Casino tycoon Stanley Ho’s son-in-law seen intimate with unidentified woman amid divorce rumors

Laurinda Ho (L), daughter of the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho, and her husband, actor Shawn Dou. Photo from Dou's Weibo

According to Dimsum Daily, a Xiaohongshu user uploaded a video of Dou at a coffee shop on Dec. 4. In the footage, the actor, dressed in a black puffer jacket and sunglasses, was seen laughing with a woman in a white hooded jacket and a bright yellow beanie.

The video quickly went viral, with many commenters noting the duo’s close interaction, which some interpreted as overly familiar and suggestive of infidelity. Others defended Dou, suggesting that the woman in question was a live-stream presenter taking part in an event that day, highlighting that the meeting might have been professional rather than personal.

Dou, 36, first gained recognition in the acting world for his role in "Under the Hawthorn Tree," directed by Zhang Yimou. His filmography also includes notable titles such as "Dangerous Liaisons," "Time to Love," and "Princess Agents."

Laurinda, 33, is a socialite, businesswoman, and actress, with her first film project releasing its trailer earlier this month. She is the daughter of Stanley and his third wife Ina Chan.

Stanley passed away in 2020 at the age of 99. In 2019, Bloomberg estimated his net worth at around US$14.9 billion, ranking him as the 17th wealthiest individual in Asia at the time. Following his death, the majority of his fortune was divided among his daughter Pansy, his fourth wife Angela Leong, and his son Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Forbes estimates 70-year-old Chan’s net worth to be approximately US$1 billion.

Laurinda and Dou married in a lavish ceremony in Bali in April last year, with the event reportedly costing millions of dollars.

However, speculation about a rift between the couple grew after an incident in October last year, when Laurinda appeared reluctant to hold Dou’s hand.

The allegations were further fueled by reports suggesting they had considered divorce, which allegedly upset Laurinda’s mother Ina Chan due to Dou’s behavior toward her daughter.

These rumors were compounded when Laurinda attended musician Wilber Pan’s wedding in Bali and celebrated her mother’s birthday in Hong Kong without Dou.

Sources also reported that Dou did not attend the Ho family’s gathering at Stanley’s grave during this year’s Qingming Festival, a time when families traditionally visit the graves of their ancestors and departed relatives.

Observers suggest the couple’s challenges are primarily due to the limited time they can spend together post-marriage, a consequence of their professional commitments. Ho once mentioned on a television show that their careers have caused periods of separation exceeding a month.