Lippo Group deputy chairman James Riady, one of Asia's most prominent and controversial businessmen, plans to soon quit the family business to go back to school or enter a Christian ministry.
He claims a religious experience 10 years ago led to his decision.
Baring his soul to Asia Inc magazine this month, he spoke of a growing inner emptiness during his years of financial success and the stress and sleepless nights that came with running a conglomerate of 38 firms.
'It accumulated until 1990 when I just broke down. I went to my room by myself and started crying out to God,' he told the magazine.
'All of a sudden something came upon me in my dreams. God allowed me to reflect on my life.' Mr Riady, 41, who is under investigation in the United States for alleged illegal campaign contributions to President Bill Clinton's Democratic Party, is now a born-again Christian.
He said he found the Asian crisis particularly trying, especially Indonesia's bank runs and the anti-Chinese riots of May 1998 when his family's showpiece shopping mall in Jakarta was torched by angry mobs.