Samuel Tak Lee

Lee was born in April 1939.{{cite web|title=Langham Estate Management Limited|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02879338/officers|website=Companies House|accessdate=10 August 2015|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015320/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02879338/officers|url-status=live}} He was educated at Diocesan Boys' School in Mong Kok,{{Citation|last=DBS Movie Gallery|title=Speech Delivery by Mr Samuel Tak Lee 2008-2009|date=20 July 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFA3i95M368&t=19|access-date=2019-02-05|archive-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322105659/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFA3i95M368&t=19|url-status=live}} before earning bachelor's and master's degrees in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2015/01/10/real-estate-billionaire-donates-118-million-to-mit/|title=Real Estate Billionaire Donates $118 Million To MIT|last=Olsen|first=Robert|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05|archive-date=10 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110112945/https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2015/01/10/real-estate-billionaire-donates-118-million-to-mit/|url-status=live}} Lee then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/samuel-tak-lee/ |title=Samuel Tak Lee |work=Forbes.com |accessdate=11 May 2017 |archive-date=3 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303072146/https://www.forbes.com/profile/samuel-tak-lee/ |url-status=live }}

After finishing his studies, Lee returned to Hong Kong to join Prudential Enterprise, the real estate company founded by his father and uncle in 1958.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hkgbusiness.com/en/company/Prudential-Enterprise-Limited-The|title=PRUDENTIAL ENTERPRISE, LIMITED - THE - 恒豐企業有限公司|date=30 April 1958|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020127/https://www.hkgbusiness.com/en/company/Prudential-Enterprise-Limited-The|url-status=live}} He took control of the entire business from his brother Lee Tak-Yan in 1985.{{cite magazine |title=Lee plays for keeps |magazine=EG: Estates Gazette |issue=414 |date=April 2004 |page=44 }} Prudential Enterprises owns the Prudential Hotel{{Cite web|url=http://hongkongandmacaustuff.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-bruce-lee-guide-to-yau-ma-tei.html|title=The Bruce Lee Guide to Yau Ma Tei|last=Bruce Lee's (Hong Kong-American actor, director, martial artist) home was torn down in the late 70’s early 80’s to make way for the current building – The Prudential Centre – completed in 1982.|date=31 July 2014|website=Hong Kong (& Macau) Stuff|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011601/http://hongkongandmacaustuff.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-bruce-lee-guide-to-yau-ma-tei.html|url-status=live}} in Hong Kong and has significant holdings in Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland and Singapore.Luigino Canal (2007) "Un mystérieux Chinois rachète le coeur de Genève" Édition Bilan, 09 mai 2007, p.16{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/01/08/mit-samuel-tak-lee-gift|title=MIT Receives $118M Gift From Alumnus|website=www.wbur.org|date=8 January 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-05|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015937/https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/01/08/mit-samuel-tak-lee-gift|url-status=live}} In the UK, he purchased the 14 acre Langham Estate in London's Fitzrovia district in 1994.{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=Austin|title=Property tycoon Samuel Tak Lee challenges HK$1.4b awarded to son's ex-wife Florence Tsang Chiu-wing|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1336558/property-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-challenges-hk14b-awarded-sons-ex-wife|accessdate=14 September 2017|work=The South China Morning Post|date=21 Oct 2013|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915083552/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1336558/property-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-challenges-hk14b-awarded-sons-ex-wife|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Malcolm|title=Asian property tycoon heir to pay £95 million to ex-wife|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/hongkong/8931226/Asian-property-tycoon-heir-to-pay-95-million-to-ex-wife.html|accessdate=14 September 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 December 2011|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915003310/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/hongkong/8931226/Asian-property-tycoon-heir-to-pay-95-million-to-ex-wife.html|url-status=live}} A real estate portfolio Lee indirectly established in Tokyo in 1999 was eventually sold in 2017 for approximately $1.2 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/finance-real-estate/norways-1t-sovereign-fund-enters-asia-with-823m-tokyo-bet/|title=Norges in $823M Japan JV with Tokyu Land|date=2017-12-10|website=Mingtiandi|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133719/https://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/finance-real-estate/norways-1t-sovereign-fund-enters-asia-with-823m-tokyo-bet/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.propertyinvestsg.com/property-news-round-17-dec-2017/|title=Property news round up 17 Dec 2017 {{!}} PropertyInvestSG|last=David|work=PropertyInvestSG |date=17 December 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133728/https://www.propertyinvestsg.com/property-news-round-17-dec-2017/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1336558/property-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-challenges-hk14b-awarded-sons-ex-wife|title=Property tycoon Samuel Tak Lee challenges HK$1.4b awarded to son's ex-wife Florence Tsang Chiu-wing|date=2013-10-21|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133722/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1336558/property-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-challenges-hk14b-awarded-sons-ex-wife|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://papode.ml/690572-veloqx-group-real-estate.asp|title=Veloqx group real estate|website=papode.ml|access-date=2019-04-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://ringmares.ml/141156-veloqx-real-estate.html|title=Veloqx real estate|website=ringmares.ml|access-date=2019-04-20}}

