In this article we discuss the Top 5 Real Estate Billionaires in the World. If you want to read our detailed analysis of the real estate industry, go directly to the Top 10 Real Estate Billionaires in the World.
5. Wang Jianlin
Net Worth: $20.2 billion
The Dalian Wanda Real Estate Group is considered one of the most popular companies in China. Wang Jianlin is the chairperson of this real estate giant. Besides real estate, his company invests in different industries including media, construction, entertainment, industrial manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, sports, technology, and financial services.
Son of a foot soldier, Jianlin believes in hard work and discipline. Before becoming a small entrepreneur, he took his father’s profession but soon the army had to decommission him. Disappointed, he joined a public office but soon Wang Jianlin realized it was not for him.
In 1989, he was forced to live with his mother-in-law. He accepted a job at a debt-ridden real estate company after some months. With his sheer hard work, the indebted company made profits and soon after three years, Wang Jianlin was able to take over the firm as their CEO.
He started his prestigious company with a small investment of $80,000 in 1992. At that time, he did not know it would grow bigger and bigger with time. The self-made billionaire has an estimated net worth of $20.2 billion to date.
Wang Jianlin’s initial motive of investing in real estate was to make quick money. Later on, he decided to take it as his long-term endeavor.
Outside of China, Wang Jianlin’s company handles projects in Chicago, Sydney, London, and Madrid.
4. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, Saudi Arabia
Net Worth: $22.7 billion
Who can forget the Middle East when it comes to business and money? The region is famous for its wealthy sheiks, skyscrapers, luxury construction projects, and of course, real estate developers.
One of the wealthiest real estate tycoons from Saudi Arabia is Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud. His massive property portfolio enjoys a net worth of at least $22.7 billion.
The Prince controls a number of companies including the popular Kingdom Holding Company. The firm actively invests in real estate development, hotels, hospitality, retail, entertainment, petrochemical, aviation, tourism, and agriculture. The Saudi company’s most noticeable trading endeavors include Twitter, Snap, Lyft, and Citigroup.
According to Lamudi, the prince owns some of the world’s most luxurious hotels in Paris, London, and Saudi Arabia. That’s probably why the Times magazine calls him, ‘The Arabian Warren Buffett’.
The other investment endeavors of the Prince include Coca-Cola, Priceline.com, WorldCom, and Ford Motors Company. He is also a chief shareholder in all the notable companies in Africa, Middle East, and Europe. In 2018, his net worth was estimated at $37 billion which dropped after his arrest.
3. Yang Huiyan
Net Worth: $27 billion
Yang Huiyan inherited property from her late billionaire father. She is considered the wealthiest woman in the entire Asian region with an estimated net worth of around $27 billion in 2018. She ranks 3rd in our list of top real estate billionaires.
Yang’s company, Country Garden Holdings, enjoys an international repute, mainly in Australia and Malaysia. The most popular project of Country Garden Holdings is the Forest City. It is a major investment as the project needs $100 billion to complete successfully.
Yang has shown great business skills as a real estate developer. She has been actively contributing to the Country Garden Holdings since she was 20. In 2018, her wealth multiplied within days, thanks to the surge in her company’s shares. It is said that she made $2 billion within some weeks. The achievement ranked her as the top fourth billionaire of the year.
Yang is also the head of a well-known Chinese training and development company, Bright Scholar Education Holdings. Her father was a self-made estate agent. He did not have money to pay his university expenses. He worked hard to make his name in the property business. Today, his family enjoys what their father left for them.
2. Hui Ka Yan
Net Worth: $26.8 billion
Hui Ka Yan is a Chinese real estate tycoon with an estimated net worth of more than $26.8 billion. His company, Evergrande Real Estate, is listed as one of the best firms in the real estate landscape. The company develops commercial, residential, and hotel projects internationally. He ranks 2nd in our list of top real estate billionaires.
Besides Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan also controls Wuyang Iron & Steel Cooperation, Guangzhou Pengda Group Limited and many more. What is more interesting about Hui Ka Yan is that he is a teacher-turned- real estate agent. He has proved that teachers can make great estate developers.
In 1982, Hui obtained his degree in metallurgy and became a university professor. But his interest in real estate compelled him to start a new property endeavor because of his strong management skills. Initially, people underestimated his abilities as a real estate developer. Today, however, Hui Ka Yan has become a synonym with real estate success in China.
Evergrande is currently running 740 projects in China. Some of these endeavors include Evergreen Oasis Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, and Evergreen Spring City Enping, Guangdong and Ocean Flower Island, Hainan. Hui is also a successful investor in Hong Kong and Australia.
Apart from his interest in proprietorship, Hui has a keen interest in sports. He has a soccer team, a professional football club.
1. Lee Shau Kee
Net Worth: $32.3 billion
Forbes Asia calls Lee Shau Kee Hong Kong’s wealthiest person. In 2021, his net worth is estimated at $32.3 billion. Lee runs many hotel chains, cafes, and internet services. However, his property conglomerate, Henderson Land Development, constitutes a major part of his wealth.
The two most noteworthy building projects developed by the Henderson Land Development include the International Commerce Center and the International Finance Center in Hong Kong.
Lee grew up as a poor man who could hardly afford to eat meat twice a month. Today, the world calls him “Hong Kong’s Buffett”. He also made huge profits through his stock investment endeavors in China.
In 1976, he founded his real estate development company, Henderson. Since then, the company earned him name and money. However, Lee also had to face a temporary downfall in 2019 after he shared his chairmanship with his sons, Peter and Martin.
Lee is an active businessman with multiple investment projects. For instance, he heads the Miramar Hotel and Investment, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company, and Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited. Moreover, he is a strong stakeholder of The Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Limited and the Bank of East Asia Limited.
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