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Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau (L) and his wife Kimbee Chan. Photo from Chan’s Instagram |
According to Hk01of Lau’s estimated net worth of US$13.6 billion, as reported by Forbes on Sept. 19, his collection of artworks by masters such as Gauguin, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol is valued at over US$1 billion. Chan plays a pivotal role in managing and monetizing this collection.
In 2020, she reportedly advised Lau to sell rarely displayed pieces, including Hockney’s “Splash,” which Lau bought for US$3.7 million in 2006 and sold for over US$29 million—a nearly eightfold gain.
Rather than living a purely socialite life after marrying Lau, Chan leveraged her relationships and capital to develop her own career while actively contributing to her husband’s fortune. She holds an important role within property developer Chinese Estates Holdings, where Lau is former chairman, cementing her status as a prominent and wealthy businesswoman.
In 2023, reports surfaced claiming Chan had caused Lau more than HK$2 billion in investment losses, per the South China Morning Post. At the time, Chinese Estates Holdings had reported a HK$7.9 billion loss in 2022 after selling much of its stake in cash-strapped developer China Evergrande, wiping out a third of the company’s value. Lau later organized a press conference to refute the claims.
“Kimbee did not cause me to make any losses by investing in Evergrande, instead she told me to sell my shares,” Lau said. “She actually earned me HK$2 billion in trading artwork. If I made any losses in investments, those are my own decisions.”
He added that while Chan suggested not addressing the speculation, he spoke out to “protect his family.”
Born in Chaozhou, Guangdong, Chan grew up in the village of Tzu Wan Shan in Kowloon. Following her parents’ divorce, she lived with her mother and sisters. Her modest upbringing instilled resilience and determination, and she entered the workforce without pursuing a university degree.
In an interview with Jessica Hong Kong, a women’s lifestyle platform, Chan discuss her work ethics: “Since childhood, perhaps due to my personality, I have always done more than required, and it has often brought me significant benefits.”
In 1999, she began working as an entertainment reporter for Apple Daily, a role that allowed her to network with celebrities and Hong Kong’s elite while honing her communication skills. Chan explained that she would read all of the day’s news each morning—not just entertainment, but also local and financial news—to broaden her knowledge.
“As a media professional, it was essential to stay informed about major events, enabling me to ask appropriate questions to anyone I encountered,” she said.
By 2002, she joined Chinese Estates Holdings, initially in the cosmetics division. Over time, she navigated corporate and social hierarchies, becoming Lau’s long-term partner, giving birth to three children, and holding significant executive roles from director to CEO. In recent years, she has also ventured into the knitwear business, often wearing self-made sweaters and handbags that attract attention.
Hong Kong media praise Chan as a successful woman balancing entrepreneurship, family, and philanthropy. She actively participates in her children’s lives, charity activities, and fitness pursuits such as pickleball and yoga, projecting a vibrant, engaged lifestyle.
Despite having had many mistresses, Lau legally registered his marriage with Chan in Hong Kong in Nov. 2016, solidifying her social and legal status. The following year, Lau transferred a significant portion of his shares in Chinese Estates Holdings to her, further strengthening her influence within the family and the company.
