Chow Yun Fat Pledges to Donate Entire Fortune to Charity
Already a role model for his frugal lifestyle, Chow Yun Fat (周潤發) is planning to take one more step towards perfection by declaring that he will donate his $1 billion HKD fortune to charity after his death.
Despite being an international film star, Chow Yun Fat still sees himself as an average man. Humble and gracious, he has long since won the battle against materialistic temptations and finds joy in a simple existence. While many of his colleagues choose to spend their paychecks on cars and name-brand outfits, Chow Yun Fat is happy to hop onto a crowded bus with the public while dressed in clothes purchased years ago. Surprisingly, the superstar is rarely recognized. “Ninety percent of the people on the subway would be staring down at their phones. Who would even notice me? It’s like stepping into an abandoned land!”
Like many from his generation, Chow Yun Fat finds no benefit from having a smart phone and remains loyal to his standard model. However, he is probably quite skilled with taking cellphone photos as those who do recognize him often ask for a snapshot as keepsake. Even if he is trying to catch a taxi or doing grocery shopping at a public market, Chow Yun Fat would always smile and pose with his fans.
His kindness and respect for others ironically made it difficult for him to ask for help. While he spoke about the advantages of not owning a car, Fat Gor also revealed another major reason that encouraged him to use public transportation. “If I hire a driver, I would feel bad because he would have to wait for me all day long. I would be anxious because I know that someone is waiting for me. It would be very frustrating!” Instead, he finds freedom in being responsible for his own needs and raves about the ability to sight-see and people-watch as he strolls the local streets.
Successful financially, Chow Yun Fat is grateful to his mother for teaching him early on to save ten percent from every paycheck and calls thriftiness a virtue. Childless and approaching old age, he plans to donate everything to charity when his time comes as a way to give thanks to society. “I feel that the money does not really belong to me. I am just in charge of keeping it temporarily! I will definitely donate it all! I will give it to charities that need it the most.”
Source: Oriental Daily
This article is written by Katrine for JayneStars.com.
Chow Yun Fat is really an unusual super star who has NO personal car and does not care about designers’ clothes. He is an endangered species! Some “stars” owns many luxurious and sports cars, such as Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls Royce, or big Mercedes.
Wow what an honorable, kind, and gracious man.
better to donate now, make sure thst his wealth goes to the needy, if that is his intention, read about a singaporean head of charity who travels to europe in first class etc, between, good for mr chow to settle all his debts first.. income tax and tithes to God, if he is a believer
so down to earth! he handles success well without any swollen ego.
better to donate now, make sure that his wealth goes to the needy, if that is his intention, read about a singaporean head of charity who travelled to europe and other countries in first class, plus other extravagant expenses, by the way, good for mr chow to settle all his debts first.. income tax and thithes to God, if he is a believer
Love fat gor ever seen marathoning most of his movies back in 2010. Such a wonderful, kind man. Makes me a bigger fan knowing how wonderful he is on the inside:P
HKD1b must be from shrewd investment and businesses. He has got a good wife! Acting alone can’t be that much. Wow, so rich and no children to leave them too. I wonder why he and his wife never considered adoption?
Wasn’t there an article about his adopted son before?
He is childless from what I know. No adopted son.
Too bad he doesn’t have any kids, he would make a great role model for his kids. Like my parents always taught me and my siblings, never forget your root.
Fat Gor and his wife Jasmine did have a child many years ago, but the baby was stillborn and died at birth….they were devastated at the time and it took them a long time to come to terms with it. I’m thinking that incident probably factored into their future decisions about having children (and possibly adoption as well).
I agree that Fat Gor definitely would have been a great father! Even right now, despite not having any children, he is already a great role model for his colleagues and everyone he interacts with. He will always have my respect, that’s for sure!
i fully respect faat gor.His movie hard boil is a classic period.Never forget when he dressed up as a pineapple and started singing in the street.
i wish that fatgor could be the chief executive of hk,he will be a good one but im afraid this dream would never come true sigh…
He is someone who never forget his root. He is your average joe, before he was famous, he had nothing. Now, he is famous and rich, he stays humble. I wonder if he believes in Buddha teaching. He would make a good role model for youngsters nowadays. I wish I could be like him in term of humbleness.
