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Lim Kok Thay

Lim Kok Thay

L. Thay
0.09% | + $1.77M
$1.94 B ₹ 17,683 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2089 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Lim Kok Thay

Gender

Male

Age

74Y

Country

Malaysia

Born On

August, 1951

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

3

Education

University Of London - BSc In Civil Engineering

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited (Expanded Family Business)

Primary Organization

Genting Group

Titles

Chairman & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Genting Group

Industry

Gaming, Hospitality, Entertainment, Diversified

About Lim Kok Thay


L im Kok Thay is a Malaysian tycoon and the chairman and CEO of Genting Group, a sprawling global conglomerate with core businesses in the leisure and hospitality sectors. He is the second son of the group's legendary founder, the late Lim Goh Tong, who famously transformed a remote jungle hilltop into the highly successful Genting Highlands Resort (now Resorts World Genting), Malaysia's only licensed casino resort. Lim Kok Thay inherited the leadership of the family empire from his father in 2003 and has since been responsible for its ambitious global expansion.

Under his stewardship, the Genting brand has expanded its footprint across the world with integrated resorts and casinos in Singapore (Resorts World Sentosa), the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Resorts World Las Vegas and New York City). He has also diversified the group's interests into other areas, including palm oil plantations, power generation, and cruise lines through the Genting Hong Kong subsidiary (which later faced financial difficulties). Despite recent challenges, particularly in the cruise business, Lim Kok Thay remains a dominant figure in the global gaming industry.

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Quick Reads


  • Chairman and CEO of the global conglomerate Genting Group.
  • Son of Genting founder, the late Lim Goh Tong.
  • Oversaw the group's international expansion with resorts in Singapore, Las Vegas, and more.
  • The group's flagship property is Resorts World Genting in Malaysia.
  • Genting's business interests also include plantations, energy, and real estate.

Early Life and Background


Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay is a Malaysian businessman, the billionaire Executive Chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad (KLSE: GENTING), a massive multinational conglomerate spanning casinos, resorts, cruise ships, and property development. His wealth is generational, tied to the industrial empire founded by his late father, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong (d. 2007).

Lim holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers. His career is defined by generational stewardship and executive leadership in the global gaming and hospitality sector. His structural role is tied to managing the family's assets across diverse sectors, including Resorts World Sentosa (Singapore) and Genting Highlands (Malaysia).

  • Genting Berhad (Executive Chairman & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in casinos, resorts, cruise ships (Genting Cruise Lines), and property development.
  • Hospitality Focus: His success is built on integrated resort development (combining gaming, hotels, retail, and theme parks).
  • Strategic Expansion: He led the $4.4 billion development of Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore and the expansion into Las Vegas and the U.S.
  • Family Governance: He succeeded his father as Executive Chairman and controls the majority of the family assets.

Career Journey of Lim Kok Thay


Lim Kok Thay's strategic leadership transformed Genting into a global gaming and hospitality giant. He assumed the role of Executive Chairman and CEO after his father's death. His structural contribution is tied to the successful development and operation of integrated casino resorts in restricted Asian markets (Malaysia, Singapore) and its expansion into the U.S. (e.g., Resorts World Casino New York City).

His career faced a major challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the cruise and resort industries, forcing the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong (a separate entity he led). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global integrated resort and gaming sector.

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Lim Kok Thay's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Graduates with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of London (Academic Achievement).

2005 (approx.):

Leads the development of Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore (Development Milestone).

2007 (October):

His father, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, passes away; Lim Kok Thay assumes Executive Chairman role (Succession/Executive Apex).

2022 (January):

Genting Hong Kong (a cruise subsidiary) files for bankruptcy (Corporate Crisis).

Ongoing:

Continues as Executive Chairman and CEO, guiding the global conglomerate (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Lim Kok Thay's wealth is concentrated in his family's controlling stake and executive leadership of the publicly traded conglomerate, Genting Berhad (KLSE: GENTING), and its subsidiaries.

  • Genting Berhad (Executive Chairman & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in casinos, resorts, cruise ships (Genting Cruise Lines), and property development.
  • Hospitality Focus: His success is built on integrated resort development (combining gaming, hotels, retail, and theme parks).
  • Strategic Expansion: He led the $4.4 billion development of Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore and the expansion into Las Vegas and the U.S.
  • Family Governance: He succeeded his father as Executive Chairman and controls the majority of the family assets.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Lim Kok Thay's social impact is structural, stemming from Genting Group's role as a massive global employer and foundational provider of tourism and entertainment infrastructure across Asia and the U.S. His companies contribute significantly to the economic vitality of the regions where they operate. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful generational transition and modernization of a critical industrial and hospitality asset.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Lim Kok Thay maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global hospitality and gaming sector.

Residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, resort development, and global investment strategy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Executive Chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad (casinos, resorts, cruise ships).
  • He led the $4.4 billion development of Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.
  • His father, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, founded the empire.
  • He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of London.
  • His cruise subsidiary, Genting Hong Kong, filed for bankruptcy in 2022.
  • He is a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful vertical integration of gaming, resorts, and cruise ships.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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