Latest news with #Secretlab
Geek Culture
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Geek Culture
Secretlab x Lamborghini Pinnacle Edition Races Towards 24 June Release With Only 100 Units Worldwide
Secretlab is gearing up for another collaboration with luxury sports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini, and this time, they are going all out with the limited Lamborghini Pinnacle Superleggera Edition, with only 100 units made worldwide. Paying homage to the supercar's legacy, each Pinnacle Superleggera Edition is built for both performance and comfort, wrapped in a high-end Dinamica, a non-woven microsuede often used for luxury car seats, providing equal parts durability and softness. The chair will also feature the same Y-shaped motif at its rear, a feature which has defined all of Secretlab's Lamborghini Collection chairs, capturing the elegance the supercar is known for. The Pinnacle Superleggera Edition will be paired with the same technologies from Secretlab's TITAN Evo line-up, including its proprietary medium-firm cold-cure foam mix, four-way L-ADAPT lumbar support, and its sculpted pebble seat base. For that added touch of Lamborghini style, the chair also features a top shell at the rear of its headrest crafted from forged carbon fibre inspired by Lamborghini's signature Forged Composites, with each having its own distinct pattern of carbon fibre flecks to ensure that no two chairs are the same. In a similar vein, each of the 100 units available will be individually serialised with a laser-engraved number badge, a mark of honour for collectors to show off its rarity and distinction. The Secretlab Lamborghini Pinnacle Superleggera Edition will be available in Singapore, the United States, Europe, and Australia, and will be priced at S$2,099. The one-of-a-kind masterpiece will launch on 24 June at 12 AM SGT (23 June, 9 AM PDT), with only 100 units available worldwide. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Independent Singapore
16 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
GCB craze: How Singapore's 10 Real-Life Crazy Rich Asians got rich enough to own their S$10M to S$100M+ homes
SINGAPORE: If the rest of us are trying to save enough to one day upgrade from a studio flat to a two-bedder, Singapore's ultra-rich are out here snapping up Good Class Bungalows (GCBs)—the rarefied mansions with price tags that can even exceed S$100 million, reserved exclusively for the wealthiest 1%. In this story, we take a deep dive into at least 10 of these GCB owners—not just their jaw-dropping property purchases, but how they earned their fortunes in the first place—how, actually, these Crazy Rich Singaporeans went from boardroom warriors to GCB landowners anyway… and what we mere mortals might learn from them. When team Unchify & 8days recently brought the owners of these sprawling plots starting at 15,000 square feet into the spotlight, we realized that each of these properties is more than just a home; it's a status symbol, a hedge against inflation, and sometimes, let's be honest, an oversized flex… so we got curious to find out more on how did they amass so much wealth to own them. 1. Ian Ang (Secretlab) – Caldecott Hill Estate Ian Ang (33) is one half of the duo behind Secretlab—the brand behind those addictive gaming chairs. In 2021, he plopped down S$36 million for a 23,424 sqft GCB at 27 Olive Road. The irony is that his chair made you so comfy hard that he'd probably taken the biggest one himself. Photo: FB/ianaangzw + Google Maps via Uchify How he struck gold: Ang pursued law at Singapore Management University but probably realized later that success isn't one-size-fits-all. He founded Secretlab in 2014 with fellow SMU alumnus Alaric Choo, envisioning sleek, ergonomic chairs for gamers and professionals alike. What drove him: Secretlab's success didn't just ride on clever designs—it was an obsession with quality and tight community marketing. Its Asia-based manufacturing allowed customization, funded by a massive Kickstarter success. Today, they supply props to esports tournaments and even boast international celebrity, film, and gaming collaborations. 2. Tan Min‑Liang (Razer) – Third Avenue GCB In 2021, Razer's unstoppable CEO and co-founder, Tan Min‑Liang (47), paid S$52.8 million for a sprawling GCB on Third Avenue—unlocking Google alerts and jaw drops across the island. His chosen trophy matches his status: Tan ranked #31 on Forbes' 2024 Singapore Rich List, and his home screams 'pro gamer meets meme lord' (in the best way). Photo: FB/minliangtan + Google Maps via Uchify How he got rich: Tan studied law at the National University of Singapore—proof that even e-sports overlords can respect a good degree. He started as a corporate lawyer, but a gaming obsession led him to co-found Razer in 2005 with a friend. Their 'for gamers by gamers' ethos—and a cheeky razer-green logo—helped the brand carve out a cult following. Today, Razer boasts $1 billion in annual revenues and dominates several esports markets. See also Singapore's Bungalow market is "down but not out" His secret sauce: Tan blends