In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 24 August 1931
- Died
- 27 November 2019
- Birthplace
- Parigi, Central Sulawesi
- Country
- Indonesia
- Nationality
- Indonesian
- Known for
- Building major Indonesian property companies and promoting entrepreneurship education
- Birth name
- Tjie Tjin Hoan
- Flagship company
- Ciputra Group
- Earlier ventures
- Jaya Group and Metropolitan Group
- Education initiative
- Universitas Ciputra
Why this life matters
Ciputra linked urban development to a broader argument that entrepreneurship could be taught and used to expand opportunity across Indonesia.
Timeline
Key moments
Completed architecture studies
Graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology and entered urban development.
Helped establish Jaya Group
Began developing major projects with the Jakarta city government.
Founded Metropolitan Group
Expanded private property development with professional partners.
Established Ciputra Group
Created the family-backed company that carried his name across Indonesia and the region.
Opened Universitas Ciputra
Formalised a long-running commitment to entrepreneurship education.
Architecture and a changing Jakarta
Born in Central Sulawesi, Ciputra lost his father during the Japanese occupation and later studied architecture in Bandung. His early career coincided with Jakarta’s rapid expansion, where he helped develop large urban projects through Jaya Group.
Three business groups
Ciputra played founding roles in Jaya Group, Metropolitan Group and Ciputra Group. Their residential, commercial and mixed-use projects helped shape Indonesian cities, while overseas projects extended the model into other Asian markets.
Teaching entrepreneurship
In later life, Ciputra focused strongly on schools, a university and programmes designed to teach entrepreneurship. That work made education and philanthropy part of his business legacy, alongside debate about how large property development changes land, cities and access to housing.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Ciputra
- Who was Ciputra?
- Ciputra was a property developer and founder of Ciputra Group. Ciputra linked urban development to a broader argument that entrepreneurship could be taught and used to expand opportunity across Indonesia.
- What is Ciputra best known for?
- Ciputra is best known for building major Indonesian property companies and promoting entrepreneurship education.
- When and where was Ciputra born?
- Ciputra was born on 24 August 1931 in Parigi, Central Sulawesi.
- When did Ciputra die?
- Ciputra died on 27 November 2019.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
