Malaysia’s Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar: The billionaire monarch who refuses to be a ‘puppet king’

The 66-year-old ascended the throne last year under Malaysia’s unique constitutional monarchy, where nine hereditary rulers, known as "sultans," take turns as king.

Sultan Ibrahim, who oversees Johor, Malaysia’s second-most populous state, was considered one of the country’s most powerful and wealthy figures long before assuming the throne. He stands out even among the sultans for how much he displays his wealth.

The king, described by Bloomberg as "motorcycle-riding, Ferrari-driving, Instagram-savvy," owns a collection of 300 luxury cars and four private jets, including a Boeing 737, and has a strong social media presence with over 1.1 million Facebook followers and 973,000 on Instagram.

The 17th King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (L) and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah walk near the throne during his coronation at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 20, 2024. Pool Photo via AP

While much attention has been drawn to his wealth and influence, he is also known for speaking out on issues typically left to elected politicians.

Though the king’s role is mostly ceremonial in Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim has made it clear that he does not intend to spend his five-year reign as a "puppet king," vowing instead to fight corruption and promote national unity.

He has positioned himself as a people’s monarch and advocated for tolerance in Malaysia. He once declared that he stood with his citizens instead of elected lawmakers.

"There’re 222 of you (lawmakers) in parliament — there’re over 30 million outside," he said in a late 2023 interview with The Straits Times. "I’m not with you. I’m with them."

In a royal address at a parliament session earlier this month, he told members of the parliament to "stop playing politics" with every issue to prioritize the interests of one party or group, as reported by Malaysian newspaper The Star.

"The government must ensure this good performance will benefit all the rakyat (the common people) and not just certain quarters," he said, referring to the country’s 2024 economic performance.

Forthright statements such as these have raised concerns among prominent politicians about the extent of his influence nationwide.

"He’s a man who is very aggressive in many ways," Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister who often clashed with the sultans during his 24 cumulative years in office, said in an interview. "In a situation where the government is weak, the government cannot impose the rule on the ruler."

Additionally, Sultan Ibrahim has faced scrutiny for engaging in private business ventures alongside his official responsibilities.

The Johor royal family has investments in various industries and ventures, including the $100 billion Forest City project in collaboration with Chinese developer Country Garden, according to The Business Times.

The tycoon king reasoned that he "has to earn a living like everyone else" as he cannot rely only on his monthly allowance of RM27,000 (US$6,100), and that he has always been open and transparent about his business.

"I have never tried to hide my business dealings using proxies, like some people do," he said.

But being business-minded also drives his push for economic growth and national development.

He has urged the federal government to focus on major infrastructure initiatives, advocating for the revival of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail and efforts to revitalize the struggling Forest City project.

In the recent royal address, he called for greater investment in high-tech and digital industries, improved infrastructure, better healthcare and education, and more affordable housing for citizens.

He encouraged collective efforts to keep the country clean and safe for tourists amid the country’s recently launched tourism campaign, Visit Malaysia 2026, which he views as an opportunity to present Malaysia’s unique culture and values to the world.

"It will also open up economic opportunities and strengthen the country’s image in the eyes of the world," he added.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar rides a motorbike to meet with Johor residents in 2015. Photo from his Facebook page

Despite his ambitious vision and hands-on leadership, Sultan Ibrahim shared in the interview with The Straits Times that he initially felt apprehensive about becoming the king.

"I don’t know what I’ll be facing, the cultural shock," he said.

However, he credited his upbringing for shaping his resilience and readiness to confront challenges, including potential political conflicts.

He recalled how his late father, Sultan Iskandar, who ruled Johor from 1981 until his passing in 2010, was particularly strict with him. His father once refused to give him money for a bicycle after he brought home a poor report card. Determined, he collected bottles, boxes, and scrap metal to recycle and eventually saved enough to buy his first chopper bicycle.

Sultan Ibrahim is married to Raja Zarith Sofiah, a member of another royal family, and they had six children—five sons and one daughter. His wife, an Oxford graduate, has also authored several children's books, as reported by AP.

The sultan recently traveled overseas for conservative treatment to address musculoskeletal pain, a result of rigorous military training and his active involvement in sports like polo during his youth. The treatment was successful, and he is set to return on Friday.

Datuk R. Sugumaran, the king’s personal officer and former aide-de-camp since 2003, shared with state news agency Bernama that the king values punctuality, always arriving 5-10 minutes early rather than keeping others waiting.

He added that Sultan Ibrahim is compassionate and quick to empathize with others, contrary to his stern demeanor. He also enjoys engaging with the people and hearing their concerns.

"His Majesty doesn’t like to get angry and is quick to show compassion. If someone did something wrong and we asked His Majesty to give the person another chance, the Sultan’s response would always be, 'Okay Sugu (Sugumaran), you do what you think is right’," Sugumaran said.