Lim Kok Thay is the Executive Chairman of Genting Berhad, one of the largest casino and resort operators in the world. He stepped down as Chief Executive Officer in March 2025 after leading the company for almost two decades.
Lim still guides Genting’s strategy today. His family’s company runs Resorts World properties in Las Vegas, Singapore, Malaysia, and New York, along with casinos in the Bahamas and the Catskills.
Quick Facts About Lim Kok Thay
| Full name | Lim Kok Thay |
| Current role | Executive Chairman, Genting Berhad |
| Former role | Chief Executive Officer (stepped down March 2025) |
| Company | Genting Group |
| Born | 1951, Malaysia |
| Family | Second son of Genting founder Lim Goh Tong |
| Education | University of London (BSc); Harvard Business School |
| Net worth (2026) | About $1.65 billion, per Forbes |
Who Is Lim Kok Thay
Lim Kok Thay was born in 1951. His father, Lim Goh Tong, founded Genting in 1965 after arriving in Malaysia from China with almost nothing.
Lim studied at the University of London and later attended Harvard Business School. He joined the family company in 1976 and has spent most of his career building it into a global gaming and hospitality group.
Career and Leadership at Genting
- 1976: Joins Genting Group as a director and starts working alongside his father.
- 1981: Becomes President and CEO of Genting, taking on daily leadership of the business.
- 2003: Named Chairman after his father retires. Lim Goh Tong passes away in 2007.
- March 2025: Steps down as CEO after almost 20 years in the role. Tan Kong Han takes over as CEO, the first Genting chief who is not a family member. Lim stays on as Executive Chairman.
- February 2026: Appointed chairman and director of the operating unit behind Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.
This handover did not remove Lim from the business. He kept the chairman role so he could focus on strategy while Tan Kong Han runs daily operations.
Key Business Achievements
- Built Genting’s flagship Resorts World brand into a global name, with integrated resorts in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.
- Helped the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe open Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut in 1990.
- Opened Resorts World Catskills in New York in 2018, a $1.2 billion casino and hotel complex.
- Bought Crystal Cruises in 2015 and expanded the fleet with new ships and shipyards.
- Led Resorts World New York City through the licensing process for a full downstate casino license, awarded in December 2025, now backing a $5.5 billion expansion with a new hotel tower and a 7,000-seat arena.
- Oversees a roughly $5 billion expansion of Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, which added a new oceanarium and retail district in 2025 and a new hotel in October 2025.
Honors and Recognition
- Ranked 15th on Forbes’ 2026 list of Malaysia’s 50 Richest, with an estimated net worth of $1.65 billion.
- Named Honorary Professor at Xiamen University in China in 2007.
- Served as Visiting Professor at Imperial College London’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering starting in 2009.
- Holds Malaysian royal honors, including the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang and the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lim Kok Thay still chairman of Genting?
Yes. Lim remains Executive Chairman of Genting Berhad. He gave up the CEO title in March 2025 but kept his seat as chairman.
Who replaced Lim Kok Thay as CEO of Genting?
Tan Kong Han became CEO on March 1, 2025. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer.
What casinos does Lim Kok Thay’s company own?
Genting operates Resorts World properties in Las Vegas, New York City, the Catskills, Miami, Bimini, Singapore, and Genting Highlands in Malaysia.
What is Lim Kok Thay’s net worth?
Forbes estimated his net worth at about $1.65 billion in 2026, ranking him 15th among Malaysia’s wealthiest people.