Most and even all humans on earth tend to have things that other people don’t have. One of the basic things that become wants as well as needs is money and possessions. Often the phrase “money doesn’t buy everything, but everything requires money” is thrown around by someone.
This sentence cannot be denied, because, in this modern era, money is indeed the orientation of everyone. Many people in the world are lucky to have a lot of money and possessions. Not only to meet daily needs but also to create a lifestyle that is much better than the average person. They are called billionaires. People of extraordinary wealth and connections.
In Indonesia, many people have extraordinary wealth. The Hartono Brothers (Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono) are one of them. These two names have never been separated from the nickname billionaire because of the wealth and assets they have. The Hartono brothers are the richest people in Indonesia according to Forbes magazine both of them have remained in that position for 11 years (from 2010 to 2021). With their net worth, they are also among the 100 richest people in the world according to Forbes magazine, where Robert Budi Hartono ranks 86th and Michael Bambang Hartono ranks 89th.
The Hartono brothers are the sons of Oei Wie Gwan, the founder of the Djarum Gramophone factory which was later known as PT Djarum. PT Djarum is one of the sources of wealth owned by the brothers and thus led to the title of the richest person in Indonesia for 11 consecutive years.
However, this business did not become big since its inception, in 1963, the Djarum Gramophone factory which produced Oei Wie Gwan’s kretek cigarettes was almost unable to continue its operations due to a severe fire that occurred in the factory. In addition, not long after the fire, their father, Oei Wie Gwan, died leaving the nearly bankrupt factory with his two sons, Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono.
Utilizing the remains of a nearly bankrupt factory, the Hartono brothers began to devise a strategy that could restore the business. Both are seeking bailouts and updating the condition of the factory and its contents. The brothers even created a research and development department on production and production and used machines that could increase production at that time.
In 1976, the Djarum Gramophone factory which had changed its name to PT Djarum began releasing its new product, namely kretek filters. This business continued to grow until in 1980, PT Djarum again issued a new product called Djarum Super and became the flagship product of this factory. Currently, PT Djarum does not only market its products in Indonesia but has also penetrated the international market. Until now, Djarum production has reached 48 million sticks per year or 20% of the total national production.
Not only from PT Djarum, but the Hartono brothers also began to expand their reach in the banking sector around the 2000s. Through PT Djarum, the two bought shares in Bank Central Asia (BCA), which was originally held by Liem Sioe Liong. Until now, the Hartono brothers are the majority shareholders of one of the largest banks in Indonesia. According to Forbes magazine, BCA is the Hartono brothers’ biggest source of wealth. Even so, the two of them were not satisfied with just that. Djarum Group has again ventured into the world of agribusiness, electronics, and even property. Not surprisingly, both of them have not been able to shift their position from the title of the richest person in Indonesia.
The net worth of Robert Budi Hartono is 22.7 billion USD, while Michael Bambang Hartono is 21.9 billion USD. The amount of wealth they have makes both of them dubbed as billionaires from Indonesia. At an age that is no longer young, both of them are examples of entrepreneurs who are tenacious, diligent, and never give up.
His family background is not a wealthy person to is a very interesting thing. Not many billionaires in the world come from mediocre family backgrounds. The Hartono brothers’ ability to analyze problems and create opportunities when conditions don’t allow them proves the genius of the two. Coupled with the cooperation and cohesiveness of the Hartono brothers, whatever business they run can grow bigger, beyond what was previously imagined.
Being the number 1 richest person in Indonesia does not necessarily make the Hartono Brothers arrogant and waste their money. This simplicity is shown by the habit of Michael Bambang Hartono who often eats in a simple stall. In addition, both of them also enjoy sports. Michael Bambang Hartono is fond of bridge sports, even at the 2018 Asian Games, at a young age, he managed to win a bronze medal. Just like his younger brother, Robert Budi Hartono loves badminton.
Starting from this passion, he later founded PB Djarum. PB Djarum itself is one of the Djarum Foundation programs that aims to improve the quality of human resources and maintain the sustainability of natural resources. PB Djarum has overshadowed many famous Indonesians, Among the familiar names are Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, Mohammad Ahsan, Liliyana Natsir, Tontowi Ahmad, Budi Santoso, to Liem Swie King. Some of these names have won achievements in the international arena in the world of badminton. Currently, Kevin Sanjaya and Mohammad Ahsan are even in the first and second place in the world’s best Men’s Double category for badminton.
Apart from PB Djarum, one of the Djarum Foundation programs that have achieved international achievements is the Djarum Scholarship Plus. Ten Beswan Djarum achieved achievements in the 2018 Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMC) which was held in Sydney, Australia. The Djarum Foundation delegation won awards both at the individual and group level at the event.
The life of the Hartono brothers is an illustration of life that can be emulated by all circles of society. Starting from a business that almost went out of business, it can be managed in such a way that it managed to rise, and even dominate the world market. The wealth they have is not achieved overnight. Dare to make decisions, see opportunities, never give up, not easily satisfied, and work hard, making the Hartono Brothers grow to be the number 1 richest people in Indonesia. The Hartono Brothers can define the quotes from Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts”.
