Parliamentary Rags to Riches

As a student at the Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University in 1973, Setya Novanto sold honey and rice in the traditional market. His parents could only pay for his tuition, nothing more. "I worked hard so I could go through college," he said.

Setya, born in Bandung 60 years ago, is a son of Suwondo Mangunratsongko and Julia Maria Sulastri. He moved to Jakarta in 1967 to study at State Middle School 73. He stayed in Jakarta until his graduation from high school before returning to his parent's hometown, the capital of East Java. "I was never ashamed of having to work," he said.

November 4, 2014