Penang-born billionaire Jho Low, under the spotlight over his role in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has admitted to being "good friends" with the stepson of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, said he has known Riza Aziz for 16 years since studying at Harrow boarding school in the UK, while Riza studied at a nearby college.

“I’m good friends with Riza,” Low said in an interview with South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Low added that it is through Riza ( middle in photo ) that he came to know Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

“Through Riza, I met his parents,” Low was quoted as saying.

According to the interview, it was Low who had helped introduce Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio ( right in photo ) to Red Granite Pictures, which was co-founded by Riza.

“I’ve known Leo for many years and through the Jynwel Foundation, we are actively involved in environmental conservation projects around the world,” said Low in the interview.

Jynwel Foundation is the charitable arm of Low's business empire.

Low denies wrongdoing

Red Granite Pictures produced the film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’, in which DiCaprio played the lead character.

The film helped propel Riza onto the Hollywood film scene.

The spotlight is recently on Low again after whistleblower site Sarawak Report leaked email correspondence between 1MDB and PetroSaudi, in which the young highflier was part of the conversation.

Sarawak Report had claimed that PetroSaudi was used as a front in a deal with 1MDB where Good Star Limited, a company controlled by Jho Low, received USD700 million.

Low has denied any wrongdoing and said he is prepared to cooperate in any inquiry.

Previously, Low was also in the limelight over his links with the prime minister's family, as he sold real estate in New York and Los Angeles worth approximately US$42 million to Riza.

Low, through his spokesperson, has insisted that the deals were done "at arm's length fair market value".