Hong Kong is a city where dreams of success can come true. Although the path to wealth is winding and full of challenges, some women have proven that with determination and a bit of luck, one can amass a fortune, even starting from nothing. Here are the stories of five of the richest women in Hong Kong who began with humble beginnings and are now at the pinnacle of the financial world.

1. From Cleaner to Financial Magnate – Mrs. Chan

Mrs. Chan grew up in a poor family and worked as a cleaner as a teenager to help her parents. Fate seemed against her, but she had big dreams. One day, she overheard businessmen talking about investments and decided to try her hand at it. She started saving small amounts and investing in stocks, studying the market in her free time. After a few years, her investment portfolio grew enough for her to quit her cleaning job. Today, Mrs. Chan is a financial magnate whose empire spans real estate and the stock market, with a fortune in the billions.

2. From Poor Student to Tech Queen – May Wong

May Wong came from a poor family and barely made ends meet while studying computer science at Hong Kong University. A lack of funds forced her to take on odd jobs, but she was fascinated by the world of technology. One night, with only a few dollars in her account, she developed an app that solved a problem with cloud data storage. The app became a hit among businesses, and May quickly attracted investors. Today, she is the CEO of one of the largest tech companies in Asia, with a fortune exceeding one billion dollars.

3. Mrs. Lee – From Waitress to Billionaire in the Hotel Industry

Mrs. Lee started as a waitress in a small restaurant in Hong Kong. During the day, she served meals, and at night she dreamed of running her own hotel chain. She knew the road to this dream was long, so she started saving every penny. Eventually, she saved enough to buy her first small guesthouse. Thanks to hard work and attention to every detail, the guesthouse quickly gained a reputation, and Mrs. Lee began expanding her business. Today, she owns an international chain of luxury hotels and is one of the richest women in the tourism industry.

4. From Medical Student to Cosmetics Mogul – Cecilia Kwok

Cecilia Kwok was studying medicine, dreaming of becoming a doctor, but fate had a different plan. During her studies, she worked as a beautician to pay her tuition. However, she noticed a gap in the market for skincare products with natural ingredients. So, she started experimenting in a home lab, creating her own cosmetics. When she began selling her products at a local market, their popularity skyrocketed. Today, her cosmetics company is a leader in the international market, and Cecilia has become a beauty icon, earning billions.

5. Michelle Lau – From Immigrant to Startup Queen

Michelle Lau arrived in Hong Kong as an immigrant from mainland China with only $100 in her pocket. For the first few years, she worked multiple jobs at once, trying to survive in a new city. However, with perseverance, she developed her business ideas until she finally founded a tech startup that revolutionized how companies manage their data. Her company quickly gained international recognition, and Michelle became a model of success, inspiring many young entrepreneurs. Her net worth now stands at several billion dollars.