Li Ka-shing

Li Ka-shing is often referred to as "Superman" in Hong Kong for his business acumen and success, Li Ka-shing has built a vast empire spanning diverse industries including real estate, ports, telecommunications, retail, and utilities. Starting his career from humble beginnings, Li Ka-shing established Cheung Kong Industries in the 1950s as a plastics manufacturer, which later evolved into the Cheung Kong Group and the Hutchison Whampoa conglomerate. His strategic investments and bold entrepreneurial ventures have made him one of Asia's wealthiest individuals and a global business icon. Li Ka-shing is renowned not only for his business prowess but also for his extensive philanthropic efforts. Through the Li Ka Shing Foundation, he has contributed significantly to education, healthcare, and community projects globally, leaving a lasting impact on society beyond his business achievements.

These points outline the foundational aspects of Li Ka-shing's early life and entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his resilience and determination in building his business empire from modest beginnings.

• Born on July 29, 1928, in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China.
• Comes from a humble background; his father was a primary school principal.
• Received limited formal education due to the disruptions of World War II.
• Started working at a young age to support his family.
• Moved to Hong Kong in 1940 during the Japanese occupation of China.
• Started his career in plastics manufacturing in the 1950s, founding Cheung Kong Industries.
• Known for his modest attire, he wore inexpensive watches such as a HK$50 Citizen Watch in the 1990s and later a Seiko. In 2016, he wore a HK$500 Citizen watch.

He keeps his family together.

• His sons, Victor Li and Richard Li, are prominent in Hong Kong's business scene. Victor Li succeeded him as Chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings Limited, while Richard Li chairs PCCW, Hong Kong's largest telecom company. Both are Canadian citizens.
• Married to his first cousin, Chong Yuet-ming (1933–1990), for 27–28 years until her sudden death in 1990. She was the daughter of his maternal uncle, Cheung Jing-on, and his wife, Hew Bik-yin, from the Chaoshan region, settled in British Hong Kong before Li's arrival.
• His son Victor Li was kidnapped in 1996 by gangster Cheung Tze-keung, known as "Big Spender." Li Ka-shing paid a HK$1 billion ransom directly to Cheung at his residence. The case was handled by mainland authorities, leading to Cheung's execution in 1998, a punishment not possible under Hong Kong law. Rumors suggested a deal between Li and mainland authorities.