Singapore now has 49 billionaires – up from 39 in 2024 – with a combined wealth of US$145.2 billion, according to Forbes’ annual global billionaires list released on Apr. 1.

Goh Cheng Liang, the paint tycoon and majority owner of Nippon Paint Holdings, is the richest person in Singapore with a net worth of US$13 billion.

He ranks 182nd globally, surpassing Chinese medical equipment manufacturer Mindray’s co-founder Li Xiting (US$12.8 billion) and Sea CEO Forrest Li (US$8.6 billion), whose fortune surged from US$3.6 billion in 2024.

New names on the list include Quek Leng Chye of Hong Leong Holdings and Razer investor Lim Kaling.

Globally, Forbes’ 2025 list features 3,028 billionaires worth a total of US$16.1 trillion. Elon Musk reclaimed the top spot with US$342 billion, followed by Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.