hardcore tech innovation (ever thought of a programmable keyboard?) with community marketing, partnering with influencers, and sponsoring esports teams. Oh, and double‑doom: he's both CEO and Chief Creative Director—so if Razer's aesthetic is too slick, blame him. 3. Chew Shou Zi (TikTok/ByteDance) – Queen Astrid Park TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi (42) is the rarest creature in Singapore: a 'Crazy Rich Senator.' In 2021, he quietly paid a cool S$86 million for a 31,800 sqft GCB in Queen Astrid Park. It's the sort of acquisition that turns Monopoly into reality—and makes all your real estate envy look feeble. Photo: Flicker/Chew Shou Zi/World Economic Forum + Google Maps via Uchify How he got rich: Chew studied economics at University College London and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He then embraced finance: stints at Goldman Sachs, and later top roles at DST Global, Xiaomi (CFO, then President International), and ByteDance (CFO) preceded his ascension to TikTok CEO in 2021. Each pivot landed him major stock options. His strategy: Chew's path threads elite education, investment acumen, and technology. At DST, he bet early on Alibaba and Xiaomi, making serious capital. At Xiaomi, he honed global expansion, IPOs, and influencer-era brand building. At ByteDance/TikTok, he combined his financial smarts with growth hacking, helping turn a viral app into a global social media Goliath. 4. Chloe Tong (wife of Grab CEO Anthony Tan) – Bin Tong Park Mrs. Grab-wielding Chloe Tong dropped S$40 million in 2021 for a stomping 31,800 sqft GCB in Bin Tong Park—one block over in Holland Road. It might belong to Grab's power couple, but the headline lands in her name—aka Chloe Tong, GCB Queen. Photo: FB/Grab + Google Maps via Uchify How she amassed wealth: Chloe grew up near media royalty—her father founded The Edge Media Group . After her schooling, she rose through the ranks to executive roles at Edge . Her strategy: Based on her education and experience, Tong will likely blend strategic communication with media insight, with her company offering business intelligence, events, and publications. Her decisions may reflect brand-building and networking excellence, ironically similar in precision to the IPO ride Grab took under her husband's helm. 5. Jet Li (Actor) – Binjai Rise (Bukit Timah Enclave) In June 2009, acclaimed martial arts superstar Jet Li, a Chinese-born Singaporean, paid S$19.8 million for a sprawling 22,723 sq ft Good Class Bungalow on Binjai Rise. Photo: FB/JetLi + The Business Times via Uchify This purchase raised eyebrows because, at the time, only Singaporean citizens could buy such properties, and Jet Li was still a US citizen. Although Li reportedly became a Singapore citizen around the same time and launched the One Foundation Singapore, he seldom resides in the house these days. How he became rich: Jet Li started life in Beijing in 1963, quickly rising through China's wushu martial arts ranks to become a five-time national champion by age 16. His athletic prowess paved the way into films, turning him into a national icon. Transitioning into Hollywood by the late 1990s, Li's career featured blockbusters, with his films earning over US$2.4 billion worldwide. His strategy: Li's success reflects a hybrid strategy—leveraging national sports fame into film stardom, then globalizing his appeal through Hollywood blockbusters. He stayed sharp by adapting to different markets, languages, and genres, dabbling in acting, producing, and philanthropy. His move to invest in Singapore real estate highlights another strategy: wealth and legacy diversification through real estate holdings in a prime, exclusive district. 6. James Sheng (Alibaba) – Leedon Park In July 2022, James Sheng, one of Alibaba's original co-founders and key designer of its iconic logo, quietly shelled out S$50 million for a 25,130 sq ft Good Class Bungalow in Leedon Park—near Holland Road—perhaps matching both his stature and his style. Photo: FB/ + Google Maps via Uchify How he got rich: Sheng launched his entrepreneurial journey in 1999 alongside Jack Ma, helping build Alibaba from a humble startup into a global e-commerce powerhouse. As Senior Vice President of Alibaba and current Managing Director of Alibaba Singapore, he led product and platform strategy, scaling both Alipay and B2B services between 2005 and 2014. His wealth springs from Alibaba's monumental growth, local executive pay, and significant equity holdings. His strategy: Sheng is a rare blend of creative vision and operational leadership—he sketched Alibaba's smiling logo, embedding the company's customer-first philosophy into its branding from day one. His strategic focus was on scaling high-impact digital platforms—like Alipay—gaining market dominance through seamless UX and wide adoption. In Singapore, he continues to steer Alibaba's expansion, blending global strategy with local execution to drive prosperity. 