Djoko Susanto (born Kwok Kwie Fo) is an Indonesian businessman, the self-made billionaire founder of Alfamart, Indonesia's largest minimart chain. Born in Jakarta in 1950, his life is a legendary rags-to-riches story rooted in extreme hardship. He was forced to drop out of elementary school when the Indonesian government did not allow young people with Chinese names to study in the country, forcing him to adopt the Indonesian name Djoko Susanto and study outside of school.

At age 17, he began working in his parents' modest food stall in a traditional market. The stall was severely damaged in a fire in 1976. Susanto's entrepreneurial drive was immediate: he pivoted to selling cigarettes, a strategy that quickly proved highly successful and attracted the attention of clove cigarette magnate, Putera Sampoerna.

Djoko Susanto's partnership with Putera Sampoerna led to the founding of Alfa Minimart (later Alfamart) in 1989. His strategic vision was audacious: create a massive chain of convenient and affordable minimarts aimed at Indonesia's lower- to middle-class customers, filling a crucial gap in the retail landscape. The company expanded rapidly through a mix of owned and franchised stores.

The company faced financial restructuring when Putera Sampoerna sold his majority stake to Philip Morris, which had no interest in retail. Susanto seized the opportunity, buying back the stake alongside a private equity investor and later buying out the investor, regaining 65 percent ownership of the company. Alfamart has grown into a dominant force, with its stock price quadrupling in two years, catapulting Susanto into the billionaire ranks. His success is a testament to the long-term profitability of mastering convenience and affordability in a massive, essential consumer market.

Djoko Susanto's social impact is massive and structural, stemming from Alfamart's role in creating thousands of jobs and providing essential affordable consumer goods and convenience to Indonesia's middle and lower-middle classes. The company's expansion, driven by ethical business practices, develops entrepreneurial spirit through its franchise model.

His personal story, overcoming poverty and educational barriers due to his Chinese name, serves as a powerful inspiration for Indonesian entrepreneurs and a structural contribution to economic mobility.

Djoko Susanto maintains the modest, pragmatic style of a self-made Indonesian businessman. His attire is consistently professional and conservative, reflecting the stability and efficiency of the discount retail model. His aesthetic is one of focused competence and humility.

Residing in Jakarta, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to building a reliable, ethical, and healthy organization that successfully serves the essential, mass-market consumer needs of Indonesia.