Nina Wang
| Nina Wang | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Kung Yu Sum 29 September 1936 Shanghai, China |
| Died | 3 April 2007 (aged 69) Hong Kong |
| Spouse(s) | Teddy Wang (m.1955, missing in 1990, declared legally dead in 1999) |
Nina Wang (born Kung Yu Sum (Chinese: 龔如心; pinyin: Gŏng Rúxīn) 29 September 1936 – 3 April 2007) was Asia's richest woman, with an estimated net worth of US$4.2 billion at the time of her death. She was the widow of Hong Kong chemical magnate Teddy Wang (Wang Teh Huei, 王德輝), who disappeared in 1990 after a kidnapping.
Kung Yu Sum was born in Shanghai to Wenzhounese parents, where she was a childhood playmate of Teddy Wang, whose father Wang Din-shin, a Wenzhounese businessman, established a paint and chemical business. The Wangs moved to Hong Kong from Wenzhou, and the business became the Chinachem Group, eventually one of Hong Kong's largest and most powerful companies based on a lucrative pharmaceutical division. In 1948, when she was 11 and he 15, they renewed their friendship, and in 1955 they married.
Nicknamed "Little Sweetie" ("Siu Tim Tim" or "小甜甜" in Cantonese), she was noted for her two pigtails and her love of dressing in traditional Chinese dresses. She was the richest woman in Asia and the world's 35th richest person, with a fortune of $4.2bn, according to Forbes magazine; a fortune which exceeded that of American talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
On 12 April 1983, the Wangs' Mercedes was hijacked. Teddy Wang was taken away and chained to a bed for eight days until Nina Wang paid a $33 million ransom. On 10 April 1990, Teddy Wang was kidnapped again. After his disappearance, Nina took the helm of Chinachem under the title of "Chairlady" and built it into a major property developer.
Teddy Wang was declared dead in 1999. Although his body was never found, the battle over his fortune began in earnest, with at least three different wills circulating in the court system. The earliest will, the authenticity of which is not contested, was dated 1960 and split the estate equally between Teddy's father, Wang Din-shin, and Nina. A 1968 version produced by Din-shin (authenticity challenged) gave the entire estate to Din-shin. This will was made after Teddy discovered that his wife was having an affair.
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