By 2019 Lee had become the largest shareholder in Shaftesbury plc a large London real estate investment trust with a 26.3 per cent stake.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/11742480/Is-Sammy-Tak-Lee-hoping-to-get-lucky-with-Shaftesbury-offer.html|title=Is Sammy Tak Lee hoping to get lucky with Shaftesbury offer?|last=Marlow|first=Ben|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2015-07-15|access-date=2019-04-24|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020416/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/11742480/Is-Sammy-Tak-Lee-hoping-to-get-lucky-with-Shaftesbury-offer.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/hong-kong-tycoon-samuel-tak-lees-war-on-chinatown-owner-62mvqsdq8|title=Hong Kong tycoon Samuel Tak Lee's war on Chinatown owner|last=Shah|first=Oliver|date=2018-05-20|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2019-04-24|language=en|issn=0956-1382|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424190314/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hong-kong-tycoon-samuel-tak-lees-war-on-chinatown-owner-62mvqsdq8|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/property-tycoon-sues-west-end-landowner-xnfc2jf9k|title=Property tycoon sues West End landowner|last=Clarence-Smith|first=Louisa|date=2019-06-12|work=The Times|access-date=2019-06-12|language=en|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612091636/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/property-tycoon-sues-west-end-landowner-xnfc2jf9k|url-status=live}} There was persistent media speculation that Lee would eventually bid for control of Shaftesbury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/norway-sovereign-wealth-fund-london-chinatown-shaftesbury-2018-2|title=The battle for a £3 billion property empire in London's Chinatown just took a new turn|last=UK|first=Will Martin, Business Insider|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-04-24|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424190312/https://www.businessinsider.com/norway-sovereign-wealth-fund-london-chinatown-shaftesbury-2018-2|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/jim-armitage-it-s-time-for-man-of-mystery-shaftesbury-shareholder-to-put-up-or-shut-up-a4051731.html|title=Time for 'Man of Mystery' Shaftesbury shareholder to put up or shut up|date=2019-01-29|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2019-04-24|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424191811/https://www.standard.co.uk/business/jim-armitage-it-s-time-for-man-of-mystery-shaftesbury-shareholder-to-put-up-or-shut-up-a4051731.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://quoteddata.com/2019/05/samuel-tak-lee-locks-horns-shaftesbury/|title=Samuel Tak Lee locks horns with Shaftesbury again|date=2019-05-02|website=QuotedData|language=en|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601135737/https://quoteddata.com/2019/05/samuel-tak-lee-locks-horns-shaftesbury/|url-status=live}} The Times also reported that Lee was suing Shaftesbury for £10.4 million in alleged losses over a share placing. His interest in Shaftesbury was subsequently sold at a discount to Capco for $544 million in June 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-02 |title=Samuel Tak Lee Sells Stake in Shaftesbury for £436M |url=http://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/outbound-investment/samuel-tak-lee-sells-stake-in-shaftesbury-for-436m/ |access-date=2020-06-02 |website=Mingtiandi |language=en-US |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611090247/https://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/outbound-investment/samuel-tak-lee-sells-stake-in-shaftesbury-for-436m/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2020-06-02 |title=Samuel Tak Lee Sells Stake in Shaftesbury for £436M |url=http://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/outbound-investment/samuel-tak-lee-sells-stake-in-shaftesbury-for-436m/ |access-date=2020-06-11 |website=Mingtiandi |language=en-US |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611090247/https://www.mingtiandi.com/real-estate/outbound-investment/samuel-tak-lee-sells-stake-in-shaftesbury-for-436m/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2020-06-01 |title=UK's Capco buys 26% stake in rival Shaftesbury for $540 mln |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/shaftesbury-stake-capital-counties-idUSL4N2DE1QM |access-date=2022-03-21 |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321185610/https://www.reuters.com/article/shaftesbury-stake-capital-counties-idUSL4N2DE1QM |url-status=live }}

