Lee Shau Kee Net Worth

What was Lee Shau-kee's Net Worth?

Lee Shau-kee was a billionaire Hong Kong real estate tycoon who had a net worth of $33 billion at the time of his death in March 2025 at the age of 97. At the time of his death, and for much of his later years, Lee Shau-kee was the richest person in Hong Kong.

Lee Shau-Kee founded, owned, and chaired Henderson Land Development, a property developer with interest in residential and commercial complexes, hotels, department stores, restaurants, and various services. He also served as the chairman of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company and Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, both owned by Henderson. Additionally, Lee was heavily involved in philanthropy, having made major donations to the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Hang Seng Management College, among other institutions.

Early Life

Lee Shau-kee was born on February 20, 1928, in Foshan, Guangdong, China. In 1948, he moved to Hong Kong, where he went on to become a giant in the real estate industry.

Henderson Land Development

The property development company, eventually known as Henderson Land Development, was founded in 1961. Its subsidiary, Wing Tai Development, was created in 1970, and Lee took control of it in 1975. The following year, he became chairman of Henderson, and in 1981, the company went public. In 1985, Wing Tai was renamed Henderson Investment. One of the largest real estate developers in Hong Kong, Henderson specializes in project management, construction, finance, investment holding, infrastructure, and the operation of hotels, restaurants, and various other properties. Its development projects have included the International Finance Centre, Dah Sing Financial Centre, the private housing estate Beverly Hill, and the luxury residential property 39 Conduit Road.

Among its other activities, Henderson launched the department store chain Citistore, the security management company Megastrength Security Services, and the property management company Well Born Real Estate. It also acquired the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company, the Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, and the Hong Kong and China Gas Company, with Lee becoming the chairman of the latter two. Lee stepped down as chairman and managing director of Henderson in 2019, with his sons Peter and Martin succeeding him. He stayed on as an executive director of the company.

(Photo by S.C. Leung/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Other Positions

Among his other positions, Lee served as vice chairman and non-executive director of the major Hong Kong property developer Sun Hung Kai Properties, which he had co-founded. Elsewhere, he sat on the board of directors of Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) and the Bank of East Asia.

Philanthropy

Lee was significantly involved in philanthropy, especially in relation to institutions of higher learning. In 1982, he created the Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation to support human resources and increase opportunities for education in mainland China. Later, in the 21st century, Lee donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He also established the HKICC Lee Shau-kee School of Creativity and donated to Hang Seng Management College. Beyond education, Lee donated to the charity Po Leung Kuk for the development of a youth hostel in Hong Kong.

Honors and Awards

Lee earned a number of honors for his life's work. In 2007, he was given the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's prestigious Grand Bauhinia Medal for his contributions to education and community service. Lee also earned many honorary doctorates from universities during his lifetime, including from Fudan University in 2008. That same year, he was named an honorary trustee and strategic advisor at Tsinghua University and an honorary director of Peking University.

Personal Life and Death

Lee was married to Lau Wai-kuen, whom he ultimately divorced. He had five children in total, including Peter and Martin, who took over his company Henderson Land Development in 2019.

On March 17, 2025, Lee passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 97.

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