Born in Medan, Alexander Tedja started out in the film and cinema industry, founding his company PT ISAE FILM in 1972, then PT Menara Mitra Cinema Corp. five years later. In the early 1980’s however, through PT Pakuwon Jati Tbk, he moved into the property market, especially shopping malls and he never looked back. He initially concentrated his efforts in Surabaya, but by 2007 had expanded his operations to Jakarta.