Li Ka-shing

Li Ka-shing

Hong Kong Businessman

Current Networth - $38 Billion

Personal Stats

NameLi Ka-shing
RoleBusinessman
IndustryManufacturing & Real Estate
Net Worth$38 Billion

Table of Contents

  • About Li Ka-shing
  • Businesses Owned
  • Early Life
  • Family
  • What Is Li Ka-shing’s Net Worth?
  • Businesses and Brands

About Li Ka-shing

Li Ka-shing is one of Hong Kong’s most successful and influential businessmen, known for building a global empire spanning real estate, infrastructure, retail, and telecommunications. 

As the founder of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings, he played a crucial role in shaping Hong Kong’s modern economy, with business interests extending across Asia, Europe, and North America. His companies own major ports, energy firms, and telecom networks, making him one of the most powerful figures in global commerce.

Beyond his business success, Li is a renowned philanthropist. Through the Li Ka Shing Foundation, he has donated billions to education, healthcare, and technology research, with a vision of fostering innovation and social progress. Though he retired from active business leadership in 2018, his legacy continues through his company’s global operations and charitable contributions. 


Businesses Owned

  • Cheung Kong Holdings

  • CK Asset Holdings Limited

  • CK Hutchison Holdings Limited

  • The Li Ka Shing Foundation

  • Husky Energy


Early Life

Li Ka-shing grew up in challenging circumstances, overcoming early hardships and a difficult start in life to become one of the most successful and influential business magnates in the world.

  • Born on July 29, 1928, in Chao'an, Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, to Teochew parents Li Yun-ching and Cheung Bik-chin.
  • Fled to Hong Kong in 1940 with his family as refugees from the Sino-Japanese War.
  • Left school at age 15 after his father passed away from tuberculosis.
  • Took a job at a plastics trading company, working 16-hour days.
  • In 1950, he founded his own business, Cheung Kong Industries.
  • Initially focused on manufacturing plastics before expanding into real estate investments.
  • In 1972, he listed Cheung Kong Industries on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • He expanded his company by acquiring Hutchison Whampoa in 1979 and Hongkong Electric Holdings in 1985.

Family

Li Ka-shing grew up facing significant hardships, including war and personal loss, which played a crucial role in shaping his determination and path to becoming a global business leader.

  • Born to Teochew parents Li Yun-ching (1898-1943) and Cheung Bik-chin (1893-1984).
  • Married his first cousin, Chong Yuet-ming (1933–1990), in 1962. Their marriage lasted until her sudden death on New Year’s Day 1990 from a suspected drug overdose or cardiac arrest.
  • Chong Yuet-ming was the daughter of Li’s maternal uncle, Cheung Jing-on, and his wife, Hew Bik-yin, who had settled in Hong Kong before Li’s arrival.
  • Has two sons, Victor Li and Richard Li, who are prominent figures in the Hong Kong business world.
  • Victor Li succeeded him as Chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings.
  • Richard Li is the Chairman of PCCW, the largest telecom company in Hong Kong.
  • Both sons are Canadian citizens and are followers of Buddhism.
  • In 1996, his son Victor Li was kidnapped by gangster Cheung Tze-keung ("Big Spender").
  • Paid a HK$1 billion ransom directly to Cheung, and the case was handled by mainland Chinese authorities, leading to Cheung’s execution in 1998.

Li Ka-shing is one of Asia’s wealthiest and most influential business magnates, with a fortune exceeding $30 billion. Rising from poverty, he built a vast empire through CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings, dominating industries like real estate, ports, retail, and telecommunications. 

At his peak, one in every seven Hong Kong residents lived in a property developed by his company, while his early investments in tech giants like Facebook and Zoom further boosted his fortune. His sharp business instincts have earned him comparisons to Warren Buffett, making him a dominant force in global finance.

Beyond business, Li is a dedicated philanthropist, having donated over $3 billion through the Li Ka Shing Foundation to fund education, medical research, and disaster relief. His contributions to universities worldwide have solidified his legacy as a visionary investor and humanitarian. Even after retiring in 2018, his companies continue to shape Hong Kong’s economy, while his charitable efforts leave a lasting impact on millions globally.

Net Worth$38 Billion
Yearly IncomeNA
ProfessionBusinessman
NationalityChinese
No. of Houses1+
No. of CarsNA

What Is Li Ka-shing’s Net Worth?

