Meet man whose family couldn’t afford to pay school fees, he is now worth Rs 12,500 crore

The founder of the Albukhary Foundation, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, is one of Malaysia's most prosperous and giving businessmen. Although his family has Yemeni roots in the Hadramawt region, he was born in 1951 into a poor family in Kedah. After relocating to Johor Bahru in 1961, Syed Mokhtar lived there for six years before going back to Alor Setar to attend St. Michael's Secondary School. He was also involved in his father's cattle business while he was attending school. The company collapsed shortly after due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. A few months before he completed his Secondary 5, Syed Mokhtar gave up on his education because his family could not afford the exam fees.

He then began his career as a rice trader and progressively broadened the scope of his empire to include the plantation, engineering, automotive, and construction industries. Due to his accomplishments, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary is now well-known throughout the world. He has also received multiple honours and awards for his charitable work and contributions to the business world. He has given more than $500 million to support a range of causes, including aiding orphans, refugees, and victims of natural disasters.
 
Currently ranked as the 11th richest person in Malaysia, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has a net worth of Rs 12,500 crore. Among his notable businesses are DRB-HICOM, MMC, and Tradewinds Plantation. He also owns shares in Media Prima, the company that owns the New Straits Times Press, and ALTEL, which was given the contract for the 5G telecom spectrum in Malaysia.