Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy list
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy list 2023.
Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy list recognizes individuals who are making a significant impact on society through their philanthropic endeavors. These individuals are using their wealth and resources to address a wide range of social issues, including poverty, education, healthcare, and environmental protection.
The 2023 Heroes of Philanthropy list includes a diverse group of individuals from across Asia, representing a variety of industries and backgrounds. These individuals are all committed to making a difference in the world and are inspiring others to do the same.
Here are some of the notable individuals on the 2023 Heroes of Philanthropy list:
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Nandan Nilekani, India
Co-founder of Infosys, a multinational IT services company. Nilekani has donated billions of dollars to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Nandan Nilekani is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder and non-executive Chairman of Infosys, a multinational provider of business consulting, technology, engineering, and outsourcing services . He was also the founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in the rank of a Cabinet Minister from 2009-2014 . Nilekani has been a prominent philanthropist, donating generously to various causes. In 2023, he donated Rs 315 crore ($38.5 million) to his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, to support global leadership vision . He has also donated billions of dollars to support education, healthcare, and other social causes .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: KP Singh, India
Founder of DLF, one of India’s largest real estate developers. Singh has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Kushal Pal Singh is an Indian billionaire real estate developer, and the chairman and CEO of real estate developer DLF Limited, founded by his father-in-law Chaudhary Raghvender Singh . He has constructed numerous earthquake-proof office buildings, apartments, shopping malls, and leisure facilities in Gurgaon . Kushal Pal Singh has donated from personal funds, showcasing his commitment to various causes. He has raised $89 million by selling his last direct share in the Delhi-based real estate company, which will support charitable causes and the KP Singh Foundation, founded in 2020 . He has also donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Nikhil Kamath, India
Co-founder of Zerodha, one of India’s largest online stock brokers. Kamath has donated millions of dollars to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Zerodha, one of India’s largest online stock brokers . He is also the co-founder of True Beacon, an asset management company that helps ultra-high net individuals invest in the Indian markets via privately pooled investment vehicles . In 2023, he signed the Giving Pledge, an initiative founded by Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates, committing to donate 50% of his wealth to charitable causes, including climate change, education, and health care . In 2022, he and his brother Nithin Kamath donated Rs100 crore ($13.5 million) of personal wealth, which was a 300% increase from the previous year, to various philanthropic causes 3.
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Takemitsu Takizaki, Japan
Founder of Keyence, a manufacturer of sensors and automation equipment. Takizaki has donated over $2 billion to support scientific research, education, and other social causes.
Takemitsu Takizaki is a Japanese billionaire businessman, honorary chairman, and founder of Keyence, a Japanese manufacturer of automation sensors, vision systems, barcode readers, laser markers, measuring instruments, and digital microscopes . He stepped down as chairman in March 2015 but remains on the board of directors and as an honorary chairman . Takizaki has been a prominent philanthropist, donating generously to various causes. In 2022, he donated shares worth nearly $3 billion to his foundation . He has donated over $2 billion to support scientific research, education, and other social causes .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Andrew and Nicola Forrest, Australia
Founders of Fortescue Metals Group, a mining company. The Forrests have donated over $3 billion to support indigenous communities, environmental protection, and other social causes.
Andrew Forrest and Nicola Forrest are Australian entrepreneurs and philanthropists. They are the founders of Fortescue Metals Group, a mining company that is one of the largest iron ore producers in the world . The couple has been actively involved in philanthropy, donating billions of dollars to various causes. They established the Minderoo Foundation in 2001, which supports initiatives across Australia and internationally in pursuit of a range of causes including education, ending slavery, research, indigenous disadvantage, disaster response, and the arts . In 2023, they donated nearly $5 billion in shares to their philanthropic foundation, Minderoo. The couple has also donated over $3 billion to support indigenous communities, environmental protection, and other social causes .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Ramon Ang, Philippines
Chairman of San Miguel Corporation, a diversified conglomerate. Ang has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, disaster relief, and other social causes.
Ramon See Ang is a Filipino businessman, born on January 14, 1954 in Manila, Philippines. He is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Top Frontier Investment Holdings, Inc., the largest shareholder of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) . He is also the president and CEO of SMC and the chairman of Cyber Bay Corporation and Eagle Cement Corporation .
Ang has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, disaster relief, and other social causes . His philanthropic contributions include the establishment of the Ramon S. Ang Graduate School of Management at the University of the Philippines, the construction of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and the donation of a fleet of aircraft to the Philippine Red Cross for disaster relief operations
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: He Xiangjian, China
Founder of Midea Group, an appliance manufacturer. Xiangjian has pledged to donate $410 million to support scientific research, education, and other social causes.