As of March 2025, Li Ka-shing’s net worth is estimated to be $38 Billion.

Li Ka-shing, one of the richest individuals in the world, derives most of his wealth from stakes in publicly traded companies. His total year-to-date growth amounts to $836 million, representing a 2.8% rise. 

He holds 30% of CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based infrastructure conglomerate, valued at approximately $7.25 billion, based on the company's estimated worth of $24.17 billion. Additionally, he owns 35% of CK Asset Holdings, a real estate and asset management company, which amounts to around $5.43 billion based on its estimated valuation of $15.52 billion.

Li also holds a 6.7% stake in Zoom Video Communications. However, in 2020, he transferred 1.6% of his Zoom stake to others, including his son Richard Li. This transfer adjusted his overall net worth valuation. His holdings are spread across trusts and companies registered in locations such as Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands.

Li has made significant profits from business sales over the years. In 1999, CK Hutchison sold its stake in Orange to Mannesmann Group, earning a profit of $15.12 billion. In 2006, he sold 20% of Hutchison’s port business to PSA Corporation, making $3.12 billion on a $4 billion deal. He also sold a 67% stake in Hutchison Essar to Vodafone for $11.1 billion.

Beyond core businesses, Li expanded into technology investments through his firm Horizons Ventures. He invested in Facebook, buying a stake in the company for $120 million, and in Spotify, where he invested around $50 million. In 2015, Horizons Ventures participated in a $30 million Series C funding round for Zoom and a $108 million Series D round for Impossible Foods.  Li continued his focus on technology in 2016, leading a $55 million Series A round for Blockstream, a blockchain technology leader, and investing in Expa, a startup incubator fund.

Li also holds a 75% stake in Northumbrian Water, a British water supplier, with the remaining 25% owned by KKR. Despite Northumbrian’s losses of $28 million between March 2022 and July 2023, CK Group and KKR took $208 million in dividends during this period.

In 2006, Li made a promise to give one-third of his fortune to his foundation, which he calls his "third son." Because of this pledge, analysts often reduce the value of his dividends by one-third when calculating his net worth.


Businesses and Brands

Li Ka-Shing's Businesses and Brands

Li Ka-shing Businesses

The Hong Kong tycoon has built a vast and diverse business empire with holdings in numerous industries across more than 50 countries. He is known for his strategic investments and ability to identify growth opportunities. Here is a look at his business ventures and investments.

  • Cheung Kong Holdings: In 1971, as many people left Hong Kong, Li Ka-shing saw an opportunity in real estate and established Cheung Kong Holdings. The company went public in 1972, positioning itself in Hong Kong’s booming property market. Li acquired land at low prices and efficiently developed properties, turning Cheung Kong Holdings into one of the city’s leading real estate developers. Believing the crisis would pass, he purchased properties from departing residents at discounted rates, laying the foundation for his real estate empire. In 1997, anticipating Hong Kong’s handover to China, he relocated his business headquarters to Bermuda. Over the years, his real estate ventures expanded globally. 
  • CK Asset Holdings Limited: CK Asset Holdings Limited, formerly Cheung Kong Property Holdings, was established in 2015 after Cheung Kong Holdings spun off its property assets during a company restructuring.  Li has 35% of CK Asset, which owns his real estate assets. The company began trading on June 3, 2015, and quickly became a constituent of the Hang Seng Index. CK Asset Holdings focuses on property development and investment, with a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. It has also expanded into infrastructure and utility assets. Originally listed as Cheung Kong Holdings in 1972, it played a significant role in Hong Kong’s property market alongside Sun Hung Kai Properties. In May 2023, CK Asset Holdings agreed to a $611 million cash takeover offer for Civitas Social Housing. 
  • CK Hutchison Holdings Limited: CK Hutchison Holdings Limited is a multinational conglomerate based in Hong Kong and registered in the Cayman Islands. It was created in March 2015 by merging Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa. The company operates in four main areas: ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, and telecommunications, across more than 50 countries. CK Hutchison operates mobile networks under the "3" brand across Europe, Asia, and Australia, owns TPG Telecom and Wind Tre, invests in infrastructure through CK Infrastructure, manages 52 ports via Hutchison Port Holdings, and runs AS Watson Group, the world’s largest health and beauty retailer with over 16,300 stores. Li Ka-shing holds a 30% stake in CK Hutchison, which owns a variety of assets, including ports, infrastructure, and mobile networks.
  • Husky Energy: Li Ka-shing was the majority shareholder of Husky Energy, an energy company based in Alberta, Canada. In 2021, Husky merged with Cenovus Energy, and Li now holds a 27.2% stake in the combined company, which is valued at approximately $16.67 billion, making his share worth around $4.53 billion.
  • Horizons Ventures: Li Ka-shing’s family office, Horizons Ventures, manages part of his $35 billion fortune. Since its launch in 1999, Horizons Ventures has made over 330 investments, focusing on venture capital opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. The firm primarily invests in companies with disruptive, technology-driven business models. Its key sectors include media, telecommunications, internet, fintech, and healthcare.
  • Investments: Li Ka-shing has invested in over 10 technology and fintech companies through his Li Ka Shing Foundation and Horizons Ventures. His investments include $120 million in Facebook, $60 million in Spotify, $15 million in Siri, $75 million in Impossible Foods, and $50 million in AlipayHK, totaling around $320 million across various funding rounds. Also, in 2015, Horizons Ventures joined a $30 million Series C funding round for Zoom Video Communications. By February 2023, Li Ka-shing held a 6.7% stake in the company. In 2020, he transferred 1.6% of his stake to others, including his son Richard Li.