Such a humble and down to earth man! I guess hard to find such person in the entertainment now esp it is a dog bites dog world…He is indeed a legend..
TVB needs new talents and I wish TVB would have recruited Harry Shum Jr. instead. He was in the Fox television show Glee & was also in the original ipod commercial, and the backup dancer for many American singers such as Beyonce,mariah carey, and etc. Harry Shum Jr’s parents were from Hong Kong and he was born in Costa Rica and raised in San Francisco. He is very handsome, tall, and speak fluent English and cantonese. He would be perfect for TVB. Just google Harry Shum Jr., and check out his youtube video and decide for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1in9CMhcNeo
TVB should have recruited HARRY SHUM JR.
TVB should have recruited Harry Shum instead of MC Jin. Just google Harry Shum Jr. and see for yourself.
Suddenly harry shum came up. who is harry shum??? HK and Asia has many talents, no need some harry form nowhere!
Harry Shum isn’t from nowhere. He’s from US.
You’re talking about Harry Shum Jr. from Glee, aren’t you? Well, this asian guy barely had any dialog at all in the show. The only thing that he did was dance and show his 6 abs.
I never knew there’s such a person on earth.
He’s someone that I start to admire now. A good role model to me.
I hope that one day If I were to become rich I will be like him, maybe not 100% but at least being humble and friendly still.
I sometimes wonder why I always see films so long as Fat Gor is in it. Now I know why!
I want a man like that. No gucci no prada, just a real man like that.
He’s quite different and inspiration to the materialistic trend people in HK are obsessed with. I laugh how Funn lim can’t believe such a person can come from HK and must be involved in shrewd investment and business deals. Like the guy tells people he has a tendency to save money from his pay checks and since theres numerous photos of him using public transport rather than wasting money on luxury cars like most celebrities.
WOW.
Rare for a guy – he’s completely EGO free.
Why aren’t there more men out there like him?
If only this dude can be a leader, and inspire people with his wise insights and observations.
Materialism that has come to be associated ‘very-HK’ characteristic, and the overwhelming consumerism and competitiveness that drives most of society these days.
Wonder how he survived with Donnie Yen – that
His wife is very shrewd though … I wonder if she has the same thoughts on giving it all to charity?
I admire his characteristic. Role model for me & others. Salute you.fargor ! Did I say this word correctly?
Yes, Fat/發 Gor/哥
lol – why would you say this NOW though? When the billion dollars is still in your custody and apparently spent on yourself and not charity?
Does this promise to pay charities Tuesday for a Hamburger today buy him some kind of social approval and more importantly, kevlar from man on the street resentment in Hong KOng at the One Percenters?
It’s not like Mayor Bloomberg who doesn’t skimp on his appearance but does give incredible amounts.
Seems like a good man. I wonder how his life would be if his mom hadn’t frowned on some of his other girlfriends? Maybe he would have a kid, now?
Amazing person, hard to come by these days especially among celebrities.
“If I hire a driver, I would feel bad because he would have to wait for me all day long”
But fatt gor, this is what you hire him for! You pay him good money to wait on you, like the waiters in restaurants. You don;t served yourself by cooking in thier kitchen, LOL
It is quite true. That is a chauffeur’s job anyway.
Actually looking on the flip side – being a chauffeur like that is better than one driving a boss all day.
While waiting he can surf, game, text, eat etc while getting paid. 🙂
Fatt Soh being the shrewd pragmatic financial controller also probably sees no point in having a driver.
I love you CYF!
Thanks for inspiring me to be a better person CYF! I hope you have a long life and family. Yes he is an endangered specie!