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# 203 Sammy Lee & family $15.3B

Random fact: A family council helps oversee the business empire.

Overview

Lee is executive chairman of Lee Kum Kee Group, a maker of Chinese-style condiments for more than 130 years. The Hong Kong-based company was founded by his great-grandfather Lee Kum Sheung and sells condiments including soy and oyster sauce. The group also has property, herbal healthcare and venture capital divisions.

As of :
Last change -$272M ( -1.7%)
YTD change +$574M ( +3.9%)
Biggest asset Lee Kum Kee
Country / Region Hong Kong
Age 62
Industry Consumer
View net worth over:   Max 1 year 1 quarter 1 month 1 week

Net Worth Summary

Cash
Private asset
Public asset
Misc. liabilities
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Confidence rating:

The majority of Lee's fortune is derived from Lee Kum Kee Group, a Hong Kong-based maker of Chinese condiments. It has been operating for more than 130 years, according to the company's website.

Lee Kum Kee's sauce and condiments division had about $2 billion in retail sales for its main categories in 2025, according to a Bloomberg analysis on Euromonitor International data. It's valued based on the price-to-earning multiple of five publicly traded peers: Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Co Ltd, Sichuan Teway Food Group Co Ltd, Ajinomoto Co Inc, Kikkoman Corp and Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar Industry Co Ltd.

Lee is credited as head of the family fortune in this analysis to reflect his status as chairman of the group. His father Lee Man Tat died in 2021.

The group also includes LKK Health, a maker and distributor of herbal health supplements under the brand Infinitus. The business' estimated 2025 revenue was $3 billion, according to direct selling research platform Business for Home. It's valued using this figure and the average enterprise value-to-Ebit, enterprise value-to-Ebitda and enterprise value-to-sales multiples of three publicly traded peers: USANA Health Sciences Inc., Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

The family also owns at least seven properties across London, Hong Kong and mainland China. The value of the real estate is mostly based on acquisition prices adjusted to reflect an appreciation of market values. The group's $1.7 billion purchase of 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the Walkie Talkie building, in 2017 was the highest price ever paid for a London office building.

Karen Ho, a spokesperson for LKK Group declined to comment on the net worth calculation.

Biography

Education: University of Southern California

Lee's great-grandfather Lee Kum Sheung accidentally invented oyster sauce when he overcooked his soup. Inspired by the taste and aroma, he began selling it as a condiment and founded Lee Kum Kee.

After the original oyster sauce factory burned down in 1902, the business was rebuilt in neighboring Macau, and later set its headquarters in Hong Kong in 1932, according to the company's website.

Lee joined the family business in the 1980s with four other siblings, and he later chaired its health product group, which has operated under the brand Infinitus.

Lee was appointed executive chairman of Lee Kum Kee Group in 2022. In this role he oversees the group's various businesses including sauce, healthcare products, property and venture capital.

Milestones
  • 1888 Lee Kum Sheung invents oyster sauce.
  • 1932 Relocated the brand's headquarters to Hong Kong.
  • 2012 Acquires 'Walkie Talkie' building in London.
  • 2021 Lee Man Tat dies.

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