Since Kuok Khoon Hong (No. 4 on the Singapore Rich List) and Indonesian Martua Sitorus founded Wilmar International as a palm oil trader in 1991, it's grown into one of Asia's largest agribusinesses. It is Singapore's second-most-valuable company, with a market cap of $28 billion and revenues of $24 billion. Wilmar's prosperity has made its two cofounders, who share the chief executive's post (Kuok is also chairman) and between them own more than a fifth of the company, among the wealthiest in their respective countries. His 10% stake gives Sitorus a net worth of $2.8 billion and Kuok $3.5 billion.
But Wilmar's bounty extends beyond the two founders. In 2006 the duo listed it on the Singapore stock exchange, then merged it with the related businesses owned by the chairman's also-press-shy Malaysian uncle Robert Kuok, whose Kuok Group got a 32% stake in Wilmar. His share of that is worth $5.6 billion today, a big chunk of his $12 billion net worth. Another notable beneficiary is Peter Lim (No. 8), Kuok Khoon Hong's former stockbroker, now close pal. His $10 million investment in Wilmar in 1991 soared, eventually gaining him entrance to the billionaire ranks in 2008. Today his 5% stake in Wilmar is valued at $1.4 billion.
Wilmar's main businesses are in Indonesia, Malaysia, China and India, but it's been expanding in Europe and looking for opportunities elsewhere. In July it snatched Australia's biggest sugar company, Sucrogen, for $1.5 billion, in a bid to expand its portfolio. This latest acquisition, which is expected to be completed by September, could help generate between $200 million and $400 million in additional net profits and add at least 10% more to the value of Wilmar's equity, estimates Macquarie Securities' analyst Patrick Yau. Already the stock has risen 5% since the deal was announced. Wilmar's billionaires look set to reap a bigger harvest.