Michael Kadoorie

The Honourable
Sir Michael Kadoorie
GBS
The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie GBS
Born	Template:Birth year and age; Hong Kong
Education	Institut Le Rosey
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	18% shareholder of CLP Group; 47% shareholder of Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels; Founder and proprietor of Metrojet Ltd and Heliservices
Title	Chairman, CLP Group
Spouse	Betty Tamayo
Children	3
Parent(s)	Lawrence Kadoorie, Baron Kadoorie; Muriel Gubbay
Relatives	Ronald McAulay (brother-in-law); Andrew McAulay (nephew)

Sir Michael David Kadoorie (born 1941) is a billionaire entrepreneur based in Hong Kong, serving as chairman and holding an 18% ownership in CLP Group, the region’s leading electricity supplier. Additionally, he possesses a 47% stake in Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels. He belongs to the influential Kadoorie family.

Early life

Michael was born in 1941 into the Jewish Kadoorie lineage as the son of the industrialist Lawrence Kadoorie (1899–1993) and Muriel Gubbay. His education includes attendance at Kowloon Junior School and Switzerland’s prestigious Institut Le Rosey. The family’s entrepreneurial origins date back to his grandfather, Elly Kadoorie, who established roots in Shanghai in 1880 before relocating business operations to Hong Kong post-1949. Over time, the family diversified its portfolio into sectors such as finance, property development, and utilities, with their flagship enterprise being CLP Holdings Ltd.

Career

As chairman of CLP Holdings Ltd., a company founded by his ancestors in 1890, Michael Kadoorie maintains a 35% ownership interest. CLP is responsible for providing electricity to approximately 75% of Hong Kong under a Scheme of Control license that covers Kowloon and the New Territories. The corporation also holds investments in power generation facilities throughout China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and India.

He leads Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, the parent group of the renowned Peninsula Hotel chain, which also includes subsidiaries like Metrojet Ltd and Heliservices (HK) Ltd. Under his guidance, CLP launched the CLP Research Institute aimed at promoting advancements in renewable energy technologies.

Outside his family-run ventures, Kadoorie has served on boards of various companies and contributed to the Council of the University of Hong Kong, where the Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building stands as a testament to his support.

Awards

As a trustee of the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, he has been recognized internationally with honors such as Officer of the French Legion of Honour and Commander of Belgium’s Order of Léopold II. He was knighted as a Knight Bachelor during the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2005. In 2004, he was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Hong Kong.

Car collector

An enthusiast pilot of helicopters, Kadoorie is also known for his collection of vintage automobiles. His collection features rare models like a Bugatti Type 57, a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II crafted by Thrupp & Maberly, a 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Cabriolet by Vanvooren, a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S, a 1924 Vauxhall 30–98 Tourer, a Talbot T150 CSS coupé by Pourtout once owned by racer Pierre Boncompagni ("Pagnibon"), a Rolls-Royce Phantom III with bodywork by Gurney Nutting, and a classic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

In 1998, he suffered significant injuries from an accident involving a vintage Ferrari, caused by wheel failure, necessitating two months of recovery at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

Personal life

Michael Kadoorie resided in Hong Kong alongside his Cuban-American spouse, Betty Tamayo, affectionately referred to as "Lady Betty," until her passing in Houston, Texas on 20 June 2021. The couple was blessed with three children: Natalie, Bettina, and Philip.

His sister, Rita Laura Kadoorie, is wedded to Ronald McAulay, another billionaire based in Hong Kong.

References