RedCarpetLife
2861
In the world today
Michael Kum

Michael Kum

M. Kum
0.44% | + $5.34M
$1.23 B ₹ 11,178 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2861 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Michael Kum

Gender

Male

Age

80Y

Country

Singapore

Born On

August, 1945

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Shipping And Hotels)

Primary Organization

M&L Hospitality

Titles

Executive Chairman

Sources of Wealth

M&L Hospitality

Industry

Real Estate, Hospitality, Shipping, Oil & Gas

About Michael Kum


M ichael Kum is a self-made Singaporean tycoon who has successfully built fortunes in two separate and distinct industries: shipping and hotels. He began his career in the 1970s and founded Offshore Group Services, which he built into a major provider of offshore support vessels and services for the booming oil and gas industry in Asia. This maritime business was the foundation of his wealth.

After achieving great success in the offshore sector, Kum sold his company and made a strategic pivot into real estate and hospitality. He is the founder and executive chairman of M&L Hospitality, a real estate investment trust that owns a valuable portfolio of upscale hotels in key gateway cities across the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The portfolio includes well-known hotel brands in cities like Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, and London. The day-to-day operations of the hotel group are now run by his son, while Kum continues to oversee the family's business strategy.

Advertisement

Quick Reads


  • Founder and Executive Chairman of hotel owner M&L Hospitality.
  • Made his first fortune in the offshore oil and gas services industry.
  • Owns a large portfolio of upscale hotels in major cities like Singapore, Sydney, and London.
  • He is a self-made billionaire.
  • His son now runs the daily operations of the hotel business.

Early Life and Background


Michael Kum is a Singaporean businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Executive Chairman of Desay Group and Wearnes-Lulworth (former). His career is rooted in maritime trade, real estate, and industrial manufacturing.

Kum's philosophical approach centers on long-term asset control, scale efficiency, and vertical integration across the maritime logistics and industrial sectors. His structural contribution is tied to the successful consolidation and professionalization of the global shipping and ship management industry.

  • Desay Group (Founder & Executive Chairman): The core private asset, a major holding company spanning shipping, ship management, and industrial assets.
  • Maritime Focus: His success is built on scale maritime transport and ship management services for global commodity trade.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in tangible assets (vessels and real estate).
  • Family Governance: His children are actively involved in the executive management of the group.

Career Journey of Michael Kum


Michael Kum's strategic leadership guided Desay Group's transformation into a major force in the global maritime sector. Under his guidance as Chairman, the company expanded aggressively, focusing on ship ownership, technical management, and crewing services. His structural contribution is tied to providing essential logistical and transportation services for global commodity trade.

His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global maritime transport and logistics sector.

Advertisement

Michael Kum's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Founds the precursor to the Desay Group (Founding).

Ongoing:

Desay Group expands aggressively into ship management and logistics (Global Expansion).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Executive Chairman, guiding the massive maritime empire (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Michael Kum's wealth is concentrated in his founding and controlling ownership of the private industrial giant, Desay Group.

  • Desay Group (Founder & Executive Chairman): The core private asset, a major holding company spanning shipping, ship management, and industrial assets.
  • Maritime Focus: His success is built on scale maritime transport and ship management services for global commodity trade.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in tangible assets (vessels and real estate).
  • Family Governance: His children are actively involved in the executive management of the group.

Advertisement

Philanthropy and Social Impact


Michael Kum's social impact is structural, stemming from Desay Group's role in providing essential logistical and transportation services that underpin the world economy. His company contributes significantly to global commodity trade and energy security. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful consolidation and professionalization of the global shipping and ship management industry.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Michael Kum maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global maritime sector.

Residing in Singapore, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to maritime logistics, corporate governance, and long-term asset hold.

Advertisement

Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Desay Group (shipping and ship management).
  • His company is a major player in global maritime transport and logistics.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful consolidation and professionalization of the ship management industry.
  • His family has a significant presence in Singaporean real estate (from a related search).
  • He holds an estimated net worth in the billions of dollars (2025 estimate).
  • He is known for maintaining a private profile despite his vast corporate interests.
  • His philosophy emphasizes long-term asset control and scale efficiency.

Advertisement

More Profiles


Wang Wenmo

-0.02% | -$0.36M

John Tyson & family

-0.66% | -$20.13M

You May Like


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

Sponsored Content