Besties with Johor royals: What to know about S'pore billionaire Peter Lim

Today, the self-made tycoon's fortune spans healthcare, property, education and sports

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Former remisier-turned-billionaire Peter Lim hit the news this week when his Singapore-listed Thomson Medical Group (TMG) announced an RM18 billion (S$5.5 billion) project in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) featuring a 500-bed hospital, a luxury hotel, serviced residences and more.

Additionally, RSP, an architectural and design firm owned by Mr Lim, tapped his family's close ties with the Johor royal family to bag a US$200 million (S$257.8 million) job to design and develop their Desaru home.

The self-made tycoon is also known in the sporting world and society columns through his ownership of the Spanish football club Valencia, and his socialite and influencer daughter Kim Lim.

The Business Times takes a look at Mr Lim's business moves through the years that have placed him on Forbes' list of Singapore's richest.

DRIVE AND RESILIENCE Mr Lim was born in 1953 to humble origins. The son of a fishmonger grew up with seven siblings in a two-bedroom Housing Board flat in the Bukit Merah area.

He attended secondary school at Raffles Institution, before graduating with a degree in finance and accounting from the University of Western Australia in Perth.

To put himself through school, Mr Lim juggled multiple odd jobs while studying; he also worked as a cab driver, a cook and a waiter at a fast-food chain.

REMISIER KING After graduating from university, Mr Lim worked briefly in accounting and tax consultancy before entering the world of stockbroking as a remisier—a self-employed agent earning commissions on trades.

He soon learnt the ropes and quickly built a reputation for himself. Serving Indonesian clients, he earned millions in commissions and made a name for himself in the 1980s as the "remisier king" of Singapore.