Francis Choi
Francis Choi Chee-ming | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 Guangdong Province, China |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Early Light International (Holdings) Ltd. |
Francis Choi Chee-ming, GBS, JP (; born 1945), is a billionaire entrepreneur from Hong Kong. As of March 2022, his fortune is valued at approximately US$8.1 billion.
Choi established and currently chairs Early Light International (Holdings) Ltd., recognized as the largest toy manufacturer globally. Dubbed "the King of Toys," he started his professional journey as a toy salesperson and successfully expanded his enterprise into an international powerhouse. In 2022, Forbes ranked him 11th among Hong Kong's wealthiest individuals and 283rd on the global scale.
Early life
Choi was born in Guangdong Province and grew up in Hong Kong.
Career
At the age of 25 in 1972, Choi launched his initial toy manufacturing facility. Within five years, his workforce grew to 300 employees, and he secured an important licensing agreement with Mattel, Inc. to produce branded items including Snoopy merchandise.
He holds a position in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and leads Early Light International (Holdings) Ltd. Choi also maintains substantial ownership in publicly traded companies Town Health International and Regal Hotels International, where he acts as vice-chairman. Beyond these roles, he owns a series of watch retail outlets and is passionate about collecting timepieces.
Personal life
Residing in Hong Kong with his spouse, Choi is a father of three children. His daughter-in-law is model Irene Wang. His hobbies include collecting automobiles, watches, and horses.