The Malaysian businessman Ananda Krishnan has tragically passed away due to age-related factors, and his daughter has yet to make a public appearance. Many wonder if his offspring will inherit the billion-dollar assets.
Ananda Krishnan was born in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, and had roots in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The businessman was initially married to a Thai princess, Momwajarongse Suprinda Chakraban.
The pair had two children, a son and a daughter, and Ananda Krishnan revealed that their presence changed his perspective on life. While his son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, left home at 18 to become a monk, his daughter remained in Ananda’s shadows.
Moreover, she didn’t publicly appear with her father, even when he traveled to different countries for business events. Later, Ananda remarried and had another child with his second wife.
Billionaire terkenal Malaysia, Ananda Krishnan meninggal dunia tadi. Paling terkenal dengan penglibatan beliau sebagai pengasas Astro dan Maxis. Forbes menganggarkan Ananda memiliki kekayaan sebanyak USD 5.1 bilion. pic.twitter.com/g2i90zFGa1
— Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) November 28, 2024
Speculations arose that it was a daughter, but her whereabouts haven’t been revealed either. Reports suggested that one of his daughters is a doctor. However, such information cannot be confirmed.
After Ananda’s demise, netizens have become confused as they wonder who will inherit the business. Previously, his son mentioned that he had no attachment to his father’s wealth.
Additionally, Ven followed the Theravada Buddhist tradition and left behind the luxurious lifestyle after visiting his mother’s family in Thailand. It began as a temporary retreat but turned into a lifelong commitment.
He has lived outside the family for over twenty years and has become the abbot of Dtao Dum Monastery, located along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Despite such positions, Ven had maintained a close relationship with his father.
Ananda Krishnan bought a spiritual property for his son on Penang Hill!
Throughout his life, Ananda maintained a low profile and refrained from talking much about his family. The businessman had focused all his life on expanding his business and its revenue.
Ananda was a Colombo Plan scholar who attended the University of Melbourne. In 1964, he completed a major in political science and business administration from Havard Business School.
Since then, the businessman has been involved in oil trading, making him one of the country’s prominent dealmakers. Ananda has also contributed to the telecommunication industry.
Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, son of Malaysian telecom tycoon Ananda Krishnan, relinquished a multi-billion-dollar inheritance to embrace monastic life. At 18, he chose the path of a Buddhist forest monk, now serving as an abbot. While dedicated to simplicity, he maintains family ties,… https://t.co/C1ezPPzGlv pic.twitter.com/rjDJ9gH0I5
— JalaIMisai (@jllmisai) November 28, 2024
Moreover, his holdings included stocks in telecom firm Maxis, media firm Astro Malaysia Holdings, and oilfield services provider Bumi Armada.
Later, Ananda expanded his business network and invested $7 billion in Indian telecom firm Airtel. However, UV Asset Reconstruction acquired the company after it filed for bankruptcy in 2018.
Despite the hindrances in his activities, the businessman donated to several charities. Ananda was a significant member of the Live Aid program organization. The event had over 1.5 billion television viewers and earned $70 million for famine victims.
Ananda’s down-to-earth and cheerful nature inspired people to admire his work and start their own business ventures.
At the time of his passing, Ananda had an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, making him the third richest person in Malaysia. He has left behind a large portion of his assets to his family.
Additional Information
- Ananda Krishnan was the founder and chairperson of Usaha Tegas, Astro Malaysia Holdings, and Yu Cai Foundation, which are among the highest-earning companies in Malaysia.
- The businessman was one of the leading figures in building the Petronas Twin Tower and the surrounding KLCC area. Sources claim that he pitched the development idea to Dr. Mahathir in the early 1990s.
