Meet Rick Tan, also known as Rich Rick Tan: Redefining What It Means to Be Rich Through Kindness, Purpose and Gratitude

For Rick Tan, being “rich” has never been purely about money. Better known online as Rich Rick Tan, he sees richness in the relationships, experiences, kindness, faith and sense of purpose that make life meaningful. What began as a distinctive personal brand has grown into an identity that reflects how he wants to live and what he hopes to share with others.

Behind that positivity is also a journey shaped by challenges. From taking over his family’s printing business and eventually seeing it fail to discovering a deeper interest in kindness and content creation, Rick has learnt to appreciate both the successes and setbacks that have shaped him. Today, he hopes to use his platform to spread encouragement, gratitude and a little more light.

You once took over your family’s printing business, but the venture ultimately failed. Looking back, what went wrong, and what did the experience teach you about business, leadership and failure?

After graduating, I joined my family’s printing business. After my father passed away, my mother, brother and I continued running the company together. Looking back, we could have managed our old stock better, particularly when COVID-19 affected our cash flow. We also lacked a clear succession plan, direction and KPIs after my father’s passing.

Things became harder when a popular sports brand, a major customer for around 13 years, stopped working with us. The company began losing money, and we eventually decided to sell.

The experience taught me that hard work and good customer service are not enough. A sustainable business also needs strong leadership, structure, financial discipline, clear direction and effective use of its resources.

“Rich Rick Tan” is such a bold and memorable name. What inspired you to claim and embrace this identity publicly?

There are many people called Rick Tan, and I even know someone with the same name. I wanted something that people could easily remember, so I started asking people to call me Rich Rick Tan. It also became a useful personal brand because it makes me easier to find on social media.

But “rich” has a deeper meaning to me. I consider myself rich in love, relationships, experiences, kindness and purpose. I have good parents, a wonderful wife and children, meaningful friendships and my relationship with God.

People often associate being rich with material wealth, but I don’t think you need to be extremely wealthy to feel rich. I appreciate what I have and feel that my life is already very wholesome. That is why the name resonates with me. I believe I am rich on the inside.

You describe yourself as rich in spirit, values and love. Which of these qualities came naturally to you, and which have you had to grow into?

Kindness comes most naturally to me. I am not sure why, but I have always connected strongly with it. I genuinely enjoy helping people, making them feel welcome and bringing some happiness into their lives. It isn’t something I have to force.

Spiritually, I’m still growing. My family and I were baptised as Christians seven years ago, and I’m continuing to develop my relationship with God. So while kindness comes naturally, my spiritual journey is something I’m still working on.

Many creators focus on fame or income, but your message is about abundance in life. How do you balance personal branding with staying grounded in your values?

I understand that branding, income and recognition are important in today’s society, but my focus is on creating content that can inspire people to do better.

I don’t want my content to be about showing people how successful or great I am. I have experienced difficult periods in my own life, and I’m grateful that my wife and family helped me through them. Those experiences made my life richer.

If sharing what I have learnt can encourage someone going through a difficult time, I want to do that. I see it like being a candle in a dark place. If I have some light and warmth, I want to share it with others.

You speak about influencing with affluence. How do you hope your platform can positively impact others, especially those going through difficult times?

To me, abundance is the opposite of scarcity. Instead of keeping knowledge, advice or kindness to myself, I want to share them freely if they can help someone.

There is so much information available today through platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, but I want to share experiences and perspectives that can inspire someone or make their life a little better.

The same applies to kindness. I don’t do something kind because I expect something in return. I want to help because I genuinely want to help. Through my platform, I hope I can influence more people to practise kindness and live with an abundant mindset.

That’s the message I want to spread.

What kind of content do you feel resonates most deeply with your community, and why?

I strongly believe in kindness. I once read The Little Book of Kindness, which inspired me with the idea of practising kindness every day.

Later, when I learnt about social media marketing, I decided that kindness was something I wanted to create content around. It resonated deeply with me, so I wanted to continue sharing that message.

I believe kindness is something fundamental that everyone should practise. Doing something kind for another person can have an amazing impact, and that’s the kind of community I hope to build.

What do you think makes a good content creator?

A good content creator should be able to communicate a message that makes someone feel, think or act differently. Every piece of content can have a different purpose. Humorous content can make someone laugh, while other content might entertain, encourage, educate or empower.

If a creator understands the purpose of the content and can communicate that message effectively to the audience, I think that is what makes them a good content creator.

What is your vision for Singapore in the next five years?

I hope Singapore continues to be a place where people can build good lives, but also becomes a society where we notice and care for one another more.

Everyone is busy, and it can be easy to walk past someone who might need a little help or encouragement. My contribution may be small, but it is something I can work on every day.

I want to use my platform to encourage greater kindness, connection and respect between people of different ages and backgrounds. If each of us could bring a little light into someone else’s life, imagine what that could mean for Singapore.

If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?

I would choose the ability to help people see the good in themselves, especially those going through difficult times. Sometimes, people have strengths and potential that everyone around them can see, but they cannot see it themselves. If I could give someone that belief for one day, perhaps it would help them take their next step.

Even without a superpower, that’s something I will continue trying to do through my words and actions.

Connect with Rick: Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

Rick is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).