Cathy Chui, 'hundred-billion daughter-in-law' of late Hong Kong billionaire Lee Shau Kee, remembers him as devoted family man

The Hong Kong actress described Lee as a devoted family man who treated those around him with kindness. She shared photos of him with his grandchildren, including shots featuring Chui, her husband Martin Lee, and their four children, according to Sohu. Her two daughters, aged 18 and 16, were said to have inherited their mother’s beauty.

Chui also revealed rare images of the late patriarch with all seven of his grandchildren, including his eldest son Peter Lee’s triplet sons.

Chui recalled that the elder Lee had a passion for sports, loved cookies and deeply cared for his family. She recounted a touching moment when a staff member discovered a letter Lee had written nine years ago to mark one grandchild’s 100th day of life. Reading it, she said, left her both surprised and deeply moved.

Joining Chui in the interview was Li Keng Yan, 34, the eldest granddaughter of the late tycoon and currently a senior executive at the family’s business, Henderson Land Development.

Chui, now 43, is best known for her roles in the 2000 films "Time and Tide" and "When a Man Loves a Woman," as well as the 2001 film "The Saving Hands."

Chui married Martin, now 54, in 2006 and is often nicknamed "hundred-billion daughter-in-law" by local media for the lavish gifts she received from her late father-in-law. These gifts included a HK$50-million (US$6.4 million) education fund, HK$1.82 billion worth of land, a HK$110-million luxury yacht, and a mansion, according to the South China Morning Post.

The couple has two sons and two daughters, who were born between 2007 and 2015. Their eldest daughter, Leanne, 18, is nicknamed the "thousand-billion princess," while their youngest son, Preston, who is about to turn 10, is the late Lee’s favorite grandchild.

As the only daughter-in-law in the Lee family, Chui holds a special position and is expected to serve as the family's "spokesperson."

Upon his passing, Lee left behind a massive fortune that was equally distributed to his two sons to avoid family disputes. This decision sparked much debate on social media, with many arguing that his three daughters were not treated fairly.

Nonetheless, all of Lee’s daughters and sons-in-law hold high-ranking positions in the company and earn substantial incomes. Moreover, wealthy families often establish trust funds that provide regular monthly payments, so even without receiving a share of the estate, each of Lee’s daughters still has personal assets worth billions of yuan (1 billion yuan = US$138.8 million).

Born in 1928 in Guangdong, China, Lee moved to Hong Kong in his early twenties to start his career. With sharp business acumen, the late tycoon left a legendary legacy in Hong Kong’s real estate industry and consistently ranked among the richest individuals in the city and Asia during the 1990s.

He passed away on March 17 at the age of 97 while holding a fortune worth $30 billion, according to Forbes.