It's been a good year for Southeast Asia's 40 richest businesspeople. In Forbes Asia's second annual ranking, three-fourths saw their fortunes rise, thanks to improving markets and economies across the region.

Those who specialize in commodities such as oil, palm and timber strongly benefited from rising demand.

Malaysian Robert Kuok, who has invested more than $5 billion in China, is ranked number one again, worth $5.3 billion. Number two Ananda Krishnan, a fellow Malaysian, was the year's biggest gainer, up $1.6 billion.

• Slideshow: Southeast Asia's 40 Richest

Southeast Asia is home to 22 billionaires, up from 18 last year. Four new self-made tycoons appear among the 40 elite. The richest new entrant is Thai liquor baron Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, whose estimated $3 billion fortune has become more transparent lately as he tries to bring his company public.

THE TOP 5
1	Robert Kuok, Malaysia
2	Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia
3	Kwek Leng Beng, Singapore
4	Ng Teng Fong, Singapore
5	Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Thailand

Two newcomers hail from Indonesia: Arifin Panigoro, who founded Medco Energi, one of the nation's largest energy groups, and Boenjamin Setiawan, who runs one of its biggest pharmaceutical companies. Singaporean Olivia Lum, age 45, debuts at number 39 as the list's youngest, and only female, member.

A net worth of $210 million was required to make the ranks. Three people from last year's list missed the cut, including Sim Wong Hoo, whose Creative Technology's iPod-type player lost ground to Apple's popular iPod. Also absent is Chaijudh Karnasuta, who died last November.

Unlike Forbes' Billionaires list, this regional ranking has been broadened to include a head of state, Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and family fortunes like the one belonging to Vanchai Chirathivat and his relatives.

For people with publicly traded fortunes, net worths were calculated using current share prices and exchange rates. For privately held fortunes we estimated what companies would be worth if they were public.

Rank	Name	Net Worth	Country	Age	Marital Status	Offspring
1	Robert Kuok	$5.3 billion	Malaysia	82	Married	8 children
2	Ananda Krishnan	$5.1 billion	Malaysia	67	Married	3 children
3	Kwek Leng Beng	$4 billion	Singapore	64	Married	2 children
4	Ng Teng Fong	$3.2 billion	Singapore	77	Married	2 children
5	Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi	$3 billion	Thailand	60	Married	5 children
6	Lee Seng Wee	$2.7 billion	Singapore	74	--	--
7	Lim Goh Tong	$2.6 billion	Malaysia	87	Married	6 children
8	Quek Leng Chan	$2.4 billion	Malaysia	64	Married	3 children
8	Wee Cho Yaw	$2.4 billion	Singapore	76	Married	5 children
10	R. Budi Hartono	$2.3 billion	Indonesia	64	--	--
11	Chaleo Yoovidhya	$2.2 billion	Thailand	73	Married	5 children
12	Teh Hong Piow	$2.1 billion	Malaysia	75	Married	--
13	Putera Sampoerna	$2 billion	Indonesia	56	Married	--
13	Rachman Halim	$2 billion	Indonesia	58	Married	--
15	Lucio Tan	$1.9 billion	Philippines	71	Married	--
16	Henry Sy	$1.6 billion	Philippines	80	Married	6 children
17	Dhanin Chearavanont	$1.4 billion	Thailand	66	Married	5 children
18	Lee Shin Cheng	$1.3 billion	Malaysia	66	--	--
18	Thaksin Shinawatra	$1.3 billion	Thailand	56	Married	3 children
20	Jaime Zobel de Ayala	$1.1 billion	Philippines	71	Married	7 children
20	Tiong Hiew King	$1.1 billion	Malaysia	69	Married	--
20	Francis Yeoh	$1.1 billion	Malaysia	51	Married	--
23	Eduardo Cojuangco	$750 million	Philippines	70	Married	4 children
23	Liem Sioe Liong	$750 million	Indonesia	89	Married	3 children
25	Murli Kewalram Chanrai	$720 million	Singapore	82	Married
26	Eka Tjipta Widjaja	$710 million	Indonesia	82	Married	15 children
27	Syed Mokhtar Albukhary	$680 million	Malaysia	53	Married	4 children
28	Arifin Panigoro	$610 million	Indonesia	60	Married	2 children
29	Anant Asavabhokin	$540 million	Thailand	56	--	--
30	Vanchai Chirathivat	$485 million	Thailand	78	--	--
31	Boenjamin Setiawan	$460 million	Indonesia	73	--	--
32	Paulus Tumewu	$445 million	Indonesia	52	--	--
33	Chatri Sophonpanich	$440 million	Thailand	72	Married	--
34	John Gokongwei Jr.	$425 million	Philippines	78	Married	6 children
35	George Ty	$420 million	Philippines	72	Married	5 children
36	Vichai Maleenont	$380 million	Thailand	--	--	--
37	Oei Hong Leong	$355 million	Singapore	--	Married
37	Tony Tan Caktiong	$355 million	Philippines	54	Married	3 children
39	Olivia Lum	$240 million	Singapore	45	Single	--
40	Boonchai Bencharongkul	$210 million	Thailand	51	Married	3 children

Additional reporting by Tatiana Serafin and Cristina von Zeppelin.