Ananda Krishnan is one of Malaysia's most influential and wealthiest individuals. In the past week, Mr Krishnan, also known as AK, has been in the limelight because of his son Ajahn Siripanyo, who gave up the world's riches to become a Buddhist monk.

Malaysian media, telecoms and oil mogul Anada T Krishnan has died at age 86, his companies reported on Thursday.

His only son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, recently garnered global attention when he renounced a $5 billion inheritance to become a Buddhist monk at the age of 18.

Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, whose business empire spans energy and telecommunications services, has died at the age of 86, his privately held investment company said Thursday.

Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, the only son of Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, chose to forgo an inheritance from his father’s net worth of US$5.1 billion in order to become a monk.

Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, whose business interests ranged from oil and gas to telecommunications, has died at the age of 86, his private investment company said.

Ananda Krishnan, one of Malaysia’s richest tycoons with a vast business empire including telecommunications, media, petroleum and real estate, has died.