Tomy Winata
An Indonesian tycoon whose vast business empire is matched by a transformative, large-scale conservation project in Sumatra.
Born 1958 (age 68)·Indonesian businessman·Birthday: July 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Tomy Winata operates in the potent intersection of commerce, influence, and philanthropy in Indonesia. Building a formidable conglomerate, Artha Graha, his interests span banking, real estate, and critical infrastructure, often involving partnerships with state entities. This business acumen funds a parallel passion: environmental conservation. His most significant legacy is the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation (TWNC), a 45,000-hectare sanctuary on the southern tip of Sumatra. More than a protected forest, it's an active rehabilitation center for critically endangered species like the Sumatran tiger and a marine conservation area. Winata poured personal resources into anti-poaching patrols, community engagement, and creating a self-sustaining model where tourism supports conservation. His work presents a complex, hands-on approach to philanthropy, leveraging his resources and logistical prowess to create a tangible, guarded ark for Indonesia's biodiversity.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Tomy was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tomy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Tomy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded and funds the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation, a massive integrated forest and marine sanctuary in Sumatra.
- Built the Artha Graha business group with major holdings in banking, property development, and infrastructure.
- Pioneered a successful model of integrating limited ecotourism with rigorous anti-poaching and species rehabilitation programs.
- Played a key role in the development of the Jakarta International Expo complex (JIExpo).
Did You Know?
The Tambling conservation area includes a 20,000-hectare marine zone dedicated to protecting coral reefs and marine life.
He is a noted patron of the martial art Pencak Silat and has supported its traditional schools.
His business ventures have included ownership of a professional football club, Persija Jakarta.
“If you want to build something, you must first understand the ground you stand on.”
