Jakarta. Robert Harjo Sutanto, co-founder of Indonesia’s consumer goods giant Wings Group and the country’s oldest billionaire, has died at the age of 102.

News of his passing on Wednesday spread on Friday after condolences circulated widely on social media.

Born on March 10, 1923, Robert was listed among Forbes’ Indonesia’s 40 Richest with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.

He is survived by his wife, Yenny Lilian, and their four children: Hanny, Fifi, Handoyo, and Yenny Lillian. His eldest son, Hanny, is actively involved in the group’s operations and serves as director at several Wings-affiliated companies, while daughter, Fifi, leads Ecogreen, a subsidiary specializing in oleochemicals.

From Soap Salesman to Billionaire
Robert began his entrepreneurial journey modestly. Alongside his close friend Johannes Ferdinand Katuari, he sold handmade soap door-to-door in East Java. What started as a small household operation gradually expanded into a local manufacturing business.

In 1948, the partners established a small factory called Fa Wings, the foundation of what would eventually become Wings Group. Over the decades, the company diversified beyond soap into household cleaning products, personal care, food, and beverages.

In 1991, the company rebranded as Wings Surya as part of its expansion strategy. Today, Wings Group is one of Indonesia’s leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) conglomerates, often compared with global giants like Unilever.

Wings is widely known for its household brands, including So Klin detergent, Mie Sedaap instant noodles, and Ciptadent toothpaste. With distribution reaching across Indonesia and into international markets, the company directly competes with global rivals such as Unilever in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Leadership of the group has since transitioned to the next generation, with Johannes’s eldest son, Eddy Katuari, taking the helm in 2004.

Robert’s legacy is remembered not only for building one of Indonesia’s most successful consumer goods empires, but also for exemplifying the rise of homegrown businesses from humble beginnings to global competitiveness.