based Internet company Sea, saw his net worth go up from US$3.6 billion (S$4.8 billion) in 2024 to US$8.6 billion (S$11.5 billion) in 2025.

Sea reported profits for a second consecutive year in 2024, owing to growth in Shopee, the e-commerce business, as well as SeaMoney, the fintech arm.

The U.S.-listed firm saw its shares surge more than 140 per cent in the past year.

New entrants include Quek Leng Chye, managing director of Hong Leong Holdings, who ranked 2,790th globally with a net worth of US$1.1 billion (S$1.47 billion).

Another newcomer to the club is Lim Kaling, founding investor of gaming firm Razer, with US$1.2 billion (S$1.6 billion).

The three sons of late banking tycoon Wee Cho Yaw also made the list again: UOB chief executive Wee Ee Cheong and his brothers, Wee Ee Chao and Wee Ee Lim.

Their combined net worth in 2025 is US$6 billion (S$8 billion), up from US$4.2 billion (S$4.6 billion) in 2024.

The Forbes World’s Billionaires List provides a snapshot of wealth, including private companies, real estate and art, using stock prices and exchange rates from Mar. 7.

The top 10 in Singapore are:

1. Goh Cheng Liang: US$13 billion (S$17.4 billion)

2. Li Xiting: US$12.8 billion (S$17.1 billion)

3. Forrest Li: US$8.6 billion (S$11.5 billion)

4. Philip Ng: US$7.4 billion (S$17.4 billion)

5. Robert Ng: US$7.3 billion (S$9.9 billion)

6. Jason Chang: US$6.6 billion (S$8.8 billion)

7. Zhang Yong: US$6.6 billion (S$8.8 billion)

8. Gang Ye: US$5 billion (S$6.7 billion)

9. Jason Jiang: US$4 billion (S$5.4 billion)

10. Kwek Leng Beng: US$3.7 billion (S$5 billion)

World's wealthiest man: Elon Musk

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is the world's richest man, taking the top spot from French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault.

Musk’s net worth surged 75 per cent to an estimated US$342 billion (S$457 billion), following new valuations of SpaceX and xAI, as well as a 12-month rise in Tesla stock.

The 2025 list features a record 3,028 billionaires.

This is 247 more than in 2024.

Their collective net worth hit US$16.1 trillion, up nearly US$2 trillion from the previous year.

Top photos via Ghoul, Mindray & Olympic Council of Asia