According to Forbes’ 2006 list of the world’s billionaires, there are 3 self-made Asian thirtysomething billionaires. Perhaps it isn’t so surprising that all three should be Chinese?

Richard Li (above) of Hong Kong, 39, who at USD1.1 billion is the 698th richest person on the planet. Being single, at the time of reporting, he should also be one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors. However I am tempted to say that he already has business (make that BIG business) in his blood: his father is none other than Li Ka-shing, the 10th richest person on earth. Still, the fact that he had the nerve to drop out of university and borrow about a billion ringgit from his father at the age of 24 to start his own venture is quite something. I am not sure of anybody younger has ever taken such a big loan, no matter how privileged their background is.

He later sold his first venture for a profit of more than RM2 billion. Now, most people would be content to retire with THAT amount of money and simply enjoy one’s life. But no, he reinvested the proceedings to get even bigger returns. He runs Hong Kong’s biggest fixed-line telephone operator, which is also the world’s biggest provider of IP TV.

Is it any wonder that he simply has no time to settle down?

Next on the list is even richer and younger. William Ding (China) is 35 and the 645th richest man on the planet. He made it big via the Net. He founded the internet portal NetEase at the age of 26. Forbes didnt give any details on how exactly he made his billion, unfortunately.

At number 451 in the world, Wong Kwong Yu (China), 36 is the richest Asian under 40, with a fortune of USD1.7 billion (about RM6 billion). Truly an entrepreneur, at age 17 he opened his first shop selling appliances. Today his Gome Electrical Appliances chain has expanded to more than 100 locations. The listing of his company in 2004 made him a US dollar billionaire at age 34.

source

Tags: billionaire, billionaires, rich, riches, wealth