Low taek jho biography books

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Low remains a fugitive, with U.S. authorities continuing asset recovery efforts linked to these schemes as of June 2024.^[46]

Philanthropic activities

Foundation establishment and major gifts

The Jynwel Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 by Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, and his brother Low Meng Tak as the philanthropic arm of their firm Jynwel Capital, prompted by Low's personal cancer diagnosis that year.^[90][91] The organization focused on health, conservation, education, and humanitarian efforts, drawing from family traditions of funding community institutions initiated by Low's grandfather.^[90]By 2015, the foundation had disbursed nearly $30 million in grants, with Low adding $5 million in personal donations, toward a pledged total exceeding $100 million over 15 years.^[91] Its giving strategy emphasized research-based initiatives addressing poverty, health crises, and environmental protection.^[92]Key commitments included a $1 million personal gift from Low to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, in 2012, followed by the foundation's $50 million, 15-year pledge to the center for an oncology expert-advisor program.^[91] Conservation efforts received $20 million over 10 years for Panthera, a wildcat protection group, and $5 million over five years for National Geographic's Pristine Seas ocean preservation program.^[91][93] Humanitarian support featured a $25 million, 15-year allocation to the IRIN news agency for crisis reporting.^[91]The foundation extended grants to celebrity-affiliated causes, including support for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and contributions to events like the Mashable Social Good Summit, with overall donations to such entities reported at a minimum of $200 million.^[94][93] Additional recipients encompassed Children's National Hospital, Earth to Paris, and the Motion Picture Television Fund, the latter receiving an annual pledge of at least $20,000.^[93][94]

Impact and scrutiny of donations

Low's philanthropic activities, channeled primarily through the Jynwel Foundation established by his family in 2012, involved pledges and donations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars to causes including environmental conservation, cancer research, and celebrity-linked charities.^[91] By 2015, the foundation had distributed nearly $30 million, with Low personally contributing an additional $5 million, and commitments announced for over $100 million across 15 years targeting education, healthcare, and sustainability initiatives.^[91] Notable contributions included $50 million to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in June 2015 for adapting IBM's Watson supercomputer to oncology applications, following Low's personal health scare, and at least $20 million to Panthera, a wildlife conservation group focused on big cats.^[95][96] These efforts were framed by Low as "disruptive philanthropy," applying business-like efficiency to social investments, with a reported aggregate of at least $200 million directed to charities associated with figures like Leonardo DiCaprio and others in entertainment circles.^[97][94]The practical impact of these donations included funding for specific projects, such as technological advancements in cancer diagnostics and support for endangered species protection, though the scale relative to Low's overall alleged misappropriation—estimated at billions from 1MDB—remained marginal.^[98] Recipients like the United Nations Foundation acknowledged receiving $3 million from a $25 million pledge, utilizing it for global health and development programs, while environmental groups benefited from infusions aiding field conservation.^[93] However, the timing of heightened giving, accelerating after 2014 amid emerging 1MDB reporting on Low's extravagant lifestyle, raised questions about motives, with critics attributing it to reputation management rather than altruism.^[96]Scrutiny intensified following U.S.

Department of Justice filings in 2016 linking portions of these funds to 1MDB assets embezzled from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund intended for national economic development and poverty reduction.^[99] Donations to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, including proceeds from $1.1 million in artworks purchased at a 2013 benefit auction, were traced to 1MDB-linked shell companies, prompting the charity to face federal complaints and return tainted contributions exceeding $3 million.^[100][101] Similar probes affected other recipients, such as the Tribeca Film Institute, which accepted funds from Low-associated entities tied to the scandal, leading to public disassociation and ethical debates over accepting proceeds of alleged corruption.^[102] Malaysian authorities and analysts highlighted the irony of funds siphoned from public resources being redirected to Western philanthropies, undermining the donations' legitimacy and fueling arguments that they constituted a form of illicit laundering through goodwill.^[96] Delayed fulfillment of some pledges, including to journalism outlets, further eroded trust in the foundation's operations.^[97] Low has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that his philanthropy derived from legitimate sources, though no independent verification has resolved the traceability disputes central to ongoing civil forfeitures.^[98]

Citizenship and residency

Malaysian origins and additional passports

Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, was born on November 4, 1981, in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, to an affluent Malaysian Chinese family.^[103] He is the youngest of three siblings, with his father, Larry Low Hock Peng, having amassed wealth through business ventures including executive roles at MWE Holdings and profits from a garment manufacturing company.^[10][3] The family resided in Penang, where Low grew up in relative privilege, benefiting from his father's international connections and investments.^[104][17]As a Malaysian citizen by birth, Low held a Malaysian passport, which provided him initial mobility for his global business dealings.^[105] Beginning in 2011, he acquired additional citizenship through investment-based programs, first obtaining a passport from Saint Kitts and Nevis via economic citizenship without residing there.^[106][107] In 2015, he secured Cypriot citizenship under the country's Golden Visa scheme by purchasing property worth approximately €5 million, facilitated by citizenship consultancy Henley & Partners.^[108][105] These passports expanded his international travel options and access to financial systems, aligning with his pattern of utilizing offshore jurisdictions.^[106]

