Li Ka-shing
Li Ka-shing is a wealthy entrepreneur from Hong Kong. Li, born on June 13, 1928, is considered as the world’s wealthiest individual of Chinese descent. He is considered by Forbes to be the 16th richest person in the world with a fortune amounting up to 16.2 billion Hong Kong dollars. He is currently the Cheung Kong Holdings and the Hutchison Whampoa Limited chairman. Through these companies, he became the leading operator of container terminals and beauty and health retailers in the world. Because of his expertise in business, he is sometimes called the “Superman” of Hong Kong.
As one of the most influential individuals in all of Asia, Asiaweek labeled Li as “Asia’s Most Powerful Man” in 2001. On September 5, 2006, the Forbes Family and Forbes Magazine also awarded him with a “Malcom S. Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award” in Singapore. Despite the noted status, he has a reputation for keeping a low-profile lifestyle.
In addition to his esteemed title, he is also a philanthropist, generously contributing about 1 billion US dollars to charity and a variety of humanitarian campaigns.
Li was born in China, in Chaozhou in the Guangdong Province. By 1940, he and his family left the province for Hong Kong to keep away from the uproar happening in China. They resided at the place of Li’s affluent uncle. Li saw his uncle’s arrogance with his fortune and it moved him to become someone who is respected and known by everyone. When Li Ka-shing’s father died, he took on the responsibility of his family. He was forced to abandon his academic studies before reaching 15 years old. He landed a job at a plastics trading conglomerate, working for 16 hours daily. By the time he was in his early twenties, in 1950, Li was fortunate enough to start Cheung Kong Industries.
His instituted company is one of the top real estate investment firms in Hong Kong and was included in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972. Cheung Kong further expanded by obtaining Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited, in 1985, and Hutchison Whampoa, in 1979.