VINCENT TAN

WHY HIM? When he’s not busy leading his Berjaya Group—which has holdings in F&B, hospitality and financial services—tan is known for giving back through the Berjaya Cares Foundation and his own Better Malaysia Foundation, which between them fund everything from Aids medication to English lessons in rural communities.

THAT’S NOT ALL Last year he announced that when he turns 80 he intends to become a full-time fundraiser for humanitarian NGO the Tzu Chi Foundation. He has also signed the Gates-buffett Giving Pledge, which commits him to giving away at least half of his US$800 million fortune to charity.