Li Ka-shing

Nicknamed Superman, Li Ka-shing is revered as one of the most influential businessmen in Asia. Li retired as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings in May 2018 but remains senior advisor. At the announcement of his retirement, Li joked that he'd been "working for a long time, too long."

Victor, his son, currently leads the company, which employs over 300,000 people and works in more than 50 countries. At the age of 21, Li founded Cheung Kong Plastics, named after the Yangtze River, with $6,500 in savings and loans from relatives. Over $3.3 billion has been donated by his Li Ka Shing Foundation, with over 80% of it going to Greater China. “The burden of poverty and this bitter taste of helplessness and isolation sort of branded on my heart forever the questions that still drive me.” - Li Ka-shing

Company: CK Hutchison Holdings

Net worth: US$36 billion