Li Ka-shing keeps lion’s share as fortunes of Hong Kong’s 50 wealthiest tycoons rise by US$60 billion

Billionaire Li Ka-shing retained his crown as the richest man in Hong Kong last year, even as Lee Shau-kee narrowed the gap by becoming one of the top wealth gainers for the year, according to the Forbes Asia 50 Rich List announced on Thursday.

The 50 individuals on the list saw their combined wealth rise by 24 per cent in 2017 to US$307 billion, up US$60 billion during the year, reflecting the biggest one-year wealth change ever recorded on the Forbes Asia 50 Rich List. The combined wealth figure nearly matches the size of Hong Kong’s economy, with annual GDP totalling US$319.7 billion in 2016.