Lui Che-woo, the founder and chairman of Galaxy Entertainment and one of Hong Kong’s richest men, has passed away at the age of 95. According to a statement released by Galaxy Entertainment on Monday, Lui died peacefully last Thursday.
A self-made man, Lui Che-woo rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. His journey from a small company supplying structural materials to a sprawling multinational conglomerate with interests in property development and gaming throughout mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore is a testament to his business acumen and vision.
Born in 1929 in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, Lui’s family relocated to Hong Kong when he was only four years old. Forced to drop out of school at 12 during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Lui began selling peanuts on the street at age 13 to support his family. He saved diligently and eventually started a food manufacturing and distribution business.
After World War II, Lui expanded his entrepreneurial efforts by forming an auto parts business with his uncle and later establishing his own auto parts brand, which eventually branched into construction. In 1955, Lui founded the K. Wah Company in Hong Kong, focusing initially on land reclamation projects. By the 1960s, he shifted his focus to property development, leading to K. Wah’s listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1989.
When Macau liberalized its casino market in 2002, ending the monopoly held by Stanley Ho, Lui’s newly founded Galaxy Entertainment was among the first operators to receive a license. He promptly began the development of the $1.9 billion Galaxy Macau, which opened in 2011. By 2005, Galaxy Entertainment had become the first gambling company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Lui’s commitment to philanthropy was evident through his lifelong dedication to promoting education in China and around the world—a mission spurred by his own experiences of being denied a formal education. He was later honored with several honorary doctorates from various universities, a recognition he cherished deeply.
In its statement, Galaxy Entertainment praised Lui’s “vision, tremendous leadership, and guidance,” highlighting these qualities as the cornerstone of the group’s development and enduring success. “He was particularly concerned with the education of young people and the development of technology,” the statement said, noting the immense respect he commanded across various community sectors.
Last year, Forbes estimated Lui’s wealth to be $12.1 billion. Despite his passing, Galaxy assured that its operations would remain unaffected and that a new chairman would be appointed in due course.
