Putra Sampoerna

Putra Sampoerna (Indonesian: Putera Sampurna) (born 13 October 1947, Schiedam, Netherland) is an Indonesian billionaire, referred to as one of the Indonesian oligarchs. In March 2005 he was listed by Forbes Magazine as the 3rd richest Indonesian and one of the richest people in the world with an estimated fortune of $1.7 billion. Sampoerna is most famous outside of Indonesia as the owner of Mansion, a Gibraltarian gambling giant and for his contributions to Chinese enterprises in Shanghai and Hong Kong, reflecting his Chinese origins.

He was the owner of Sampoerna cigarettes company before he sold it to Phillip Morris for $5.4 billion. The sale made him the richest man in Indonesia with $3 billion, netting almost 2 billion US dollars, due to his majority shares at Sampoerna. Putra Sampoerna is also a sponsor of the Putera Sampoerna Foundation which gives scholarship for Master's Degree study abroad for a select number of qualified Indonesians who completed most of their educational training in Indonesia. He pledged USD 150 million to Putera Sampoerna Foundation. His son, Michael Sampoerna help to run his business empire Sampoerna Strategic. His eldest daughter, Michelle Sampoerna, is the Chairman of Sampoerna Foundation. Currently his business interests in Indonesia include Sampoerna Agro (Palm Plantation).

Other interests and activities

Sampoerna is known as a fan of soccer and is often seen in the stadium at every games; in 2006, after Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer was seen giving Sampoerna a contract at the Carling cup final, rumors circulated that he was considering investing in or purchasing a Soccer team. Also love to have a punt and is not very good at it it would seem as he lost well over 200 million dollars with it failed betting exchange in Gibraltar, he is now trying to do a sportsbook with the same head of ops that he had in Gibraltar lose lost well over 30 million GBP.

He owns his own private Boeing 747-300 known as "The Purboyo" due to its paint scheme.

Of Chinese background, Sampoerna is a firm supporter of Chinese causes, and has funded several building projects in his own neighbourhood in Shanghai, Hong Kong and in Tokyo.

He owns ten superyachts. The Biggest is Sampoerna Jaya, previously owned by Budi Santoso, is 125.277 meters long and carries a 36 meters yacht on board, a helicopter, speedboat and jet skis.Fact|date=July 2008

In early 2008, Mr. Sampoerna purchased 14,000 acres of land west of Fulshear, Tx for as estimated $1 billion.

In Sept 2008 there was speculation that Sampoerna was preparing a bid to buy Tottenham Hotspur Football Club