Revocations and implications

In July 2018, Malaysian authorities invalidated Jho Low's Malaysian passport at the request of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) amid investigations into the 1MDB scandal, rendering it invalid for travel while leaving his Malaysian citizenship intact.^[109] This action followed Low's flight from Malaysia in 2015 and an Interpol Red Notice issued in 2018, significantly curtailing his legal mobility as a fugitive.^[110]Low's Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship, acquired in 2011 through a citizenship-by-investment program, was revoked in 2019 after the island nation cooperated with international probes into his alleged role in embezzling over $4.5 billion from 1MDB funds.^[111] The revocation stemmed from evidence that Low had used the passport to facilitate illicit transactions, including the purchase of luxury assets, prompting St.

Kitts authorities to strip him of the status to align with global anti-corruption efforts.^[112]Cyprus revoked Low's citizenship and passport, granted in 2015 via its golden passport scheme for a €5 million property investment, on June 5, 2024, following a cabinet decision and dismissal of his appeal.^[113] The move came after an independent committee re-examined his case amid revelations of his fugitive status and involvement in serious financial crimes, with Cypriot law permitting such revocations within 10 years for individuals wanted internationally for grave offenses.^[114] This left Low without any secondary citizenships, heightening his reliance on potentially forged documents for evasion, as alleged in unverified 2025 reports of him using a fake Australian passport in China—claims denied by Malaysian officials for lack of evidence.^[115][110]The cumulative revocations have profound implications for Low's residency and operational freedom, effectively rendering him a de facto stateless traveler despite retaining Malaysian nationality, which exposes him to greater risks of detection and extradition during border crossings or asset accesses.^[116] Without valid passports, his ability to maintain hidden residences—previously reported in locations like Macau—has been compromised, forcing dependence on networks of associates and potentially illicit means, which Malaysian authorities have cited as prolonging the 1MDB recovery efforts estimated at billions in laundered assets.^[69] These restrictions underscore broader vulnerabilities in citizenship-by-investment programs exploited by fugitives, contributing to international scrutiny and reforms in schemes like Cyprus's, while complicating Low's defense in ongoing U.S.

and Malaysian prosecutions where his flight status factors into forfeiture claims.^[117]

Personal life

Relationships and family dynamics

Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, hails from a wealthy Malaysian Chinese family based in Penang. Specialists from Europe, America and Asia have cooperated to test the monetary path of 1MDB.

Their legitimate strategies to recover resources are also underway.

However, testimonies from Najib Razak's trial and other sources have also suggested that his current whereabouts may be Myanmar, under the protection of its military generals. Despite the difficulty in locating Low, the Malaysian government remains committed to bringing him to justice, as his testimony is crucial for ongoing investigations and legal proceedings related to the scandal.

In October 2014, Jynwel led a consortium—including Abu Dhabi government-affiliated funds—to bid €1.7 billion (approximately $2.2 billion) for Reebok from Adidas AG, aiming to unwind Adidas's 2005 acquisition and capitalize on Reebok's U.S. market presence in basketball and baseball endorsements.^[26] The unsolicited offer highlighted Low's aggressive M&A approach, drawing on sovereign wealth partnerships, though it ultimately did not proceed to completion.^[27] These activities underscored Low's pattern of pursuing high-profile acquisitions via consortiums, often relying on opaque funding structures to amplify deal scale.^[28]

Involvement with 1MDB

Establishment and advisory role

The Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) was incorporated on July 17, 2009, as a state-owned sovereign wealth fund to invest Terengganu's oil and gas royalties for long-term economic development, initially under the advisory of the Terengganu Sultanate.^[29] Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, served as an informal advisor to TIA from its inception, leveraging his connections to facilitate its setup, including proposing director appointments such as that of the Sultanah of Terengganu and two others in early 2009.^[29][30] He also pursued initial funding by approaching AmBank in 2007 for a RM10 billion bond issuance to capitalize the fund, predating TIA's formal registration by two years.^[31][32]In September 2009, following a federal government directive under Prime Minister Najib Razak, TIA was transferred to national ownership and restructured as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), with its mandate expanded to broader economic initiatives aligned with the "1Malaysia" vision.^[33][34] Jho Low continued in an unofficial advisory role at 1MDB, without a formal employment contract or board position, yet exerting influence over early strategic moves, such as securing Goldman Sachs as the lead arranger for its debut bond offerings valued at $1.2 billion in 2009.^[35][36] U.S.

Department of Justice filings describe Low as having advised on TIA's creation and maintained de facto control over 1MDB's formative investment decisions, including joint ventures and capital-raising efforts.^[37]Low's advisory involvement was not publicly disclosed in 1MDB's official documents, with former executives testifying that his role was deliberately obscured to shield high-level political figures, though he denied any decision-making authority in subsequent legal defenses.^[38][39] This behind-the-scenes position enabled Low to coordinate with international financial institutions from 1MDB's launch, positioning the fund for rapid debt-financed expansion into power plants, real estate, and global assets.^[18][40]

Alleged financial diversions

U.S.

