Li Ka-shing is Asia's richest and most influential businessman. Centered on the conglomerates Hutchinson Whampoa and Cheung Kong Holdings, his empire spans 40 countries and accounts for 11.5% of Hong Kong's stock market value.Li Ka-shing
was born in Chaozhou, China in 1928. In 1940 his family fled to Hong Kong as the Japanese invaded China. Li Ka-shing’s first job was selling watch bands, and then became a wholesale salesman at the age of 17, and then on to a general manager at the young age of 19.
He founded a plastics company in Hong Kong in 1949, and made a small fortune selling plastic flowers. In 1958 his interests moved to real estate and by 1971, he had founded Cheung Kong Real Estate Company. The Cheung Kong Real Estate Company eventually acquired his current flagship company, Hutchison Whampoa Limited in 1979, and Hong Kong Electric Holdings Limited in 1985, creating a large conglomerate. Li Ka-shing has business interests spanning many industries and more than 90 countries.
The largest branch of his business is in container port facilities, including ports in China, Hong Kong, Panama, Rotterdam, and Bahamas. His business controls 12% of all container port capacity in the world. Li Ka-shing also has extensive investments in telecommunications in Asia-Pacific and Europe.
One of the most powerful figures in Asia, he was named /Asia's Most Powerful Man/ by /Asiaweek/ in 2000. A known philanthropist, Li has donated more than $450 million to educational causes and medical care such as nursing homes and day-care canters for the elderly. His donations in 1981 resulted in the founding of Shantou University, and after the Indian Ocean Earthquake disaster in 2004; he reportedly donated a total of $3 million.
Forbes magazine reports his net worth at $12.4 billion and the 19th richest person in the world. In spite of his wealth, Li has a reputation for leading a no-frills lifestyle, and is known to wear cheap shoes and old watches.
Li Ka-shing Biography (Asian Billionaire)
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