Jakarta, IndonesiaSentinel.com — As Prabowo Subianto prepares to succeed Joko Widodo as Indonesia’s president, the financial profiles of the nation’s leaders are coming into focus. Indonesia has had seven presidents since gaining independence, each with varying fortunes.
Here’s a look at the wealth of Indonesia’s President past and present, according to various sources:
1. Soekarno
The exact net worth of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, remains unclear. However, an Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported in 2012 that Soekarno allegedly had a fortune of USD 180 billion stored in a bunker at the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS).
2. Soeharto
Indonesia’s second president, Soeharto, is believed to have transferred USD 9 billion to an Austrian bank following his resignation in 1998. This amount is thought to be only a portion of his total fortune. Time Warner Inc. estimated Soeharto’s wealth at USD 15 billion, which included the funds transferred from Swiss banks.
3. B.J. Habibie
While the precise amount of B.J. Habibie’s wealth is unknown, Far Eastern Economic Review once reported his net worth at USD 60 million. Much of his wealth came from intellectual property and technology ventures. His family is also prosperous, with his sons Ilham and Thareq Habibie reportedly having a combined net worth of USD 250 million from technology-related businesses.
4. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur)
According to Indonesia’s Public Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN) in 2001, Abdurrahman Wahid, known as Gus Dur, had assets worth IDR 3.49 billion (around USD 230,000 at the time), which included real estate, vehicles, precious metals, and cash.
5. Megawati Soekarnoputri
In 2014, Indonesia’s fifth president, Megawati, reported assets totaling IDR 96.16 billion (about USD 6.3 million). Her wealth included properties, securities, and cash holdings.
6. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s president from 2004 to 2014, declared assets of IDR 13.98 billion (about USD 900,000) in 2014. His wealth was largely comprised of real estate, vehicles, and savings.
7. Joko Widodo (Jokowi)
As of 2023, current president Joko Widodo reported a net worth of IDR 95.8 billion (USD 6.3 million), an increase from IDR 82.3 billion in 2022. His assets include 20 properties valued at IDR 74.1 billion (USD 4.8 million), vehicles, and cash holdings.
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8. Prabowo Subianto
President-elect Prabowo Subianto declared assets totaling IDR 2.04 trillion (USD 134 million) as of December 2023. His wealth includes securities worth IDR 1.7 trillion (USD 112 million), real estate valued at IDR 275.3 billion (USD 18 million), and cash holdings of IDR 47.8 billion (USD 3.1 million).
Conclusion The personal wealth of Indonesia’s presidents reflects a combination of political influence, business ventures, and strategic investments. Public interest in their financial standing underscores the importance of transparency in governance.
(Ray)
