Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong businessman whose name became shorthand for self-made wealth in Asia. Nicknamed “Superman” for his dealmaking instincts, he turned a small plastics factory into a diversified group with ports, retail, infrastructure and telecommunications operations in more than 50 countries. He stepped back from day-to-day leadership in 2018 but remains senior advisor at CK Hutchison Holdings, the conglomerate now led by his son Victor.
From Chaozhou to Hong Kong
Li was born in 1928 in Chaozhou, in southern China. At age 12 he fled with his family to Hong Kong during the Sino-Japanese War. His father, a primary school principal in China, later worked at a watch factory and died two years after the family’s arrival. Li left school as a teenager and took factory work to help support his mother and siblings.
He has described the poverty of those years as a lasting influence. In his own words, as quoted in his Forbes profile: “The burden of poverty and this bitter taste of helplessness and isolation sort of branded on my heart forever the questions that still drive me.”
Cheung Kong Plastics and the Move into Property
In 1950, at age 21, Li founded Cheung Kong Plastics with $6,500 drawn from savings and loans from relatives, according to Forbes. The company was named after the Yangtze River, known in Chinese as Chang Jiang, and made plastic flowers and other goods. The business gave him his first capital and his first taste of manufacturing management.
He moved into Hong Kong property in the 1960s, a period when the city’s population and economy were expanding quickly. Property would become the foundation of his fortune. Over the following decades he extended into ports, energy, retail and telecoms, often buying assets when others were selling.
Building a Global Conglomerate
Li’s companies became part of daily life in Hong Kong, from supermarkets and electricity to internet services and mobile phones. His group also became one of the largest port operators in the world. Forbes records that CK Hutchison, the group he once chaired, employs more than 300,000 people across more than 50 nations.
His interest in overseas markets dates back to the 1980s, when he made investments in Canadian property and energy, according to AFP. He was also an early investor in mainland China’s property market, and his moves there were watched as a signal by foreign businesses in the 1990s. In 2015 he reorganised his empire into CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings.
A Retirement, Not a Departure
Li retired as chairman of both CK Hutchison and CK Asset Holdings in 2018. At the announcement, he joked that he had been “working for a long time, too long,” according to Forbes. Victor Li, his elder son, took over the conglomerate. Li Ka-shing stayed on as senior advisor, a role that keeps him close to the group’s strategy without daily operational duties.
Investing Instincts and Technology Bets
Li is known for quick decisions. He has said it took him five minutes in 2007 to decide to invest in Facebook, then a young company with little revenue. He also backed Siri and Spotify, according to Forbes. These venture bets sit alongside his traditional holdings in infrastructure and property, and they reflect a willingness to look beyond Hong Kong for growth.
Philanthropy Through the Li Ka Shing Foundation
The Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated more than $3.8 billion, with over 80% of that going to Greater China, according to Forbes. The foundation has supported education and healthcare, including university funding and medical initiatives. Li has said he chose a simple lifestyle so he could give more away. His public comments on wealth often return to the idea that money should be put to use beyond personal consumption.
Recent Headlines: The Panama Ports Dispute
In recent years Li’s conglomerate has been drawn into US-China tensions over strategic ports. CK Hutchison announced a proposed $19 billion sale of port assets, including facilities near the Panama Canal, a deal that drew criticism from Chinese state media. In January 2026, Panama’s Supreme Court annulled the laws underpinning CK Hutchison’s concession to operate two canal ports, according to AFP. The company’s subsidiary, Panama Ports Company, said the decision lacked legal basis. The episode shows how infrastructure assets in sensitive locations can become political, not just commercial, questions.
Net Worth: What the Estimates Say
Published net worth figures for Li vary by source, date and methodology. They are estimates, not audited statements of wealth, and they rise and fall with markets.
| Source | Estimate | Date or List | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes | $47 billion | 2026 Billionaires list, as of March 10, 2026 | Unverified estimate based on public holdings and market values |
| Forbes | $45.1 billion | 2026 Hong Kong’s 50 Richest, as of February 11, 2026 | Unverified estimate; same methodology, different list date |
| Forbes real-time tracker | $48.7 billion | October 26, 2026 | Real-time figure that moves with markets |
| Bloomberg Billionaires Index | More than $42 billion | January 2026, as reported by AFP | Unverified estimate; index methodology differs from Forbes |
The differences among these figures show why readers should treat any single number as a snapshot. Forbes and Bloomberg use different assumptions about private holdings, debt and listed stakes.
Family and Succession
Li is widowed and has two sons, Victor and Richard. Victor Li is chairman of CK Hutchison and CK Asset Holdings. The Li family owns about 30% of CK Hutchison, according to AFP. Succession has been gradual and public, with Li Ka-shing remaining a visible elder statesman of the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Li Ka-shing?
Forbes lists his age as 98 in its March 2026 profile. He was born in 1928 in Chaozhou, China.
Is Li Ka-shing still involved in business?
He retired as chairman of CK Hutchison and CK Asset Holdings in 2018 but remains senior advisor at CK Hutchison. His son Victor leads the conglomerate.
How did Li Ka-shing make his money?
He started with a plastics company in 1950 and later built holdings in property, ports, retail, infrastructure and telecoms. Forbes describes his source of wealth as diversified and self-made.
How much has the Li Ka Shing Foundation given away?
Forbes reports that the foundation has donated more than $3.8 billion, with over 80% going to Greater China.
What His Career Shows
Li’s story is often told as a rags-to-riches tale, but its details are more practical than mythical. He bought assets in sectors that cities need: housing, power, ports, phones and food. He moved early into mainland China and later into overseas markets. He kept a public profile but avoided the flamboyance of some peers. And he prepared for downturns, a habit he has said came from watching his family’s hardship as a child.
At 98, Li no longer runs the conglomerate that bears his mark, but his influence is still visible in its structure and strategy. The 2026 Panama ports dispute has reminded investors that his empire remains tied to the geopolitics of the moment, even after his formal retirement.
Featured image: The original uploader was CX257 at Chinese Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
