T. Ananda Krishnan's wealth in early 2003 was estimated at $4 billion. He is the richest Malaysian and chief of telecom major, Maxis Communication. Having made his fortune from oil trading, property, entertainment and gaming, Krishnan ventured into the communications business with a view to position himself as South East Asia's media baron. Maxis Communication is today Malaysia's top cellular operator and part of an elite multimedia conglomerate.

Krishnan's MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems offers high-quality alternative to Government programmes in Malaysia in over 30 television and 16 radio channels. This apart, Krishnan also owns multiplex cinemas, which screen the latest movies for Malaysians. His mobile phone company Maxis Communications Berhad was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange in 2002.

Ananda Krishnan, ethnic Tamil tycoon studied in Vivekananda Tamil School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Later, he attended the University of Melbourne for B.A. (Honours) degree. After that Krishnan attended the Harvard University for a Masters in Business Administration in 1964. After his masters, Ananda Krishnan’s first entrepreneurial venture is into oil trading. Later he moved into gambling (in Malaysia), stud farming (in Australia) and running a Hollywood cartoon studio. Maxis Communications and MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems - has two communication satellites circumnavigating the earth. Maxis Communications Bhd, Malaysia’s biggest cellular phone company, has more than 2 million subscribers. It has cornering more than 30% market share in Malaysia

He made his first entrepreneurial venture into oil trading, then tried to initiate business around gambling in Malaysia, launched stud farming in Australia and eventually managed a Hollywood Studio, Usaha Tegas Entertainment Systems Sdn Bhd - through which he routes most of his investments. Krishnan has an enviable track record of being one of the most successful businessmen the world over. Ample proof to the above mentioned statement lies in the fact that he opened Petronas Tower as a fully tenanted building, soon after the Asian crisis. Seven years and another economic slowdown later, the Towers continue to enjoy 80 per cent occupancy.