Lee has been noted for his vigorous defence of his estate's legal rights and business interests. According to Forbes, he had a net worth of $3.6 billion, as of January 2021.{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Samuel Tak Lee |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/samuel-tak-lee/ |website=Forbes |accessdate=25 January 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303072146/https://www.forbes.com/profile/samuel-tak-lee/ |url-status=live }}

In 2007, Lee donated HK$9 million to Hong Kong's Diocesan Boys' School, of which he was a student between 1951 and 1958.{{cite web|title= Real Estate Billionaire Donates $118 Million to MIT|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2015/01/10/real-estate-billionaire-donates-118-million-to-mit/|work= Forbes|date= 10 January 2015|accessdate= 28 April 2015|archive-date= 10 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150110112945/https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2015/01/10/real-estate-billionaire-donates-118-million-to-mit/|url-status= live}} The donation was made to fund residential student growth with a new dormitory block for the school. One of Lee's sons was studying at the school at that time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/615035/donation-hk70m-among-citys-largest|title=Donation of HK$70m among city's largest|date=2019-02-12|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212074544/https://www.scmp.com/article/615035/donation-hk70m-among-citys-largest|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/dbs64/docs/document.compressed|title=DBS64 50th Anniversary Magazine|website=Issuu|date=29 December 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021131426/https://issuu.com/dbs64/docs/document.compressed|url-status=live}}

Lee donated $118 million in 2015 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to be used to establish a real estate entrepreneurship lab focused on China.{{cite web|title= Hong Kong tycoon Samuel Tak Lee donates US$118m to MIT for real estate studies|url= http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1677860/hong-kong-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-donates-us118m-mit-sustainable-real|publisher= South China Morning Post|date= 9 January 2015|accessdate= 28 April 2015|archive-date= 16 May 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150516191028/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1677860/hong-kong-tycoon-samuel-tak-lee-donates-us118m-mit-sustainable-real|url-status= live}} The lab has been researching the impact of poor urban air quality on residents' health, social lives and behaviour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190121115335.htm|title=In China, a link between happiness and air quality: Moods expressed on social media tend to decline when air pollution gets worse, study finds|last=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|date=January 21, 2019|website=ScienceDaily|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212070457/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190121115335.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.mit.edu/2018/faculty-profile-siqi-zheng-0703|title=The city is her lab -- Siqi Zheng studies the economics of China's urban explosion.|website=MIT News|date=3 July 2018 |access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215134447/http://news.mit.edu/2018/faculty-profile-siqi-zheng-0703|url-status=live}}

