Oei Tiong Ham

Oei Tiong Ham (; 1866–1924) was a Chinese Indonesian tycoon and the son of Oei Tjie Sien, the founder of the Kian Gwan, a multinational trading company. Born in Semarang, Central Java, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), he became the wealthiest person in Asia at the start of the twentieth century. Part of his wealth originated in his involvement in the sugar industry. He served as Luitenant der Chinezen in the Dutch colonial administration in Semarang, and was raised to the rank of titular Majoor upon retirement.

In Singapore, where Oei relocated to avoid Dutch inheritance law in his succession planning, a road is named after him. Oei Tiong Ham Park, near Holland Road, is also named in his honor. His nickname, "Man of 200 Million", originates from the passing of his 200 million guilder estate at the time of his death in 1924 in Singapore.

Early life Oei Tiong Ham was born in Semarang on 19 November 1866. His father, Oei Tjie Sien, was a Chinese-born, or totok, migrant and a self-made, 'new money' businessman with no kinship ties to the colonial Chinese establishment (the 'Cabang Atas'). Oei's mother, Tjan Bien Nio, was an Indies-born woman from a middle-class Peranakan Chinese family. This feat was all the more remarkable given the virtual control of the opium monopoly by more established, older concerns with close ties to the Cabang Atas.

In 1920, Oei left Semarang and settled in Singapore to escape Dutch colonial succession law and tax regime. Having eight wives and twenty-six official children, inheritance became important issues. He decided to hand his daughters and some of his sons cash, and make eight of his sons his rightful heirs, dividing among them an inheritance worth two hundred million guilders. Since only two of them, Oei Tjong Swan and Oei Tjong Hauw, had reached maturity, immediate succession did not seem to give too many problems.

In 1961, the Indonesian OTHC came to an end, when the Indonesian government's Pengadilan Ekonomi (the court for economic crimes) seized and nationalised all of OTHC's Indonesian assets including its strategic sugar plantations and factories.

In 1964, the government formed a holding company named PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia to run them, which is still a prominent corporation up to this day. However, many of the Kian Gwan offices abroad managed to survive and became independent companies on its own, each operated by one of Oei's sons.

Death In 1924, Oei died in Singapore. His body was returned to Semarang.

Oei Hui-lan (later Madame Wellington Koo due to her marriage to V.K. Wellington Koo), Oei's second daughter from his first wife, believed that her father was poisoned to death by Lucy Ho, his mistress at the time of death. Oei's body was shipped to Semarang for burial in his father's tomb.

Personal life According to No Feast Lasts Forever, the autobiography of Oei Tiong Ham's daughter Oei Hui-lan (who married V.K. Wellington Koo), Goei Bing Nio was selected by Oei Tiong Ham's mother to be his wife and was married to him at the age of 15. She had two daughters with him, Tjong-lan and Hui-lan. Oei Tiong Ham also had 18 acknowledged concubines.

One of Goei Bing-nio's sisters was unable to have children so she adopted two girls from her husband's brother. These girls both became Oei Tiong Ham's concubines. The younger of the two sisters, Lucy Ho (or Hoo Kiem Hoa), moved to Singapore with Oei Tiong Ham and lived with him until his death. One of Oei Tiong Ham's sons with Lucy Ho later married Oei Tiong Ham's granddaughter (the daughter of Oei Tjong-swan, one of Oei Tiong Ham's sons not born to Lucy Ho).

Oei Tiong Ham Park, a road in Singapore’s Bukit Timah District, is named after him.

Family Wife Daughter Sons Goei Bing Nio Oei Tjong-lan (Madame Kan Teng Liang) Oei Hui-lan (better known as Madame Wellington Koo). - The Khiam Nio Oei Djoe Nio - The Tjik Nio Oei Hwan Nio Oei Oen Nio Oei Liang Nio Oei Siok Kiong Nio Oei Tjong Tee (m. Lauw Im-Nio)Oei Tjong SwanOei Tjong Yoe (m. Fientje Dunk) Oei Tjong Tiong (m. Lim Chit-Geck)Oei Tjong Liam (m. Lie Pian-Nio) Ong Tjiang Tjoe Nio Oei Sioe Kiong Nio Oei Bien Nio (Mrs. Yeap Hock-Hoe) - Ong Mie Hoa Nio Oei Swat Nio Oei Tjong Hauw (m. Bhe Hien-Nio) Oei Tjong Tjiat (m. Berdina Van Betuwe) Oei Tjong Yan Oei Tjong Ik (m. Leonie Antoinette Livain) Njoo Swat Ting Nio Oei Siok Ing Nio - Ho Kiem Hoa Nio (alias Lucy Ho); moved to Singapore with Oei.She lived with him until his death. Oei Twan Nio Oei Tjong Ie (m. Maria Suzanna Mathysen) Oei Tjong Bo Oei Tjong Hiong Oei Tjong Tjay (m. Mariamme Lisette Blanc) Tan Sien Nio Oei Siang Nio -