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Tycoon gets serious about giving
Oi Hong Leong
Singapore tycoon Oei Hong Leong is still serious about making money but from now on, part of the cash he makes from his famously masterful investments will go to charity.
The new direction was underlined in a dramatic fashion recently when Oei announced he was giving 1 million Singapore dollars (C$700,000) to help victims of the earthquake in Central Java.
"I am trying to learn from them," he said, adding that he wants the satisfaction of giving away money when he is alive to see the results.
In part, the 58-year-old, who cheerfully tells everyone that he has retired since five years ago, said he is "creating a job for himself."
Oei, who was born in Indonesia and made his pile transforming the fortunes of state-owned companies in China, will run the foundation as he ran his business--as a one-man show with him making all the key decisions.
While Oei has a fondness for costly Petrus wines and favours the Italian-made Brioni suits also sported by James Bond in the movies, he maintains that he does not like to waste money.
His watch is a simple Rolex that he has had for years and some time ago he swapped his 25-year-old Mercedes for a new one, though not one from the top of range.
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