Nina Wang, born Kung Yu Sum (; 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, who was kidnapped and disappeared in 1990.

Early life

Kung Yu Sum was born in Shanghai to parents from Wenzhou, and 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, 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. At the time of her death, 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 13 April 2007, Chinachem confirmed in various Hong Kong local newspapers that Wang was first diagnosed with an undisclosed illness back in February 2004. She immediately flew to the United States to receive further treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard University. She received treatment for more than three years before her death.

Following a lengthy court battle over Wang's estate, the court ruled on 2 February 2010 that, while the court accepted Tony Chan's claim that he and Wang had been secret lovers, the alleged 2006 will presented by Chan bore a forged signature. The court upheld the 2002 will awarding Wang's entire estate to the ChinaChem Charitable Foundation. Chan declared his intent to appeal, but the following day his home was searched by the police and he was arrested for questioning on suspicion of forgery.

See also

  • Nina Tower – The tower Nina Wang planned and developed for her and her husband Teddy.

References

; English news

  • Asia's richest woman cleared in fraud case
  • HK richest lady wins will battle
  • Wang's Legacy: Sex, Lies And Litigation, Forbes magazine
  • The enigma of Little Sweetie, The Economist's Face Value on Mrs. Wang

;Court cases

;Chinese news

  • The text of the 1990 will of Teddy Wang
  • Nina Wang series by the Oriental Press Group
  • The texts of the 2 wills of Nina Wang, Apple Daily; accessed 24 March 2014.