While many heirs to immense fortunes indulge in lavish lifestyles—luxury cars, VIP treatment at elite nightclubs, and glamorous companions—one Hong Kong billionaire's son defies convention. Liu Mingwei, son of property and investment magnate Joseph Lau, stands out for his modest habits and unassuming preferences.
Liu, 39, is the offspring of two of Hong Kong's wealthiest individuals. His mother,宝咏琴, was a shrewd businesswoman who ventured into real estate and stock investments, becoming the city's second-richest woman at her peak. His father, Joseph Lau, controls four listed companies with a net worth exceeding $20 billion, rivaling even Li Ka-shing.
An academic prodigy, Liu earned a law degree from King's College London, a master's in law and economics, and a PhD in legal philosophy. He is also a registered lawyer in New York, a Chartered Financial Analyst, and the youngest-ever honorary trustee of Peking University.
Liu inherited his father's business acumen. In 2006, he joined family firm Chinese Estates Holdings as executive director, collaborating with his father to introduce new strategies and expand operations, boosting annual profits to over HK$6 billion. In 2015, he demonstrated foresight by donating HK$400 million to Sweden's Karolinska Institute for biotechnology research—nearly five years before NADH+ anti-aging supplements gained mainstream attention, ahead of investors like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.
As global billionaires now pour billions into longevity science, the market has exploded. Products like China's "Yisheng Hao," which provides NADH+ precursors to combat cellular aging, have already generated tens of millions in revenue on platforms like JD.com. Goldman Sachs estimates the global longevity intervention market will reach $1.4 trillion by 2029.
However, Liu’s donation was philanthropic, allowing overseas firms like Bioagen to commercialize similar supplements first. Had he invested commercially, he might have created another business legend.
Liu’s unconventional outlook stems from childhood. His father built a fortune starting with fan manufacturer Evergo, which went public in 1983. Joseph Lau later became known as a "corporate sniper" in Hong Kong stocks and expanded into property. But his marital infidelities with celebrities like actress Li Ka-shan led to divorce when Liu was a teenager. Liu’s mother later died after battling cancer, leaving a profound impact on him.
Avoiding the glamorous women associated with his father, Liu has been married twice—both times to women considered plain by media standards. His first wife, a British Chinese, shared two children with him before they divorced amicably. His second spouse was dubbed "the nanny" by paparazzi.
Liu leads a frugal life: he wears simple clothes, a HK$100 digital watch, and commutes by subway or taxi—unlike his father, who wears trousers costing HK$170,000 and suits worth millions. Yet Liu spends generously on charity, donating £6 million to King's College London and HK$400 million to Karolinska.
Despite his integrity and capability, Joseph Lau views his son as too straightforward and stubborn, bypassing him as successor. In the family asset division, Liu received HK$6 billion, while his stepmother,甘比, inherited HK$50 billion. Today, Liu effectively works for her at Chinese Estates.