Early Life
R. Budi Hartono was born Oei Hwie Tjhong on April 28, 1941, in Semarang, Central Java, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). He is the second child of Oei Wie Gwan, a Chinese-Indonesian entrepreneur, and Goei Tjo Nio. His brother is Michael Bambang Hartono.
Rise to Success
R. Budi Hartono inherited Djarum, a small clove cigarette company, at the age of 22, after his father Oei Wie Gwan passed away. After a fire destroyed the factory, the Hartono brothers rebuilt and modernized Djarum. Under his leadership, Djarum expanded significantly. In 1972, Djarum began exporting its products. Hartono introduced successful brands such as Djarum Filter (1975) and Djarum Super (1981).
Key Business Strategies
Hartono's business acumen is evident in the strategic expansion and diversification of Djarum. He owns and runs Djarum, the world's third-largest maker of clove cigarettes. The Hartono brothers also hold a significant stake in Bank Central Asia (BCA), Indonesia's largest private bank. They also hold interests in the electronics sector through Polytron and have investments in real estate.
Philanthropy
Robert Budi Hartono is known for his philanthropic activities. He supports education and healthcare initiatives in Indonesia and has established several foundations to support charitable causes.