7 Facts about Michael Bambang Hartono, Boss of Djarum & BCA Who Passed Away in Singapore
Sad news has enveloped the Indonesian business world. Michael Bambang Hartono, owner of the Djarum Group and majority shareholder of Bank Central Asia (BCA), passed away on Thursday, 19 March 2026, at 13:15 Singapore time.
His death at the age of 86 has been confirmed by internal company sources. In tribute to his life journey, here are 7 inspiring facts about Michael Bambang Hartono:
Michael Bambang Hartono, along with his younger brother Robert Budi Hartono, had to lead Djarum amid a major crisis when their factory burned down completely in 1963. Their resilience transformed Djarum from a home industry into a global player.
The decision to acquire BCA through FarIndo Investments after the 1998 crisis became a turning point in the Hartono family’s wealth. Currently, BCA is one of the banks with the largest market capitalisation in Southeast Asia.
Michael Bambang Hartono proved that age is no barrier to achievement. He was a national Bridge athlete who contributed a bronze medal for Indonesia at the 2018 Asian Games.
Despite consistently topping the list of Indonesia’s richest people according to Forbes, Bambang was known to be very simple and often seen enjoying street food at roadside stalls without tight security.
His business vision extended to Italy with ownership of Como 1907 football club. The Djarum Group successfully promoted the club to Serie A and brought it into the spotlight of international football.
Based on the latest 2026 data, Michael Bambang Hartono had a net worth of around US$19.7 billion, equivalent to Rp330.2 trillion.
Under his leadership, the Djarum Group undertook massive diversification into the technology sector through Polytron, as well as digital platforms like Blibli and Tiket.com, which have now listed on the stock exchange.
Through the Djarum Foundation, Michael Bambang Hartono left a great social legacy, from nurturing badminton athletes at PB Djarum to thousands of education scholarship recipients across Indonesia.
Farewell, Michael Bambang Hartono. Your contributions to Indonesia’s economic progress will always be a valuable historical note.