Deep Water Bay on the south shore of Hong Kong Island was named the wealthiest neighborhood on Earth in a 2015 study, with 19 billionaire residents and a combined net worth of $123 billion as of August 2015. We could not find a newer neighborhood-level study, so this article explains what that count meant and what has changed since. Several of the residents named in 2015 have since died.
| Rank | Name | Status (2015 net worth) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Li Ka-shing | Alive; born 1928 |
| 2 | Robert Kuok | Alive per biography; born 1923 |
| 3 | Stanley Ho | Died 26 May 2020 |
| 4 | Cheng Yu-tung | Died 29 September 2016 |
| 5 | Lui Che Woo | Died 7 November 2024 |
| 6 | Walter Kwok | Died 20 October 2018 |
| 7 | Michael Kadoorie | Alive; born 1941 |
| 8 | Joseph Tsai | Alive; born 1964 |
Deep Water Bay is described as Hong Kong’s most expensive residential area, with house prices per square foot above Jardine’s Lookout and Victoria Peak. Prominent addresses include Repulse Bay Road (Nos. 1 to 67), Island Road and Deep Water Bay Road. The area has low-rise townhomes, detached houses and luxury apartments rather than high-rises.
1. Li Ka-shing: Hong Kong’s best-known tycoon
Li retired as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings in May 2018.
We do not republish his 2015 net worth.
2. Robert Kuok: Malaysian-born magnate based in Hong Kong since 1973
Kuok has lived in Hong Kong since 1973.
We list status only, with no wealth figure.
3. Stanley Ho: Casino magnate
Ho was the founder and chairman of SJM Holdings, which owns nineteen casinos in Macau.
He died in 2020, so he is no longer counted.
4. Cheng Yu-tung: Property and jewellery tycoon
Cheng built a property, hotel, infrastructure and jewellery group.
He died in 2016.
5. Lui Che Woo: Founder of K. Wah
Lui founded K. Wah Company in 1955.
He died in 2024.
6. Walter Kwok: Property developer
Kwok was the eldest son of the founder of Sun Hung Kai Properties.
He died in 2018.
7. Michael Kadoorie: Chairman of CLP Group
Kadoorie is the chairman and 18% owner of CLP Group and owns 47% of Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels.
Those holdings come from public biographies.
8. Joseph Tsai: Alibaba co-founder
Tsai is a co-founder and chairman of the Chinese e-commerce group Alibaba.
Again, status only, with no wealth figure.
What changed since 2015
The 2015 count was a snapshot. Since then Cheng Yu-tung (2016), Walter Kwok (2018), Stanley Ho (2020) and Lui Che Woo (2024) have died. We could not find a newer dated study, so the $123 billion figure is from 2015 and should be read as history, not today’s total. Other districts, such as Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row, are often cited as rivals but we found no neighborhood-level count to compare.
FAQ
What is the wealthiest neighborhood on Earth?
Deep Water Bay in Hong Kong, according to a 2015 study that counted 19 billionaire residents with a combined $123 billion.
Is the $123 billion figure still current?
No. It is from August 2015, and several of the residents have died since.
Who lives in Deep Water Bay?
Residents named in 2015 included Li Ka-shing, Robert Kuok, Michael Kadoorie and Joseph Tsai, among others.
Can you buy a home there?
Rarely. Homes are held by wealthy owners and few come to market.
Is there a newer ranking?
We found no newer neighborhood-level study.
How we estimate wealth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this article we used the 2015 residents count, public biographies and dates of death, and we do not update the 2015 figures.
Keep reading
Last updated: October 2026.
