Joseph Lau
Real Estate

Joseph Lau Net Worth

Joseph Lau, born on July 21, 1951 in Hong Kong, is a property tycoon who transferred his 75% stake in Chinese Estates to his new wife and a son in March 2017 due to health issues. He is an art collector with pieces from Warhol, Gauguin and Hockney worth at least $1 billion, and his brother Thomas is also a billionaire.
Joseph Lau is a member of Real Estate

Age, Biography and Wiki

Birth Day July 21, 1951
Birth Place Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Age 72 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Leo
Citizenship United Kingdom Hong Kong
Alma mater University of Windsor [1]
Occupation businessman
Spouse(s) Theresa Po Wing-kam† (1977-1992, 2 children) Chan Hoi-wan (2016-present, 2 children)
Children 6
Relatives Thomas Lau (brother)

💰 Net worth: $13.3 Billion (2024)

Joseph Lau, renowned for his exceptional involvement in the real estate market in Hong Kong, is projected to possess a staggering net worth of $13.3 billion by 2024. Lau has made significant contributions to the flourishing real estate landscape in the city and has acquired immense wealth through his ventures. As a prominent figure in the industry, his net worth reflects his remarkable success and highlights his paramount position amongst real estate moguls. Joseph Lau's reputation as a visionary and influential leader within the Hong Kong real estate sphere solidifies his legacy as one of the most esteemed individuals in the field.

2009 $4 Billion
2010 $5.8 Billion
2011 $6.3 Billion
2012 $6.5 Billion
2013 $7 Billion
2014 $8.4 Billion
2015 $10.9 Billion
2016 $13.1 Billion
2017 $15 Billion
2018 $16.74 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1951

Joseph Lau was born on 21 July 1951 in Hong Kong. He has a younger brother Thomas and two younger sisters.

1954

Lau married Bo Wing-kam (1954–2003) in 1977 and they were divorced in 1992. They had two children: a son, Lau Ming-wai (born 1980) and daughter Jade Lau Sau-yung (born 1983). In 2008, Lau Ming-wai's wife gave birth to mix twins, they are Lau's eldest grandchildren. Lau Ming-wai, a British citizen, is vice-chairman of Chinese Estates Group and is both chairman of the government's Commission on Youth and on the steering committee of the HK$10 billion Community Care Fund, established in 2010. He was formerly a member of the Commission on Poverty. In 2011, he was part of Henry Tang's election team for the 2012 chief executive election.

2007

According to the Sunday Times, Lau owns a collection of 10,000 bottles of red wine, and is an avid art collector. On 7 November 2007, he made the top purchase of the evening at a Sotheby's auction by paying $39.2 million for Paul Gauguin's Te Poipoi, a painting of a Tahitian scene.

2009

In 2009, Lau bought a 7.03 carat blue Diamond for his daughter Josephine, that he named the "Star of Josephine" at Sotheby's for $9.5 million.

2012

On 31 May 2012, the Macau Court of Final Appeal confirmed that Lau and Steven Lo were involved in the case of offering Macau's former public works chief Ao Man-long HK$20 million over the bid for five plots of land opposite Macau International Airport. Lau and Lo were charged with bribery and money laundering. They both denied the charges and Lo earlier told the court that the HK$20 million was a preliminary payment to construction company San Meng Fai.

2013

Lau had two children with former assistant Kimbie Chan (aka Chan Hoi-wan) – a daughter, Josephine (born 2008) and a son (born 2012). In 2008, Lau became the grandfather of twins. Lau junior acceded to the chairmanship of Chinese Estates following his father's conviction in the court of Macau on bribery charges in 2014; Sue Chan, the elder sister of Lau's girlfriend Kimbie, became the chief executive of the company Lau founded.

2014

In November 2014, Lau bought a 9.75 carat blue Diamond for his daughter Zoe, at Sotheby's for $32.6 million, that he named "Zoe Diamond". He also bought her a Cartier brooch featuring a 10.1 carat ruby, that he named "Zoe Red" at Christie's for $8.4 million.

2015

In November 2015, Lau bought another two expensive diamonds. On 10 November, he bought a 16.08 carat pink Diamond at Christie's for $28.5 million. The next day, Lau bought a 12.03 carat blue Diamond at Sotheby's for $48.4 million, setting new records for the most expensive jewel sold at auction and the most expensive Diamond ever. He subsequently renamed them the "Sweet Josephine" and the "Blue Moon of Josephine" respectively.

2016

On 7 December 2016, Lau married Chan Hoi-wan (Kimbee) at Hong Kong, they have two children. In 2017, citing serious health issues, the Business tycoon has transferred his 75% shares in Chinese Estates to his new wife and his son.

Some Joseph Lau images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.