CONTENTS — JUNE 2018
18 | PLAYTIME
China’s $32.5 billion gaming market is driving mobile esports to new heights.
BY ELAINE RAMIREZ
20 | WHEELS OF FORTUNE
Can a Chinese firm export its bicycle-sharing scheme to the car-loving U.S.?
BY BIZ CARSON
22 | IRON LADIES OF MINING TECH
Australia looks to the onset of cost-saving intelligence down under.
BY TIM TREADGOLD
26 | ALL YOU CAN EAT
Will Giovanni Ferraro’s acquisition gluttony lead to a meltdown at his candy empire?
BY NOAH KIRSCH
32 | NEXT TYCOONS: THE HOUSE OF THOMPSON
Eric Booth is ramping up plans to take Thai Silk global.
BY RON GLUCKMANTECHNOLOGY
62 | BLACK MAGIC POWDER
The alchemists at Sila Nano have their eyes on a $31 billion lithium-ion battery market.
BY ALEX KNAPP64 | GADGETMAN // BEN SIN
Clearbuds: Firefly’s truly wireless ear gear.KOREA’S 50 RICHEST
66 | SUPPLIER TO THE STARS
For decades Kenny Park has quietly made the pricey handbags that sell around the world.
Now he’s a billionaire.
BY GRACE CHUNG
70 | THE LIST
There are a record-setting 45 billionaires on the roster, up from 38 last year.
BY GRACE CHUNG AND FORBES KOREA
72 | CRAZY FOR CRYPTO
South Korea emerged as the third-largest market for trading bitcoin last year.
BY ELAINE RAMIREZ
75 | PLAYING FOR PROFIT
Six game developers are on the 50 list.
BY DONALD KIRK
77 | CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT LG
Koo Kwang-Mo is expected to take over after the death of Koo Bon-Moo.
BY DONALD KIRKFORBES LIFE
78 | LONG LIVE MCQUEEN
The King of Cool’s Rolex will go up for auction in October.
BY MICHAEL SOLOMON
82 | OLIGARCHS SCORE BIG
The usual cast of Russian cronies are getting rich of the World Cup.
BY ANGEL AU-YEUNG (BASED ON REPORTING BY SERGEY TITOV FOR FORBES RUSSIA)
84 | THOUGHTS
On delegation.VOLUME 14 NUMBER 5
T PAGE 66“I NEVER IMAGINED
GETTING THIS FAR.”
—Handbag maker Kenny Park, new
member of KOREA’s 50 richest.4 | FORBES ASIA JUNE 2018S PAGE 26ITALY’S FERRERO
SOLD $12.5 BILLION
WORTH OF SWEETS
LAST YEAR AND IS
GETTING FATTER.