Five Essential Facts About Kishin RK

Kishin RK, Singapore's youngest billionaire with a net worth of US$1.6 billion, purchased his first residence at the age of 12 and leveraged his affluent background to achieve personal success.

Image: Tatler Asia

Kishin is one of only six Singaporeans under 50 on Forbes' 2025 billionaire list, among the three co-founders of Sea Limited, the co-founder of Razer, and the CEO of Espressif Systems.

Kishin, the sole heir to inherited wealth, has initiated his own profitable enterprises prior to collaborating with his father to fortify the family company.

Acquiring his inaugural apartment at the age of 12

Kishin's foray into real estate commenced at an early age, as his father facilitated the acquisition of his first apartment when he was under 12 years old and subsequently included him in significant business meetings, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

He became a member of the family business in 2003 and, three years later, liquidated an apartment bequeathed to him by his parents, utilizing the money to establish RB Capital.

In contrast to his family's approach of acquiring and managing pre-existing assets, RB Capital emphasizes real estate development, undertaking projects in several sectors, including retail spaces, office buildings, and hotels.

Family office located in Abu Dhabi

In late 2022, the father and son combination announced intentions to create a family office in Abu Dhabi to manage their riches in the Middle East, according to Bloomberg.

Kishin stated that the city was selected due to its strategic positioning and globally acknowledged legal framework.

"The establishment of a family office in Abu Dhabi facilitates our presence and enables the expansion of our investments in the UAE and the Middle East," he stated, elucidating the rationale for the creation of RB Family Office in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

Childhood aspirations transcending the familial enterprise

Kishin once contemplated a trajectory beyond the familial empire. In his youth, he was attracted to finance and contemplated a career as a restaurateur, as reported by Tatler Asia.

"I possess a profound interest in gastronomy, and the rise of lifestyle enclaves such as Keong Saik and Tiong Bahru in the early 2000s significantly piqued my interest in that industry," he elucidates. "It appeared exceedingly glamorous and enjoyable from an external perspective."

In a 2020 interview cited by The Straits Times, he stated that some of his preferred dishes were laksa, roti prata, chicken rice, and Milo dinosaur.

To sustain his hectic schedule, he allegedly consumes approximately eight cups of coffee each day.

Modest and amiable

Despite originating from a millionaire family, Kishin is reputed to be modest and accessible to all individuals he encounters, as stated by a close acquaintance.

"We frequently share meals, and he greets individuals with consistent warmth, regardless of whether they are a server, a fund manager, or a property magnate – he is equally comfortable with all," the buddy said The Business Times.

Kishin has demonstrated his dedication to contributing to the community. Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Tiffin Labs, a food company he co-founded, established a philanthropic foundation named Food is Love to provide meals to at-risk individuals and families in Singapore.

He said at the time "We want to make sure there is food in every household. That no one goes hungry."