This story appears in the December 14, 2014 issue of Forbes Asia. Subscribe to Forbes Asia
BY GLORIA HARAITO
Getting hitched can be about romance, as well as about sealing a key alliance. Indonesia's wealthiest have reinforced this connection between Cupid and capitalism, doing so opulently and frequently.
Two high-rolling commencements of holy matrimony happened on the same weekend last February in Indonesia. First, Victor Hartono married Amelia Santoso. His father and uncle are Budi and Michael Hartono, the richest men in the country; Amelia's dad is the longtime right hand of Anthoni Salim (No. 3). The couple held four receptions for their well-wishers. The cost of both weddings easily ran into the millions.
Click here for the full list of Indonesia's Richest
The day after Hartono and Santoso said their vows, Henry Riady made it official with Alexandra Yasa. His grandfather is Mochtar Riady (No. 8); her father is the brother-in-law of Husain Djojonegoro (No. 31). For the occasion, the pair rented out the Jakarta Convention Center--adorning the cavernous space with white cloth and white candles--for a cost of at least $500,000.
Lavish weddings, indeed, but then again, Asians have long enjoyed splurging on their nuptials. The more remarkable part of these Indonesia affairs are the potential business ties drawn closer together and how intertwined these clans have become.
Consider the Riady-Yasa wedding. That forged a connection between Lippo Group and Orang Tua. Lippo is run by the groom's grandfather, while the bride's father is the brother-in-law of the Orang Tua chief.
These matrimonial maneuvers are commonplace. Mochtar Riady's daughter Rosy is married to Tahir (No. 11), who owns the license to FORBES INDONESIA, and his granddaughter Caroline has tied the knot with Soeharto Djojonegoro, Husain Djojonegoro's nephew. Not to be forgotten, No. 15 Murdaya Poo's son, Prajna, is wed to No. 34 Alex Tedja's daughter Irene.
For these clans love can add to the bottom line. --Gloria Haraito
