The Life and Legacy of Michael Bambang Hartono
Michael Bambang Hartono, Indonesia’s richest man, passed away on Thursday at the age of 86. Known for his contributions to business, sports, and bridge, Hartono left a lasting impact on Indonesian society. His death was announced by the Djarum Group, the company he helped build into a major conglomerate.
Hartono died at a hospital in Singapore, according to a statement from the Djarum Group. “With deep sorrow, the extended family of PT Djarum announces the passing of one of our company’s leaders, Michael Bambang Hartono,” the statement read. “We extend our gratitude for his dedication and service.”
The cause of his death has not been disclosed, though it is known that Hartono had previously struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a heart attack. His legacy, however, extends far beyond his personal health challenges.
A Business Empire
Hartono and his brother Robert Budi Hartono built their family’s business into a vast conglomerate based in Central Java’s Kudus regency. Their ventures spanned banking, palm oil plantations, properties, electronics, telecommunications, and an e-commerce platform.
The Djarum Group’s flagship company, PT Djarum, produces dozens of domestic and international brands, primarily kretek, or clove cigarettes. These are among the most popular in Indonesia, where more than 64 million adults smoke daily. Djarum’s products are now marketed as “filtered cigars” and wrapped in tobacco leaf instead of black paper due to U.S. regulations.
The brothers also hold significant stakes in Bank Central Asia, Indonesia’s largest bank, which reported revenue of IDR57.5 trillion ($3.43 billion) last year. Their combined net worth exceeded $43.8 billion, making them the wealthiest individuals in Indonesia. As of December 2024, Michael Hartono had an estimated net worth of $25.1 billion, ranking him 76th on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people.
Sports and Cultural Contributions
Beyond business, Hartono was deeply involved in sports. He owned PB Djarum, one of Indonesia’s most prominent badminton clubs, whose players have won numerous world championships. He also played a key role in the development of the Italian football club Como 1907.
The Hartono brothers took over Como in 2019 when the team was playing in Italy’s fourth division. Under their leadership, the club returned to Serie A in 2024 for the first time in over two decades and is currently competing for Champions League qualification.
Hartono was also a champion bridge player and served as president of the South East Asia Bridge Federation. In 2017, he received an award from the World Bridge Federation for his efforts in including bridge as a category in the Asian Games. At the 2018 Asian Games, he won a bronze medal in bridge, becoming the oldest Indonesian Asian Games medalist.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Hartono’s achievements were not limited to competition. When he and other athletes were honored at the presidential palace for Indonesia’s performance at the 2018 Asian Games, he received a reward of about $16,700, which he donated to the development of bridge in Indonesia.
He was born on October 2, 1939, and watched his father roll tobacco with native clove spice to make the cigarettes Indonesians call “kretek.” The brothers took over the business after their father’s death in 1963, developing new blends and beginning exports in 1972 to many countries, including the U.S.
They created their first machine-made kretek, the Djarum Filter, in 1976, and introduced the machine-rolled Djarum Super in 1981. Today, about 60,000 workers manually roll Djarum’s cigarettes, which are sold mostly to lower-income earners.
Hartono is survived by his brother, wife, and son. His life and work continue to influence business, sports, and culture in Indonesia and beyond.
