SINGAPORE - The wealth of Singapore’s top 50 billionaires has skyrocketed by over 23%, climbing to a staggering US$239 billion from US$195 billion in 2024. This remarkable surge, highlighted in Forbes’ 2025 list, is largely due to Singapore's unexpected economic growth of 4.3% in the first half of the year, fueled by increased exports amidst tariff uncertainties.

Eduardo Saverin: The Uncontested King!

Dominating the list for the third straight year is Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Meta Platforms, boasting a net worth of US$43 billion. Saverin saw his wealth explode by US$14 billion since last year, driven by a robust surge in Meta's shares, thanks to the booming demand for AI-powered advertising.

The Rise and Fall of Real Estate Magnates

Following Saverin, real estate titan Kwek Leng Beng and his family moved up to second place, with their fortune increasing by 24% to US$14.3 billion, aided by newly disclosed holdings. In contrast, the property duo Robert and Philip Ng slipped to third as their wealth decreased to US$14.1 billion in light of a downturn in Hong Kong's real estate market.

Goh Family’s Entry and a New Star!

New to the rankings, the Goh family, heirs to paint magnate Goh Cheng Liang, debuted at fourth place with a commendable US$13.1 billion. This rise comes after shares of Nippon Paint Holdings surged nearly 30% following a strategic acquisition.

Li Xiting Rounding Out the Top Five

Finally, at fifth place, we find Li Xiting, chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, whose net worth saw a slight dip to US$13 billion.

Sea's Magnates Experience a Wealth Boom!

Three key figures from the US-listed company Sea enjoyed significant wealth boosts, as the firm reported an impressive 418.3% increase in second-quarter earnings. CEO Forrest Li jumped six spots to No. 6 with US$11.2 billion, while COO Gang Ye rose to No. 13 with US$6 billion. Chief Product Officer David Chen surged an impressive 22 places to No. 28 with US$2 billion.

Noteworthy Comebacks and New Entrants!

After a three-year absence, Teo Swee Ann, founder of Espressif Systems, returns at No. 37 with US$1.5 billion following record profits. Moreover, the Ng siblings, controlling Pan-United, made a comeback after seven years, now ranked 50th with US$1 billion.

A Record-Net Worth Threshold!

This year also marked a new record for the minimum net worth to enter the list, increasing to US$1 billion, up from US$870 million in the previous year. However, several established names dropped off, including Saurabh Mittal and the Wong brothers of fashion label Charles & Keith.

This year's list captures the latest wealth trends, calculated as of August 15, 2025, and showcases the dynamic shifts within Singapore's billionaire ranks.