The lives of casino tycoon Stanley Ho’s 4 daughters-in-law: From tragedy to luxury

Mario Ho (L), son of the late casino mogul Stanley Ho and his fourth wife Angela Leong, and his wife Ming Xi. Photo from Ming Xi's Instagram

1. Suki Potier Ho

Suki was born Melanie Susan Potier in 1947 and established her career as a model and actress. In 1966, at 19, she dated Tara Browne, a then 21-year-old heir to the Guinness fortune.

In Dec. 1966, while riding as a passenger in Browne’s turquoise Lotus Elan in South Kensington, the car collided with another vehicle, according to The Sun. Browne succumbed to his injuries the following day, while Suki was unharmed. This event reportedly inspired The Beatles’ song "A Day in the Life."

Later, Suki entered into a relationship with Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, who was tragically found dead in his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm on July 2, 1969.

Suki later married Robert, born in 1948 to Stanley Ho and his first wife Clementina Leitão. They had two daughters, Sarah and Faye. Suki and Robert perished in a car accident in Lisbon in 1981, as reported by the South China Morning Post, leaving their daughters, then aged 3 and 6, orphaned.

2. Sharen Lo Ho

Married to 48-year-old Lawrence Ho, the son of Stanley Ho and his second wife Lucina Laam, Sharen hails from the prestigious Lo family, which operates Hong Kong’s renowned Vitasoy dynasty, per Tatler Asia. This company is best known for its high-protein soy milk, but also offers fruit juices, milk, tea, soft drinks, water, and tofu.

Sharen and Lawrence, who have been sweethearts for years, married in 2000 and chose to maintain a low-key lifestyle away from the limelight. They have a daughter named Mia.

3. Gigi Tsai

Orlando Ho (L), son of the late casino mogul Stanley Ho and his third wife Ina Chan, and his ex-wife Gigi Tsai. Photo from Tsai's Instagram

Tsai is previously married to Orlando Ho, the 33-year-old son of Stanley Ho and his third wife Ina Chan. The couple married in 2018 but separated in 2020.

Tsai comes from China with a background in education and finance, reports Dimsum Daily. Following her separation from Orlando, she now solely manages the upbringing of their two daughters, dedicating over a million dollars annually to their care.

According to Yahoo! Life Singapore, following the pair’s divorce, there were reports of Orlando’s extramarital affairs. Despite this, Tsai defended him, stating that he has always been a good man.

4. Ming Xi

Ming Xi, born Xi Mengyao and now 35, is a celebrated Chinese supermodel married to 29-year-old Mario Ho, the son of Stanley Ho and his fourth wife Angela Leong. The couple, who wed in 2019, have a son and a daughter.

Graduate of Shanghai’s Donghua University, Ming Xi, however, has significantly impacted the fashion industry, working with prestigious labels like Dior and Vivienne Westwood and featuring in major international fashion shows. Beyond modeling, she has also pursued acting, appearing in prominent Chinese films.

Just a few months prior to their wedding, Mario transformed three levels of Shanghai’s L’Avenue Mall, owned by his mother, using 99,999 roses for a fairy-tale proposal, as reported by Tatler Asia. In front of over 1,000 family and friends, he knelt and asked Ming Xi: "Do you remember that night in Macau, when you asked if we would be together? Today, I ask: ‘Little Ming, do you think we’ll always be together?’"

Since her marriage to Mario, Ming Xi has developed a notably strong bond with her in-laws. Her mother-in-law is reportedly particularly fond of her, frequently gifting her with luxurious and valuable presents. For instance, following the birth of her children, Ming Xi received real estate and cash worth hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars from Leong and her son (HK$100 million equals US$12.8 million). Furthermore, for Ming Xi’s birthday in March this year, Leong presented her with a yacht valued at HK$4.6 billion.

Ming Xi has also been actively involved in significant family events, such as the March opening of Palazzo Versace Macau, the first Versace hotel in Asia. It is reported that days before the hotel’s inauguration, Leong and Ming Xi conducted a final inspection.

Stanley was born in 1921 into a prominent Hong Kong family. He founded and led SJM Holdings, managing 19 casinos in Macau, including the Grand Lisboa.

Throughout his career, Stanley served in various political roles and played an active part in Macau’s economic, cultural, and philanthropic development, greatly contributing to its growth. His business ventures spanned real estate, transportation, hotels, tourism, and gaming.

He had four wives and 17 children, whose public disputes over his substantial inheritance made headlines.

The tycoon passed away in 2020.