（Singapore, 13.08.2025）Singapore mourns the loss of Goh Cheng Liang, a self-made paint tycoon whose remarkable life story is a vibrant testament to perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. The 98-year-old founder of the Wuthelam Group and a respected philanthropist passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, surrounded by his family. His passing marks the end of an extraordinary era, but his legacy, built from humble beginnings, will continue to inspire for generations to come.
Goh’s journey from a one-room flat to the pinnacle of a global business empire is a story of a boy who painted his own destiny. Born in 1927 in what was then a British colony, he grew up in a world of scarcity. With only six years of formal schooling, his education was in the school of hard knocks. He and his four siblings lived in a cramped one-room flat, and he watched his family work tirelessly to survive. His father was often unemployed, while his mother took on laundry and his sister sold street food. These early years forged in him a resilience and a drive that would become the foundation of his future success.
The turning point came in 1949, a moment that seems almost too perfect for a movie script. The British army was auctioning off surplus war materials, and among the items were barrels of old, unwanted paint. Goh, with little more than a resourceful mind and a Chinese dictionary to translate chemical names, saw an opportunity. He bought the paint, mixed new colors, and began his first business, a small enterprise under the brand name “Pigeon.”
This was more than just a business; it was a clever solution to a post-war problem. When the Korean War erupted the following year, import restrictions on foreign goods created a booming demand for his locally-produced paints, providing the initial financial boost he needed to take his venture to the next level.
This early triumph led to the relationship that would define his career. In the 1950s, he opened his first paint shop and soon became the primary local distributor for Nippon Paint, Japan’s largest paint manufacturer. It was a partnership of synergy and trust that blossomed into a formal joint venture in 1962, giving birth to Nipsea, or Nippon Paint South East Asia. Under Goh’s visionary leadership, Nipsea expanded with remarkable speed and strategic foresight, ultimately becoming the largest paint-making business in the Asia-Pacific region.
Goh’s business empire, however, was not confined to the world of paint. In 1974, he established Wuthelam Holdings, a private investment company that would become the vehicle for his diversification efforts. Wuthelam ventured into a wide array of industries, from trading and food manufacturing to logistics and real estate. Goh’s entrepreneurial touch was evident in every project. He developed and later sold prominent properties like the former Liang Court in Clarke Quay and the well-known Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Another of his notable businesses was Omni Industries, an electronics contract manufacturer that was eventually sold to Canada’s Celestica Inc. for a stunning $890 million in 2001. These ventures solidified his reputation not just as a paint magnate, but as a shrewd and versatile investor.
The pinnacle of his business achievements came in 2021 when Wuthelam, a company he founded, took a majority stake in its longtime partner, Nippon Paint Holdings Co. This roughly $12 billion deal, masterminded by his son Hup Jin, was a game-changer. It transformed the family’s fortune, boosting it from approximately $16 billion to a colossal $24 billion overnight. While a subsequent decline in Nippon Paint′s stock adjusted his net worth, his position as a global business giant remained unshakeable. Forbes′2024 list ranked him the fifth wealthiest person in Singapore with a net worth of USD10.4 billion, a fitting tribute to his incredible journey.
Despite his immense wealth, Goh Cheng Liang was known for his remarkably low profile and simple pleasures. He famously shunned the trappings of a lavish lifestyle, telling Singapore’s Business Times, “I don’t like cinemas, I don’t like movies, I don’t like songs, I don’t like karaoke, I don’t like bars.”
His few overt indulgences were a fleet of super yachts, a collection that included the stunning 84-meter White Rabbit Golf. This quiet, reclusive nature was a deliberate choice, reflecting a deep-seated philosophy of focusing on what he did best.
His son, Hup Jin, echoed this sentiment, explaining the family’s decision to narrow their focus back to paints with a simple yet powerful analogy: “I can name a million things bigger than paint. If I think that we should do paint only, that’s because this is the only thing we do well.”
Beyond his business genius, Goh was a devoted philanthropist. He established the Goh Foundation to support a wide range of causes, with a particular passion for advancing medical research, especially in cancer treatment.
A cancer survivor himself, his generosity was personal and impactful. He backed institutions like the National Cancer Centre Singapore and the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre, providing crucial funding for breakthroughs that will save countless lives.
He also supported education through bursaries and scholarships for underprivileged students and contributed to various welfare agencies and infrastructure projects in his ancestral village in China, always remembering his roots.
Goh leaves behind a family legacy, including his three children—Hup Jin, Chuen Jin and Chiat Jin—eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Goh Hup Jin, who has been instrumental in running Nipsea and Wuthelam since the 1980s and was appointed chairman of Nippon Paint in 2018, will undoubtedly carry the torch of his father’s remarkable vision.
The story of Goh Cheng Liang is more than just a tale of immense wealth; it is a vibrant narrative of resilience, innovation, and a life lived with purpose. His journey from a humble one-room flat to the pinnacle of a global empire is a powerful inspiration, a reminder that with vision, integrity, and a willingness to see opportunity where others see only scrap, anything is possible. His death marks the end of an era, but the vibrant colors of his legacy will continue to paint the world for generations to come.
