Malaysian entrepreneur and the CEO of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes has made an impressive fortune over the years. His current net worth and salary explored.
In October 2023, Tony Fernandes shocked fans after he took to his LinkedIn to share a picture of him getting a massage from a woman while in his office.
The image showed the businessman topless and the stunned part is that he was in a business meeting.
The AirAsia chief decided to unwind after a stressful week and got a massage on the recommendation of CEO Veranita Yosephine.
The image has since been deleted after he was slammed as “unprofessional” by netizens but many want to know more about his career and net worth. Here’s everything we know about the entrepreneur.
Profile Summary
| Celebrated Name: | Tony Fernandes |
| Net Worth: | $335 million per Forbes |
| Source of Wealth: | aviation, Self Made |
| Profession: | CEO of AirAsia |
| Full Real Name: | Anthony Francis Fernandes |
| Date of Birth: | April 30, 1964 (age 59 years) |
| Birthplace: | Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Residence: | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Citizenship: | Malaysia |
| Education: | Bachelor of Arts/Science, Epsom College; London School of Economics |
Who is AirAsia’s CEO, Tony Fernandes?
Fernandes was born on April 30, 1964, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He comes from a well-to-do family as his father, Stephen Edward Fernandes, was a medical doctor and his mother, Ena Dorothy Fernandes, was a businesswoman and dealer in Tupperware who mostly sold her goods at Tupperware parties.
Tony is of mixed ethnicity; his dad is a Goan and his mom is of Indian (Malayali) and Asian-Portuguese (Kristang) descent.
Growing up, he attended The Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. Starting at age 12, from 1976 to 1983, he studied at Epsom College boarding school, one of Britain’s top fee-paying schools in England. He matriculated at the London School of Economics and graduated with a degree in accounting.
After his education, Fernandes began working as an auditor, then financial controller, for Virgin Atlantic.
In the 1990s, Fernandes started managing director of Warner Music Group Asia. He was the youngest to take such a role and his position was highly successful.
He then ventured into business and became chief of AirAsia – the largest airline in Malaysia by fleet size and destinations.
The Malaysian entrepreneur then purchased the budget airline AirAsia from the Malaysian government for less than a dollar in 2001.
Aside from his interests in aviation, Mr Fernandes has also ventured into the world of sport.
He was the founder of former F1 team Caterham – which began racing in 2010 as Lotus before the Malaysian mogul sold the company in 2014.
In 2011, Fernandes bought the football team QPR following their promotion to the Premier League.
He left the club in July, after selling the last of his shares after 12 years, having stepped down as chairman six years prior.
At the time of his departure, the Malaysian mogul said: ”Outside of family, I have experienced some of the most enjoyable moments of my life thanks to QPR.
”On the pitch, there have been special victories and it was an honor to be there and see us win promotion to the Premier League at Wembley Stadium. Off the pitch, QPR’s reputation as a true community club is something I have always been very proud of.
”I am a passionate person and that means the good times have meant so much but, equally, the tough times have hurt. This decision to step away is made with a heavy heart. I would like to thank the supporters who I have experienced the last decade of adventures with. I will continue to look out for QPR’s results and wish the board nothing but success in the future.”
In November 2020, the entrepreneur put his stunning £2.5 million Ayrshire estate up for sale – sacrificing the beautiful property for his business empire.
What is Tony Fernandes’ net worth?
Tony Fernandes (real name: Anthony Francis Fernandes PSM, CBE) has a more than impressive fortune. He has accumulated an estimated current net worth of $335 million per a 2020 report by Forbes.
Forbes had placed him among the rich list of Malaysia’s 50 Richest List, however later dropped off the prestigious ranking in 2021.
He accrued his fortune from his primary career as an entrepreneur.
He has been an auditor, then financial controller, for Virgin Atlantic. He was also the managing director of Warner Music Group Asia.
He is best known as the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., which took over the first Malaysian budget airline, AirAsia. Fernandes turned AirAsia, a failing government-linked commercial airline, into a highly successful budget airline public-listed company.
What is known about Tony Fernandes’ wife Chloe Kim and children?
The AirAsia boss married his girlfriend Chloe Kim, who hails from South Korea, in 2017.
The couple had previously met two years earlier in Paris, Forbes reports.
Prior to his marriage to Chloe Kim, Mr Fernandes was previously married and shares two children with his former wife.
In October 2021, the businessman announced the birth of his third child – who was born earlier that year in August.