5 Facts About Nat Rothschild, Whose Batam Factory Prabowo Visited

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto attended the inauguration of PT Volex Indonesia's third facility in the Sekupang Industrial Zone in Batam, Riau Islands, on Sunday, August 4, 2024. The electronics cable and connector manufacturer is owned by Prabowo's partner, British tycoon Nathaniel Philip Victor James Rothschild, or Nat Rothschild.

Prabowo expressed pride in the company's expansion. “[I was impressed] when was invited to get a factory tour seeing the variety of products, which are to meet the export needs. Moreover, the production results are recognized for their good quality,” Prabowo said, as quoted in a Riau Government press release.

Read on to discover five facts about Nat Rothschild:

1. Wealthy Family

Born into the renowned Rothschild banking family on July 12, 1971, Nat Rothschild is a prominent figure in business and investment. He is the son of Jacob Rothschild and the seventh generation of the family to engage in business and investment. He attended Colet Court primary school (St Paul’s Juniors) and Eton College before pursuing further studies at Wadham College, Oxford, England.

2. Career

Nat Rothschild served as an acting director at RIT Capital Partners Plc (Rothschild Investment Trust) in March 2000 and assumed a full non-executive director role from 2004 to 2010. He also chaired JNR Limited, a company engaged in investment advisory services, particularly in emerging markets, metals, mining, and resources. Besides, he held a position as Deputy Chairman of Atticus Capital Hedge Fund from 1996 until its dissolution in 2009.

His other strategic positions include Chairman of Vivarte, a Pan-European retailer owning the Kookai clothing brand, Director of Barrick Gold Corporation from 2010 to 2013, and Executive Chairman of Volex in 2015. He then became the largest shareholder of Volex through his investment company NR Holdings Ltd. In 2018, Rothschild was appointed a Foundation Fellow at Wadham College.

3. Banking Dynasty

The Rothschild family built the European banking empire in the 18th century. The financial dynasty originated in Frankfurt and was then expanded across Europe. Forbes ranked them as the world's wealthiest family in December 2023, with a net worth of US$20 trillion.

4. Wealth

Forbes reported that as the heir to a European banking dynasty with a history spanning over two centuries, Nat Rothschild's net worth reached US$1 billion or approximately Rp16.1 trillion, with an assumed exchange rate as of January 3, 2012.

5. Connection Between Prabowo and Nat Rothchild 

In 2018, amid the presidential election campaign against the current President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Prabowo Subianto's younger brother, Hashim Djodjohadikusumo, publicly denied any business ties between Prabowo and Nat Rothschild.

Although acknowledging Prabowo’s overseas business, Hashim firmly rejected accusations of a connection to the Rothschild family, particularly due to the latter's Jewish heritage. He accused others of using the allegation to damage Prabowo's image as a critic of foreign control over Indonesian assets.

Editor's Note: The title has been corrected, the number 5 was added.

MELYNDA DWI PUSPITA | ANDIKA DWI | IDA ROSDALINA | THE GUARDIAN

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