RESULTS FOR 2008
Ranking: 784=
Worth: £100m
Source of wealth: Retailing

Her name may make her sound like a Bond girl but Christina Ong is the queen of Bond Street. The Singaporean has a controlling stake in the Somerset-based Mulberry bag empire and is managing director of Club 21, which runs the Giorgio and Emporio Armani franchises in Britain. Best friends with designer Donna Karan, Ong, 60, is married to the Malaysian businessman and property mogul Ong Beng Seng and divides her time between Singapore and London. Club 21’s holdings include Ishop, which is among Asia’s largest Apple retailers. Ong also owns a chain of luxury spas and hotels, including London’s Metropolitan hotel, and Nobu, restaurant of choice for many footballers’ wives. Famously private, Ong has been described as “about as talkative as a Trappist monk with laryngitis”. She did, however, celebrate Club 21’s 35th anniversary with a lavish charity gala last year and flew in guest of honour Tony Blair from Beijing on her private jet. Last year Forbes put her wealth at about £75m in the Singapore rich list. We reckon that may be too conservative and rank her at £100m. A European rich list valued her at £400m several years ago but we discount this.

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