Page 10 - Forbes - Asia (April 2019)

CONTENTS — APRIL 2019 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3

JAPAN’S 50 RICHEST

40 | CLOUD CONTROL
Hiroshi Mikitani aims to disrupt Japan’s telecom industry
with Rakuten Mobile.
BY JAMES SIMMS
44 | A MIXED BAG
Fortunes fell for most of Japan’s richest,
but a few bucked the trend.
EDITED BY KERRY A. DOLAN

STRATEGIES

52 | ROBOTS, ROBOTS EVERYWHERE
For 20 years Intuitive Surgical owned its market.
Now the operating room is getting crowded.
BY MICHELA TINDERA

TECH

54 | GADGETMAN // BEN SIN
Unfolding the future.

55 | UBER’S SECRET GOLD MINE
Uber Eats could make up a tenth of the ride-hailing
giant’s revenue this year, but rivals are already trying
to tap the same vein.
BY BIZ CARSON

58 | DATA’S CARTOGRAPHERS
Two philosophers are using machine learning and artificial
intelligence to create a real-time map of the global economy.
BY ANTOINE GARA

FORBES LIFE

62 | BURCH BRANCHES OUT
With Nihi resorts, Chris Burch hopes to build
a world-class luxury hotel brand.
BY CHRISTIAN BARKER

66 | THE SUPER MODELS
Want a vintage Bugatti, a classic Ferrari or a modern
McLaren supercar at a fraction of the cost? Amalgam
Collection will build one—at a fraction of the size.
S PAGE 40
BY CHUCK TANNERT
“USING OUR ECOSYSTEM, WE 70 | HOLD-’EM HERBIE
CAN ACQUIRE CUSTOMERS AT A Florida optometrist has beaten the odds

A RELATIVELY LOWER COST.” to become a buy-and-hold billionaire.
BY MADELINE BERG
—Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO, Rakuten
74 | THOUGHTS
Cashing in.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY IRWIN WONG FOR FORBES ASIA

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, ALL TOTALS AND PRICES EXPRESSED IN OUR STORIES ARE IN U.S. DOLLARS.

6 | FORBES ASIA APRIL 2019