Personal life
Kuok is a follower of Buddhism.[17] Kuok has been married twice. His first wife was Joyce Cheah and his second wife is Pauline Ho Poh Lin. He has eight children from the marriages.[14] His son, Kuok Khoon Ean born in 1955 married Kuok Cheng Sui and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Nottingham, England. His other son, Kuok Khoon Ho is the chairman of Kuok Brothers, born in 1951 and holds a bachelor's degree from McGill University, Canada. Kuok Hui Kwong, his daughter, was previously the managing director and chief executive of SCMP Group and chairperson of Shangri-La Asia.[18] One of his sons, Kuok Khoon Ean, handles most of the day-to-day operations of his businesses. He resides in Kuala Lumpur. During the reign of Iskandar of Johor as the King of Malaysia, Kuok was offered a "Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri" title (comparable to Sir), but rejected the offer.[19]
Kuok's brother, Philip Kuok Hock Khee was a former Malaysian Ambassador to Germany, Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark. Philip married Eileen Kuok and had two sons and two daughters. Philip Kuok died in 2003. Another brother, William Kuok Hock Ling, was a member of the Malayan Communist Party and was killed during the Malayan Emergency in 1952.[20][21] According to his memoir, Kuok described that of all the brothers, his mother Zheng Ge Ru doted on and adored William the most, and was heartbroken when she received news of his death.
His nephew, Kuok Khoon Hong is the chairman of Wilmar International, and one of the richest people in Singapore.[22] Kuok Khoon Hong's father, Kuok Hock Swee, was an older cousin of Robert Kuok.[23] His grand-nephew, Kuok Meng Ru, is in the music retail industry, owning Swee Lee music company.[24]
He lives in the Deep Water Bay neighbourhood on Hong Kong Island.[25] In 2023, Kuok became a centenarian.[26]