Department of Justice allegations assert that Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, orchestrated the diversion of over $4.5 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) through a series of complex transactions involving offshore shell companies and bond issuances.^[4] These funds were allegedly misappropriated starting around 2009, with Low directing flows to personal accounts and associates rather than legitimate investments.^[41] Court filings specify that more than $2.7 billion was siphoned via bribes paid to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials using proceeds from three Goldman Sachs-arranged bond deals totaling $6.5 billion between 2012 and 2013.^[40] An FBI agent's testimony in related proceedings claimed Low personally stole $1.42 billion from these transactions.^[5]One key diversion involved the 2009 joint venture with PetroSaudi International, where 1MDB transferred $1 billion, but approximately $700 million was allegedly redirected to entities controlled by Low, including Good Star Ltd., rather than the venture's operations.^[36] In the "Project Magnolia" bond issuance closing on May 21, 2012, over $500 million of the proceeds were purportedly misappropriated and funneled through layered accounts to Low and co-conspirators.^[40] These diversions enabled expenditures on luxury assets, such as the $250 million superyacht Equanimity, purchased in 2014 with laundered 1MDB funds, and approximately $1.7 billion in total high-value items including real estate, artwork, and jewelry.^[42][43]Low has denied orchestrating the scheme, attributing control to former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, though U.S.

authorities maintain he was the central figure without an official 1MDB role.^[44] Evidence from cooperating witnesses, including former Goldman banker Tim Leissner, supports claims of Low's beneficial ownership of diversion vehicles and authorization of illicit transfers.^[40] Malaysian investigations and international probes have corroborated patterns of fund flows from 1MDB to Low-linked entities, though he remains a fugitive contesting the allegations.^[45]

Specific transactions and expenditures

Allegations from U.S.

Department of Justice civil forfeiture complaints assert that Jho Low, also known as Low Taek Jho, diverted over $4.5 billion from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015, channeling portions through shell companies to fund personal extravagances.^[2][46] These funds allegedly financed high-value assets including superyachts, fine art, jewelry, and real estate, with Low settling to forfeit over $700 million in such items to U.S.

authorities in 2019.^[2]One prominent expenditure was the acquisition of the 91.5-meter superyacht Equanimity in 2014 for approximately $250 million, purportedly paid using 1MDB proceeds routed through offshore entities.^[47] The vessel, featuring luxury amenities like a helicopter pad and nightclub, was seized by Indonesian authorities in 2018 at Malaysia's request and later sold for $126 million to Genting Malaysia in 2019, with proceeds partially repatriated.^[48][49]Low allegedly expended around $137 million on artwork, including pieces by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, acquired via layered transactions to obscure origins.^[47][50] For instance, a Van Gogh painting was purchased using 1MDB funds funneled through Good Star Ltd., while Monet's Pond with Turkeys faced U.S.

forfeiture efforts in 2020.^[51] In a 2025 settlement, artworks linked to Low, such as paintings and a photograph, were sold for $35.8 million toward recovery efforts.^[52]Jewelry purchases included a $27 million pink diamond necklace, allegedly bought in 2013 for Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor using 1MDB money, alongside millions in other gems gifted to associates like model Miranda Kerr.^[44][51] Real estate acquisitions encompassed luxury properties in New York, Beverly Hills, and London, valued in the hundreds of millions, often held under nominees to evade detection.^[41]Additional outlays involved financing the production of films through Red Granite Pictures, co-founded by Low's associate Riza Aziz, with 1MDB funds contributing to movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, though exact amounts for specific titles remain disputed in probes.^[2] These transactions, per DOJ filings, exemplified money laundering via commingling illicit gains with legitimate flows, enabling Low's lavish lifestyle while concealing the funds' taint.^[50]

Legal challenges

Criminal accusations and international probes

Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, faces multiple criminal charges stemming from the alleged embezzlement of over $4.5 billion from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, primarily through schemes involving bribery and money laundering.

He is also accused of coordinating a plan to infiltrate assets from his illegal tasks into the US monetary system by purchasing luxurious homes in New York City, Los Angeles and London, as well as works of art and gems. Low and others are charged with conspiring to bribe Malaysian government authorities.

Jho Low reportedly paid big names and notable Hollywood figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian big bucks to party with him.

Despite recent settlement agreements with the US Department of Justice involving the return of embezzled assets, Low remains a fugitive. We have no more information about his spouse.

Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. This case underscores the intricate dance between power, wealth, and global justice systems. Low has two siblings: an older sister, May Lin Low, and a younger brother, Taek Szen Low.

In 2007, Low and his brother established Jynwel Capital, a Hong Kong-registered firm managing family investments.^[119][91]Family dynamics have been prominently shaped by the 1MDB scandal, with relatives entangled in international forfeiture efforts targeting assets allegedly purchased with embezzled funds.

Specialists have been investigating how the assets of Malaysian semi-sovereign abundance store 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) were stolen for a long time.