7. James Dyson (Dyson) – Cluny Road James Dyson (78), a permanent resident in Singapore, landed an S$45 million GCB at 50 Cluny Road after snapping up a penthouse for S$73.8 million (and selling at a loss—yes, billionaires misstep too). Photo: Wikimedia/James_Dyson + ArchDaily via Uchify How he got rich: Dyson earned a degree in engineering at the Royal College of Art, then chased bagless vacuum prototypes for 5,127 tries before success. He launched Dyson Ltd in 1991. Today, the company's product line spans vacuums, air dryers, fans, haircare, and even electric cars (with mixed results). His business moves: Dyson's wealth isn't founder's luck: he retained firm majority control, reinvests heavily in R&D, and holds hundreds of patents. His volcanic perfectionism makes product — even packaging — a geeky spectacle. His GCB purchase follows his strategy: big bets that yield global returns. 8. Goh Cheng Liang (Nippon Paint) – Garlick Avenue At 98, Nippon Paint's founder Goh Cheng Liang is still splurging: S$93 million on a massive 101,550 sqft GCB—so much land he might negotiate paint in bulk. Photo: IG/gliang605 + Google Maps via Uchify From paint to palace: Goh started in trading paint in the 1950s before starting Nippon Paint Singapore in 1962. The company later co-founded the Indonesian joint venture with Nippon Paint Japan, mushrooming into Asia's paint titan. But before Goh's painting empire spread across Asia, it wasn't all colorful at first sight. He was born into poverty, so he took on odd jobs and even worked as a rubber tapper to support himself. After World War II, he saw an opportunity in surplus military supplies. He began buying cheap paint from the British army, which he transformed into the foundation of a thriving local business. His vision: Goh focused on regional expansion early, using exclusive manufacturing agreements and local knowledge. His billionaire status led to his GCB, completing a legacy portrait of creative dominance paired with industrial scale. 9. Andy Chua (Yun Nam Hair Care) – Brizay Park, off Old Holland Road Andy Chua plowed S$33 million in 2016 for a 29,800 sqft GCB at Brizay Park—and he's merging the adjacent plot for mega-landed dominance. So don't play! play! No messing around here! Photo: Google Maps via Uchify How he climbed: Chua founded Yun Nam Hair Care, specializing in Chinese herbal scalp therapy and holistic hair solutions. He would have likely studied traditional medicine before opening his first salon in 1984, growing fast via celebrity endorsements and wellness narratives. His blueprint: Chua fused heritage with modern retail. By building multi-outlet presence (122 in Singapore & Malaysia) and franchising abroad, he adds real estate heft via location, not just treatment. His GCB move? A statement of brand vitality and wealth diversification. 10. Zhang Yong (Haidilao) – Gallop Road When it comes to hotpot royalty, Zhang Yong (56) holds court. In true dynasty fashion, he spent S$42 million on a GCB along Gallop Road for his son. Photo: FB/ + Google Maps via Uchify How he scaled: Zhang worked as a waiter in China before founding Haidilao in 1994. He built the brand on obsessive service, free manicures, snacks, and staff trained in hospitality. Today, Haidilao has 1,300+ outlets and is a publicly listed company. His edge: Zhang's strategy is to make customers feel like VIPs and replicate it globally. While chasing IPO capital in 2018 (Shenzhen and HK), he retained significant shares and maintained tight franchise control, ensuring quality. So there you go, all the individuals who didn't just wake up rich. Most of them built empires brick by brick (or byte by byte), and their million-dollar mansions are the glittering cherry on top of some wildly successful careers we can only dream of… Just take a look for yourself at what the latest GCB sales report says: Only 2 GCBs sold in Q1 2025—Singapore's lowest quarterly sales since 2019, despite 143 luxury homes sold
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Design News: 100 gaming seats in Secretlab and Lamborghini tie-up to go on sale worldwide on June 24
The new collection, called Secretlab for Automobili Lamborghini Pinnacle Superleggera, has individual serialised badge numbers for its seats. PHOTO: SECRETLAB Design News: 100 gaming seats in Secretlab and Lamborghini tie-up to go on sale worldwide on June 24 Chairs in Secretlab-Lamborghini collab to feature Dinamica upholstery In the latest adrenaline-charged chapter of home-grown gaming chair brand Secretlab's partnership with Italian luxury marque Lamborghini, 100 limited-edition ergonomic gaming chairs will go on sale starting from midnight on June 24. Each chair has a serialised badge numbered from one to 100. The new collection, called Secretlab for Automobili Lamborghini Pinnacle Superleggera, is a collaboration between Secretlab and the House of Sant'Agata Bolognese. The House refers to Automobili Lamborghini, the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1963 by magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini, and based in the town of Sant'Agata Bolognese in Italy. 