Li Ka-shing Brand Endorsements

Li Ka-shing is not actively involved in traditional brand endorsements. Instead, his impact comes from the businesses he has built and the investments he has made over the years.


Assets and Lifestyle of Li Ka-shing

Assets and Lifestyle of Li Ka-shing

When it comes to spending, Li focuses on philanthropy. The 96-year-old businessman is renowned for his extensive charitable contributions through the Li Ka Shing Foundation, which he considers his "third son." He has donated over $3.8 billion to initiatives spanning education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, with around 80% of the funds directed toward projects in mainland China and Hong Kong.


Li Ka-shing’s Houses

Li Ka-shing has built a significant real estate portfolio through his flagship company, CK Asset Holdings Limited. While his companies own vast amounts of property, specific details about his personal residential properties remain limited. Below is an overview of notable real estate holdings linked to him:

  • Deep Water Bay Mansion: The Hong Kong billionaire has lived in Hong Kong’s Deep Water Bay, one of the most expensive districts, for decades. Although the specific details of Li Ka-shing’s mansion in Deep Water Bay remain limited. His palatial residence is in this area, where even four-bedroom homes are highly priced. During the 1940s, Li’s family fled from southern China to Hong Kong during the war with Japan, and he has remained there since. In recognition of his generosity, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University named a tower after him following a significant donation. 
    Blue Coast: In 2024, CK Asset listed 110 flats at its Blue Coast project in Wong Chuk Hang after successfully selling 138 units earlier. The new flats included 20 two-bedroom and 90 three-bedroom units, priced between $1.16 million and $3.17 million. Blue Coast is part of the Southside development on Hong Kong Island, consisting of six phases. As part of phase three, it is being developed in collaboration with MTR Corp and will have 1,200 units in total.
  • The Center: In November 2017, Li Ka-shing's CK Asset Holdings sold The Center, a 73-story office tower in Hong Kong, for $5.15 billion to a group of mainland and Hong Kong investors. This marked the largest office space real estate sale in the Asia-Pacific region. CK Asset held 75% of the floor space in The Center.
  • Century Link Complex: In October 2016, Li Ka-shing’s Cheung Kong Property Holdings and Li Ka Shing Foundation sold their full stake in Shanghai’s Century Link Complex to a China Life Insurance Co. subsidiary for $2.95 billion. This became the second-largest real estate sale for a single building.
  • 21 Borrett Road: In 2022, CK Asset Holdings sold its luxury residential project, 21 Borrett Road, located in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels, for $2.6 billion. The buyer was LC Vision Capital 1, an offshore fund managed by Sino Suisse Capital. The project consists of 152 residential units, 242 car parking spaces, and 31 motorcycle parking spaces.

Li Ka-shing's Cars

Li Ka-shing, one of Hong Kong's most renowned billionaires, is known for his frugal lifestyle despite his immense wealth, and his personal car collection is not widely publicized.


What’s Next For Li Ka-shing?

Li Ka-shing, now serving as a senior advisor, remains active through his family office and philanthropy. The Li Ka Shing Foundation continues to focus on education, healthcare, and community support. With Victor Li leading the business, his legacy in both business and charity remains strong.


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