He Xiangjian is a Chinese businessman, born on October 5, 1942 in Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, China . He is the co-founder of Midea Group, one of China’s largest appliance makers . In September 2021, his net worth was estimated to be $28.8 billion by Bloomberg Billionaires Index, positioning him at the 51st place in the index .
He has pledged to donate $410 million to support scientific research, education, and other social causes . His philanthropic contributions include the establishment of the He Art Museum, a privately funded non-profit museum designed by Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong
Chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, a conglomerate with interests in ports, telecommunications, and retail. Ka-shing has donated over $3 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong businessman, born on July 29, 1928 in Chao’an, Chaozhou, Guangdong, China . He is the founder of Cheung Kong Industries, which later became CK Hutchison Holdings, a conglomerate with interests in ports, telecommunications, and retail . As of July 2023, his net worth is estimated to be $37.7 billion .
Ka-shing has donated over $3 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes His philanthropic contributions include the establishment of the Li Ka Shing Foundation, which has donated over $2.2 billion to support healthcare and education initiatives . He has also pledged to transfer one-third of his assets to the foundation, which he calls his “third son” .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Low Tuck Kwong, Indonesia
Founder of the Wee Kim Wee School of Public Policy. Tuck Kwong has donated over $100 million to support education and public service initiatives.
Low Tuck Kwong is an Indonesian businessman, born on April 17, 1948 in Singapore . He is the founder of Bayan Resources, a coal mining company in Indonesia, and is ranked as the second-richest person in Indonesia by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of US$25.2 billion as of December 2022 .
Low Tuck Kwong has been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including contributions to education, healthcare, and community development in Indonesia and other regions . He has donated over $100 million to support education and public service initiatives. His charitable efforts include the establishment of the Low Tuck Kwong Foundation, which is dedicated to improving lives and enabling communities in Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the world to build a better society for future generations .
Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia: Anant Ambani, India
Chairman of Reliance Industries, a diversified conglomerate. Ambani has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Anant Ambani is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries . He was born on April 10, 1995 in Mumbai, India . He received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University in Rhode Island .
Anant Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries, a diversified conglomerate with interests in petrochemicals, refining, oil and gas exploration, and retail . He has been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including contributions to education, healthcare, and wildlife conservation . He has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes . His charitable efforts include funding various programs to protect wildlife in the Seven Hills in Tirumala and donating a huge amount of money to the Nitya Annadanam scheme .
Azim Premji, India
Founder of Wipro, an IT services company. Premji has donated over $23 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Azim Hashim Premji is an Indian businessman and philanthropist, who was the chairman of Wipro Limited. He is informally known as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry . Premji has donated over $23 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes . In 2013, he agreed to give away at least half of his wealth by signing the Giving Pledge . He started with a $2.2 billion donation to the Azim Premji Foundation, focused on education in India . In 2020, he topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List with ₹ 7,904 crore in donations .
Mukesh Ambani, India
Chairman of Reliance Industries, a diversified conglomerate. Ambani has donated over $10 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, a diversified conglomerate . He is credited with creating the globe’s largest start-up petroleum refinery and building the Jio telecommunications brand .
Ambani has donated over $500 crore to support various causes, including Rs. 500 crore to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 fund in 2020 . He has also donated Rs. 557 crore in the last fiscal year, according to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021 .
Dilip Shanghvi, India:
Founder and Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, a pharmaceutical company. Shanghvi has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Dilip Shanghvi is an Indian billionaire businessman and one of the country’s richest people . He is the founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, which is the largest chronic prescription company in India and the fifth largest specialty generic company globally .
Shanghvi has donated over $500 crore to support various causes, including Rs. 500 crore to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 fund in 2020 . According to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021, he has donated Rs. 557 crore in the last fiscal year .
Kumar Birla, India
Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, a diversified conglomerate. Birla has donated over $3 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes.
Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman of Aditya Birla Group, a diversified conglomerate . He is the fourth-generation head of the $65 billion Aditya Birla Group, which has a presence in 41 countries .
Shiv Nadar, India
Founder of HCL Technologies, an IT services company. Nadar has donated over $1 billion to support education, healthcare, and other social causes
Shiv Nadar is an Indian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies and the Shiv Nadar Foundation. Nadar founded HCL in the mid-1970s and transformed the IT hardware company into an IT enterprise over the next three decades .
Nadar has donated a staggering ₹ 2,042 crore (approximately $275 million) in the last fiscal year, according to the annual EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023 . His philanthropic focus areas include education, art, and culture .
Conclusion – Philanthropists In The Forbes Asia
These are just a few of the many inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the world through their philanthropy. The Forbes Asia Heroes of Philanthropy list is a reminder that even one person can make a significant impact on society.
Hall of Shame : Forbes Spotlight on Individuals Accused of Wrongdoing
Richest Actors in the World & Their Wealth
Inspiring Success Stories, That Will Ignite Your Self-Belief
