At the April 28 funeral of the senior Lee, who passed away at 97, she drew much attention as she stood prominently beside her husband, widely seen as the family’s heir. Chui is the only daughter-in-law in the family.
Married in 2006 in what media dubbed “the wedding of the century,” Chui was once dismissed by tabloids as a “baby machine” for having four children in quick succession. But she has since emerged as a key figure in the family, known for her discretion, resilience and strategic presence in both business and society.
Hong Kong news outlet Dimsum Daily commented: “For women who marry into Hong Kong’s billionaire families, the unspoken equation is brutally simple: each child potentially equals billions in future wealth.”
The South China Morning Post said Lee’s generosity in the form of giving her lavish gifts further solidified her position: She got a HK$50-million (US$6.4 million) education fund, HK$1.82 billion worth of land, a HK$110-million luxury yacht, and a mansion.
The gifts earned her the nickname “hundred-billion daughter-in-law” in the media.
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Cathy Chui and her husband Martin Lee, the second son of late Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau Kee. Photo from Chui’s Instagram |
Following Lee’s passing, his 72.5% stake in Henderson Land Development, valued at HK$78.2 billion, was divided equally between his two sons, Peter and Martin. Other holdings, including major shares in energy company Towngas and several affiliates, contributed an estimated HK$66 billion, according to Chinese news site QQ.
Now 43, Chui is stepping further into investment and family business roles, Malaysia newspaper Sin Chew Daily said. Sources revealed that Chui recently mortgaged several properties gifted to her by her late father-in-law to raise HK$5 billion for a retirement real estate development project in the U.K.
In addition to managing the family fortune, Chui is also focused on securing her children’s future within the family business. Her 15-year-old daughter is currently studying at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., and her eldest daughter is interning at Henderson Land, the family’s flagship company. Chui has also arranged for her father to join the board of directors at Henderson Land.
Her efforts to maintain her elite status extend beyond business. Despite her low-profile social media presence, she frequently participates in charity events and family business promotions, entertainment news site Jayne Stars reports. She holds honorary roles as chairperson and event ambassador and is regarded as a “key member of the elite” alongside other prominent women such as Guo Jingjing, Olympic champion and wife of businessman Kenneth Fok, and Kimbee Chan, wife of Hong Kong’s fifth-richest billionaire, Joseph Lau.
Chui’s involvement has not only helped her establish her identity in social circles but also, more importantly, enabled her to associate the “Lee family” name closely with her own, symbolizing responsibility and leadership in various public roles, Chinese media platform 163 says.
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Hong Kong’s property magnate Lee Shau Kee (far R), his son Martin Lee (far L), his daughter-in-law Cathy Chui and their child. Photo from Chui’s Instagram |
Consistently voices public trust in husband
Rumors have it that Martin had a relationship with a flight attendant before marrying Chui and the pair had a child, and his father intervened to end the relationship. For nearly three decades the flight attendant has been referred to as Martin’s hidden mistress. Some sources even claim that Chui is aware of the situation but has chosen to remain silent. In 2024 she was spotted with her 20-year-old daughter, who was carrying a limited-edition designer handbag reportedly more expensive than any owned by Chui.
Reports later claimed the two had moved into a residence near the Lee family estate. Now lingerie model Chrissie Chau is seen as a more pressing “threat” to Chui. Chau was photographed entering a suite on the top floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong for three consecutive nights, a hotel owned by the Lee family, according to 163.
Sources on Weibo claim that, since becoming involved with Martin, Chau has transitioned from modeling to business, holding shares in several overseas companies and investing in real estate. In 2024 she reportedly sold a floor of an office tower in Central for a profit of HK$80 million. Last year paparazzi captured photos of Chau with her three-year-old son, whose features are said to closely resemble Martin’s.
While the Lee family quickly denied the rumors, online users pointed to the fact that after Chui gave birth to their fourth child, Martin stopped appearing at public events for a year during which time Chau was also absent, reportedly to “pursue further studies.”
But Chui has continued to support her husband publicly. She regularly shares family photos on social media and, occasionally posts her children’s academic milestones, presenting an image of a stable and united household.
In a recent media interview, when asked about the rumors surrounding her husband’s alleged affairs, she simply said: “The children are waiting for me to come home and cook.” The response was widely praised for its emotional intelligence.
In a 2024 interview with veteran Hong Kong journalist Bai Lu Mi, Chui said: “I trust my husband implicitly. Some people may be intentionally trying to stir up rumors.”
Martin said: “My wife trusts me; that’s all that matters.”
