Listed as the richest Singaporean by Forbes in its 2025 annual list of global billionaires, Goh Cheng Liang was the founder of paint and coatings maker Wuthelam Group and held a majority stake in Japan’s Nippon Paint Holdings. As of August, he had a net worth of SGD$16.8 billion (approximately RM55.2 billion).
According to reports, the billionaire sadly passed away earlier this morning (Tuesday, 12th August) at the age of 98. His family issued a statement regarding his passing, saying they were by his side when he took his final breath. He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“He was a beacon of kindness and strength. We are very fortunate to have had him show us how to be good people – he taught us to live life with compassion and humility,” his eldest son, Goh Hup Jin, said in the statement. However, it was unclear whether the billionaire had been ill prior to his death, and his cause of death was not disclosed in the statement.
His family mentioned that Goh Cheng Liang loved spending time with his grandchildren and enjoyed activities such as boating, fishing, eating good food and travelling. At the time of writing, there has been no update on his final resting place.
Much like other success stories, Goh Cheng Liang grew up in poverty and spent the first 12 years of his life in a shophouse on River Valley Road with his parents and 4 siblings. After years of hard work, he set up his first paint shop in 1955 and became the main distributor for Nippon Paint, according to the brand’s website. The rest, as they say, is history.
We offer our deepest condolences to Goh Cheng Liang’s family. May they have the strength to endure this challenging time, and may they continue to carry on his legacy.
Sources: The Straits Times
