Early Life
Robert Budi Hartono, born Oei Hwie Tjhong on April 28, 1941, in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, is a prominent Indonesian businessman and philanthropist. He is the second son of Oei Wie Gwan and Goei Tjo Nio, part of a Chinese-Indonesian family. His father, Oei Wie Gwan, acquired a small clove cigarette (kretek) factory in 1951 and renamed it Djarum.
Rise to Success
Hartono inherited the family business, Djarum, a small clove cigarette company, after the passing of his father in the early 1960s. Following a catastrophic fire in 1963, Hartono and his brother, Michael, rebuilt and modernized the company. Under their leadership, Djarum was revitalized, modernizing its operations and expanding its product line. By the 1970s, Djarum began exporting internationally, introducing machine-produced brands like Djarum Filter in 1975 and Djarum Super in 1981, propelling the company to become a major player in the global market.
Key Business Strategies
Hartono diversified the family's business interests. In the late 1990s, the Hartono brothers acquired a significant stake in Bank Central Asia (BCA), one of Indonesia's largest private banks, further solidifying their financial standing. They also ventured into the electronics sector with the establishment of Polytron, a leading Indonesian electronics brand, and invested in real estate, owning prime properties in Jakarta.
Philanthropy
Robert Budi Hartono is known for his philanthropic activities and support for education and healthcare initiatives in Indonesia. He has established several foundations and donated significant funds to various charitable causes. The Djarum Foundation supports the arts, education, and environmental initiatives and has planted one million trees.