Lim Kok Thay’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $4.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $2.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $2.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $2.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $1.8 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $1.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $1.3 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Lim Kok Thay’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
How do you compare to Lim Kok Thay? New
Type your yearly income and see how you stack up. It runs in your browser: nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
Lim Kok Thay has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Lim Kok Thay profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is down from a peak of $4.4 billion.
Lim Kok Thay is a Malaysian businessman best known for leading Genting, a group with casinos, resorts, and other businesses. He became a director in 1976 and later took over as chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad and Genting Malaysia Berhad in 2003. Over time, he pushed the company beyond Malaysia. Genting built up resort brands such as Resorts World, Maxims, Crockfords, and Awana, with projects across Asia, the US, and the UK.
Much of his wealth is tied to casinos and resort operations. His career includes helping the Mashantucket Pequots establish Foxwoods Resorts Casino in 1990, expanding Genting into the UK in 2005, and leading the bid for Singapore's first integrated resort in 2006. He also co-founded Genting Hong Kong, formerly Star Cruises. In 2025, he stepped down as CEO of Genting after almost 2 decades in the role, while staying on as executive chairman.
How Lim Kok Thay built his fortune
Lim's money is mainly connected to Genting's casino and resort businesses. He leads Genting as executive chairman and also serves on the boards of Genting Berhad and Genting Malaysia Berhad. Under his leadership, the group expanded from its home base into a wider leisure and hospitality network. That included resort properties in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, plus projects in the US and a casino business in the UK.
He also built wealth through related travel and gaming assets. Lim co-founded Genting Hong Kong, once known as Star Cruises, and in 2011 that business and Norwegian Cruise Line together formed the third largest cruise operator in the world, with 18 ships and about 35,000 lower berths. His assets also include Empire Resorts, the parent of Resorts World Catskills. Genting Singapore is also revamping Resorts World Sentosa in an ongoing S$6.8 billion ($5 billion) expansion.
Forbes net worth over time
Forbes has shown big swings in Lim's fortune. It estimated his net worth at $4.4 billion in 2019, then $2 billion in 2020, followed by $2.7 billion in 2021. In 2022, his cruise operator Genting Hong Kong filed a winding up petition after being hit hard by the pandemic, and he stepped down as chairman there. That same year, Forbes again valued him at $2 billion.
After that, Forbes placed him at $2.3 billion in 2023 and 2024, then $1.8 billion in 2025 and $1.9 billion in 2026. Forbes currently puts him at $1.3 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026. Those shifts line up with changes across his casino, resort, and cruise interests, including losses at Resorts World Catskills and the broader pressure on Genting Hong Kong.
Career and money timeline
- 1976
He became a director of Genting Group.
- 1990
He helped the Mashantucket Pequots establish Foxwoods Resorts Casino in Connecticut.
- 2003
He became chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad and Genting Malaysia Berhad.
- 2006
He led the winning bid for Singapore's first integrated resort on Sentosa Island.
- 2015
He acquired Crystal Cruises for $550 million.
- 2025
He stepped down as Genting CEO and remained executive chairman.
Lim Kok Thay net worth FAQ
What is Lim Kok Thay's net worth?
Lim Kok Thay's net worth is an estimated $1.3 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Lim Kok Thay profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Lim Kok Thay get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Casinos.
Is Lim Kok Thay a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Lim Kok Thay is worth $1.3 billion.
How has Lim Kok Thay's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $4.4 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $1.3 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company is most tied to Lim Kok Thay's wealth?
Genting is the main company tied to his fortune. Forbes places him in the Gambling & Casinos industry.
Does Lim Kok Thay still run Genting day to day?
He stepped down as CEO in February 2025 after almost 2 decades in that job. He remains executive chairman of the group.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Lim Kok Thay profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Lim Kok Thay profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 7, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Lim Kok Thay profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Lim Kok Thay profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Lim Kok Thay (accessed October 22, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.