'Supperleggera' means 'super light' in Italian, a nod to Lamborghini's use of lightweight materials for shaving off excess weight to boost its cars' speed. This is the fifth chair in a multi-year collaboration which began in 2022 , and builds on the successes of previous global launches . The chairs bear Secretlab's ergonomic features and Lamborghini's signature Y-shaped motifs. They are also upholstered in a specially treated material called Dinamica, made from non-woven suede and used in high-end luxury sports cars. At the crown of each chair is a custom-forged carbon top plate crafted to echo Lamborghini's 'Forged Composites', a n innovative composite material engineered for strength, rigidity, and lightness. Info: This is the first batch in the Automobili Lamborghini Pinnacle Superleggera collection. The limited-edition chair is priced at $2,099. To register interest and view the designs, go to Sales will start at midnight, June 24. The Fullerton Heritage ties up with artist Yip Yew Chong on 32m mural The installation seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of Singapore's heritage, encourage exploration of The Fullerton Heritage precinct and spark a sense of collective identity. PHOTO: THE FULLERTON HERITAGE Step into a picture-postcard world where Singapore's sepia-tinged scenes of the 1960s and 1970s spring to life at the former General Post Office building, now The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. To mark Singapore's 60th year of independence (SG60), The Fullerton Heritage team is collaborating with Singapore artist Yip Yew Chong for Postcard Stories, a 32m mural that brings the precinct's nostalgic scenes to life along One Fullerton's Seaview Channel walkway. The installation seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of Singapore's heritage, encourage exploration of The Fullerton Heritage precinct and spark a sense of collective identity. Yip will paint the scenes live on site during the first two weeks of July , offering rare behind-the-scenes glimpses into his techniques and storytelling approach . Mr Gino Tan, country general manager of The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, says: 'The Fullerton Heritage precinct is steeped in history, and there is no better time than SG60 to reflect on the journey that has shaped our nation.' The installation's four scenes – Change Alley's bustling trade; the historic General Post Office's role in connecting people; the iconic waterfront featuring boatmen and labourers ; and the transformation of the Esplanade and Merlion Park – aim to capture Singapore's evolving cityscape. The mural is Yip's personal memory, interpretation and imagination of the place. 'By recreating the life and spirit of these scenes, I hope visitors can feel like they've walked right into old postcards,' he says. 'While the seniors reminisce, the young, tourists and those who have never seen these scenes before can learn about these places, their stories and the larger Singapore story.' Info: The Postcard Stories exhibition is on from July 14 to Sept 30. The free exhibition is at One Fullerton's Seaview Channel , along the walkway between Shake Shack and OverEasy . Catch the live mural painting from July 2 to 13, from 11am to 7pm. Go to West Mall unveils its vibrant community hub makeover West Mall at Bukit Batok Central has revealed its new look after a two-year refurbishment. PHOTO: WEST MALL West Mall at Bukit Batok Central has revealed its new look after a two-year refurbishment. The neighbourhood hub, built in 1998 close to Bukit Batok MRT station and bus interchange, launches new features such as a basement wing called Eat@W, an outdoor plaza and improved amenities for the family. Its owner, Singapore Land Group Limited (SingLand), announced the reopening on June 20 after the completion of the mall's asset enhancement initiative. The redesign goes beyond aesthetics to create a n engaging lifestyle hot spot for Bukit Batok residents as well as the growing Tengah neighbourhood estate near the mall. Ms Goh Poh Leng, head of commercial at SingLand, says it was an opportune time to enhance the hub to better serve more residents. 'The asset enhancement has introduced a wide array of dining and retail options with the addition of Eat@W,' she says. 'Other highlights include a weatherproof outdoor public space and expanded library facilities which will be unveiled in the first half of next year. Together, we have created an inclusive place at West Mall where people can gather, connect and share memorable experiences.' The mall's new basement wing showcases more than 20 food-and-beverage and retail options spread across 22,000 sq ft of net lettable area. There are also new dining concepts such as Singapore's first Lao Ma Ban Mian, which serves speciality Taiwanese noodle dishes, as well as Gochiya, which offers teppanyaki. The open plaza on the ground floor has been transformed into a sheltered community space, designed for activities such as mass workouts and seasonal celebrations. Info: West Mall has a month-long celebration lined up for residents and visitors. Shoppers can enjoy family-friendly activities, shopping deals and a lucky draw with $20,000 worth of prizes to be won. Go to Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
