Chan Laiwa Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Chan Laiwa is a self-made Chinese real estate magnate and cultural patron, best known as the founder and chairwoman of Fu Wah International Group and founder-curator of the China Red Sandalwood Museum.

Introduction

Born on January 1, 1941, Chan Laiwa — also known by her Mandarin name Chen Lihua — built one of Beijing’s leading commercial real estate empires through Fu Wah International Group, transforming humble beginnings into immense success. Her estimated net worth stands at roughly US$ 3.7–3.9 billion, making her one of China’s wealthiest self-made women.  Her personal life is relatively private; she is married to actor Chi Zhongrui and continues to divide her time between business legacy, cultural preservation, and philanthropy. 

Quick Facts

The Long Road from Humble Origins to Business Empire

Chan Laiwa’s journey reads like a tale of resilience and reinvention. Born into a Manchu noble lineage within Beijing’s Summer Palace — a family once privileged under the Qing dynasty — she nonetheless experienced the drastic decline in fortune following the dynasty’s collapse. 

Circumstances forced her to leave high school. Rather than resign to fate, she started a furniture repair business in her youth. That modest enterprise marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. 

In the early 1980s, she moved to Hong Kong. There, she expanded her business — buying and refurbishing classic furniture and selling them for profit. Success there enabled her to purchase a dozen villas, a remarkable feat for a mainland migrant at the time.

By the late 1980s, armed with both capital and ambition, she returned to Beijing and turned her eyes toward real estate. In the early 1990s, she founded Fu Wah International Group, laying the foundation for what would become one of Beijing’s largest commercial property developers. 

Defining moments in Chan Laiwa’s journey include:

• Leaving high school and launching a modest furniture repair business. 

• Building a successful furniture-trading operation in Hong Kong, purchasing multiple villas. 

• Founding Fu Wah International Group in Beijing — transitioning from small business to large-scale real estate development.

• Establishing the China Red Sandalwood Museum, cementing her legacy beyond business.

The Core Pillars of Chan Laiwa’s Wealth

The core pillars of Chan Laiwa’s wealth include:

• Real estate development through Fu Wah International Group — the backbone of her fortune, driving property development across Beijing and perhaps beyond. 

• Diversified business ventures — Fu Wah reportedly expanded into agriculture, tourism, hospitality, electronics, and red sandalwood art production. 

• Cultural investment and assets — including holdings and artifacts linked to her museum and red sandalwood collections, reflecting both cultural value and monetary worth. 

Relationships & Private Life

Although much of her life remains private, certain public details about Chan Laiwa’s personal life are known.

Chan Laiwa is married to former actor Chi Zhongrui. Together they have three children — one son and two daughters. 

She has reportedly gradually handed over day-to-day operations of Fu Wah to her son, allowing her to focus on cultural endeavors and philanthropy. 

Key insights into Chan Laiwa’s relationships and personal life:

• She maintains a stable marital relationship with a well-known public figure, Chi Zhongrui. 

• Her children appear to play a role in preserving her business legacy — especially her son, who reportedly took over management of the real estate group. 

• She values cultural heritage and legacy, integrating business with art and philanthropy — a reflection of upbringing and personal philosophy rooted in her family's Manchu heritage. 

Beyond Business: Lifestyle, Assets & Cultural Passion

Beyond career success, Chan Laiwa leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Curatorship of the China Red Sandalwood Museum — an institution she founded to preserve and showcase traditional Chinese red sandalwood art and furnishings.

• Cultural patronage and philanthropy — through disaster-relief donations and support for artistic projects; her philanthropic legacy is viewed as integral to her identity beyond business. 

• Holding of significant real estate assets — including past holdings like multiple Hong Kong villas and large-scale properties within Beijing under Fu Wah’s portfolio.

Net Worth Breakdown & Evaluation

Because valuations of privately held real estate and assets can fluctuate, estimates vary slightly depending on the source. Below is a breakdown based on publicly available valuations and reporting.

Note: Given limited public financial disclosure for private assets, the “Investments & Assets” category is folded into the overall net worth estimate derived from reputable wealth-tracking sources.

How the World Sees Chan Laiwa: Influence & Legacy

Chan Laiwa’s story is widely regarded as one of the most compelling “rags-to-riches” entrepreneurial tales in modern China. Starting from modest origins and ascending into Beijing’s real estate elite — while preserving her roots in cultural heritage — gives her a unique standing among business magnates. 

Through the China Red Sandalwood Museum, she has positioned herself not just as a property tycoon but as a guardian of Chinese art and culture — blending commerce with cultural stewardship. Her philanthropic donations and respect for traditional arts have earned her considerable respect both within business circles and among cultural communities. 

In addition, her status as one of the relatively few self-made female billionaires globally — and one of China’s richest self-made women — makes her a symbol of what determination and vision can achieve, regardless of origin. 

Conclusion

Chan Laiwa’s journey — born January 1, 1941 — from a fallen noble lineage living in poverty to the head of one of Beijing’s major real estate empires showcases extraordinary resilience, drive, and vision. With an estimated net worth of roughly US$ 3.7–3.9 billion, she stands among the world’s most successful self-made female entrepreneurs. Through her marriage to Chi Zhongrui, her family’s involvement in her business legacy, and her enduring commitment to cultural preservation via the China Red Sandalwood Museum, Chan Laiwa personal life and values remain deeply woven into her professional path. Her story illustrates that with grit, enterprise, and a respect for heritage, true transformation is possible.