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24. Lee Shau Kee
Bobby Yip/Reuters
Net worth: $18.5 billion
Age: 87
Country: Hong Kong
Industry: Real estate
Source of wealth: Self-made; Henderson Land Development
Lee Shau Kee fled China for Hong Kong before the Communist takeover in 1948, working in commodities like gold and currency exchange before founding Henderson Land Development in 1973. Over the last 43 years, Henderson has become a top real-estate developer in Hong Kong and China, generating annual sales of more than $3 billion and making Lee one of the richest men in Asia.
An active philanthropist, Lee has donated more than $100 million over the years to causes ranging from education to affordable housing to farmer-training programs. In October, he honored the birth of his seventh grandchild by giving away HK$15 million — about US$1.9 million — to his friends and employees.
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