Chinese businesswoman Chan Laiwa has an estimated net worth of $5.6 billion as of January 2016, according to Forbes. Currently based in Chinese Red Sandalwood Museum which she founded in 1999, Chan Laiwa lives with her husband, her two daughters and one son.

Born in Summer Palace of Beijing, China, Chan Laiwa is a descendant of the imperial family Manchu. During her birth, the imperial family had collapsed, thus, she was born into a poor family. Eventually, she was forced to leave high school and pursue her furniture repair business. She then moved to Hong Kong and began engaging in buying and re-selling furniture. While in Hong Kong, she has amassed a great fortune which enabled her to purchase 12 villas.

Later on, she went back to China where she continued being active in the real estate industry. In the early 1990's, she founded Fuwah International Group. The company has portfolio in the various fields which include hospitality, red sandalwood production, tourism, electronics and production. Today, Fuwah International Group is considered as one of the largest real estate developers in Beijing.