Lee is married with seven children and lives between Hong Kong and London. He reportedly owns the yachts Pelorus and Kogo.{{Cite web |last=Hanson |first=Dana |date=2022-03-12 |title=The 10 Most Expensive Sailboats in the World |url=https://moneyinc.com/most-expensive-sailboats/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Money Inc |language=en-US |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314221758/https://moneyinc.com/most-expensive-sailboats/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://yachtharbour.com/news/pelorus-sold-to-chinese-billionaire-1026|title=Pelorus sold to Chinese billionaire|website=Yacht Harbour|language=en|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181809/https://yachtharbour.com/news/pelorus-sold-to-chinese-billionaire-1026|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Michael |date=2021-07-16 |title=Crew of Cayman-registered superyacht sues for unpaid wages |url=https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/07/16/crew-of-cayman-registered-superyacht-sues-for-unpaid-wages/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Cayman Compass |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930032047/https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/07/16/crew-of-cayman-registered-superyacht-sues-for-unpaid-wages/ |url-status=live }} The Lee family reported owns a Boeing aircraft and a large car collection.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/11742480/Is-Sammy-Tak-Lee-hoping-to-get-lucky-with-Shaftesbury-offer.html|title=Is Sammy Tak Lee hoping to get lucky with Shaftesbury offer?|last=Marlow|first=Ben|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2015-07-15|access-date=2019-02-05|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020416/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/11742480/Is-Sammy-Tak-Lee-hoping-to-get-lucky-with-Shaftesbury-offer.html|url-status=live}}

Lee maintains a low profile and rarely speaks out about his many business dealings. According to media reports and court documents Lee has a colourful personal life.{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/tycoon-who-accused-ex-lover-of-blackmail-is-exposed-as-a-liar-6447169.html|title=Tycoon who accused ex-lover of blackmail|date=2011-09-26|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130000452/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tycoon-who-accused-ex-lover-of-blackmail-is-exposed-as-a-liar-6447169.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.maitlandchambers.com/information/recent-cases/favor-easy-management-ltd-samuel-tak-lee-v-fuk-fei-wu-favor-easy-management|title=Favor Easy Management Ltd, Samuel Tak Lee v Fuk Fei Wu, Favor Easy Management Ltd (2012)|website=www.maitlandchambers.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-02-05|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072216/https://www.maitlandchambers.com/information/recent-cases/favor-easy-management-ltd-samuel-tak-lee-v-fuk-fei-wu-favor-easy-management|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1402308/court-slashes-record-divorce-payout-property-scions-ex-wife|title=Court slashes record divorce payout for property scion's ex-wife|date=2014-01-10|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=23 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723181226/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1402308/court-slashes-record-divorce-payout-property-scions-ex-wife|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/8670624/Court-forces-property-tycoon-to-give-houses-to-mistress.html|title=Court forces property tycoon to give houses to mistress|last=Andrew Hough|date=30 Jul 2011|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181449/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/8670624/Court-forces-property-tycoon-to-give-houses-to-mistress.html|url-status=live}}

Samuel's son, Samathur Li Kin-kan, is famous for his divorce settlement, which the court of Hong Kong awarded his ex-wife HK$1.2 billion.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/986560/billionaire-divorce-case-gripped-city|title=The billionaire divorce case that gripped the city|date=n.d.|access-date=27 March 2021|newspaper=South China Morning Post|location=Hong Kong|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005040433/http://www.scmp.com/article/986560/billionaire-divorce-case-gripped-city|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-10 |title=Who do you sue when a robot loses your fortune? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/who-do-you-sue-when-a-robot-loses-your-fortune-20190508-p51l82.html |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321185716/https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/who-do-you-sue-when-a-robot-loses-your-fortune-20190508-p51l82.html |url-status=live }}

File:Opening Ceremony of the Samuel Tak Lee Building at Diocesan Boys' School.webm|Opening Ceremony of the Samuel Tak Lee Building at Diocesan Boys' School

File:Samuel Tak Lee Building of Diocesan Boys' School.JPG|Samuel Tak Lee Building at Diocesan Boys' School

File:Great Titchfield Street and Margaret Street, London.JPG|Lee's Langham Estate Offices on Margaret Street, London

File:Yacht Pelorus in Croatia - 01.jpg|Samuel Tak Lee yacht Pelorus

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Category:1939 births

Category:Living people

Category:Hong Kong businesspeople in real estate

Category:Hong Kong billionaires

Category:Harvard Business School alumni

Category:MIT School of Engineering alumni

Category:Hong Kong philanthropists

Category:People educated at Diocesan Boys' School