#SHOWBIZ: Screen icon to food mogul: How Liu Wai Hung rebuilt fortune in Malaysia
HONG KONG: Former TVB actor and host Liu Wai Hung, affectionately known as "Ah Chan" to generations of fans, famously stepped away from show business in the late 1990s.
Former TVB actor Liu Wai Hung, affectionately known as Ah Chan, made a famous transition from show business to entrepreneurship in the late 1990s. Initially, his ventures like beauty salons, karaoke bars, and roast meat eateries struggled due to the Asian financial crisis. By 1999, mounting debts led to bankruptcy. Undeterred, Liu bounced back by starting an organic farming business in mainland China, achieving significant success with a rice brand and a profitable farm.
Recently, Liu turned his focus to Malaysia, expanding into the food and drink industry. A massive four-story dining and entertainment venue aimed at luxury diners was opened last year, alongside a popular street-food brand known for its fishballs. Rumors swirled that his net worth exceeded HK$100 million (about RM54 million), to which Liu retorted with a witty reply, claiming his fortune was actually HK$200 million.
He cleverly explained that this amount was comprised of one hundred million in lost memories and another hundred million in cherished memories — a play on Chinese words for memory and hundred million.
Despite modestly downplaying the significance of his fishball business, observers acknowledge that Liu's farming and restaurant enterprises have made him a major player in the region. Recently, Liu faced serious health scares, including a suspected stroke and gout, but fully recovered after medical treatment.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
