Viral employees crying in mass layoffs, this is the profile of the owner of the Gudang Garam who is included in the list of the richest people of Indonesia

FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Viral video featuring Gudang Garam employees cried. They allegedly received termination of employment (layoffs).

The upload emerged from the @mdyxx account on Saturday (6/9/2025) with a brief information, “The moment of farewell from PT Gudang Garam employees who were laid off. The world of work was not okay.”

There has been no official statement of Gudang Garam regarding this matter. But if it refers to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), the financial performance of Gudang Garam is indeed sagging.

During 2024, the company only pocketed a net profit of Rp980.8 billion, plummeted up to 81.57 percent compared to the previous year which reached Rp5.32 trillion.

The decline in people’s purchasing power and intense competition in the cigarette industry is considered to be a major factor.

In the middle of the situation, the name Susilo Wonowidjojo was in the spotlight. He is referred to as the owner of Gudang Garam.

Who is Susilo Wonowidjojo?

He was known to be born in Kediri on November 18, 1956, Susilo Wonowidjojo was the second generation of the founder of Gudang Garam.

Susilo the third child of seven siblings Surya Wonowidjojo, the pioneer of the business, and grew up in a family environment that built a cigarette business from scratch.

Susilo’s career began at a young age. In the 1970s, he was already active in factory operations.

In his 20s, he was trusted to be a director and was involved in modernization of production with the use of kretek pelching machines. After his father died in 1985, the company’s leadership was held by his brother, Rahman Halim.

But since 2008, the baton has turned to Susilo after his brother died. In the hands of Susilo, Gudang Garam expanded the production area in 2013.