Is Li Ka-shing, world’s 38th richest man nicknamed Superman dead? The truth about the billionaire behind Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings’ health

A rumor started circulating on October 15 that Li Ka-shing is dead. The news spread across Chinese social media about the world’s 38th richest man according to the Forbes list on October 15, 2026, breathing list last aged 98.

The 98-year-old Hong Kong billionaire, worth $48.4 billion at the time of filing this report, built a global business. Li Ka Shing Foundation has also not published any official statement regarding the news.

However, his company quickly denied the claim. According to The Paper, CK Asset Holdings issued a statement that said, "This is absolutely untrue." The rumor reportedly claimed that Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao had published a report announcing Li’s death.

Who is Li Ka-shing?

Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong-based philanthropist who founded CK Group. He is also the former chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings. He was born on July 29, 1928, in Chao'an County, Chaozhou, Guangdong Province in China.

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Li left school at age 12 and moved to Hong Kong with his family. He founded Cheung Kong Plastics in 1950, when he was 21. He named the company after China’s 6,300 km long Yangtze River with an initial capital of $6,500. This capital came from his own savings and loans from relatives. It later expanded into real estate and became a major force in Hong Kong’s property market.

Li started Cheung Kong Plastics, named after the Yangtze River, in 1950 at age 21 with $6,500 in savings and loans from relatives.

According to the company’s official biography, Cheung Kong was listed in Hong Kong in 1972. The group expanded through major acquisitions, including Hutchison Whampoa in 1979 and Hongkong Electric Holdings in 1985.

Over time, Li’s business interests grew far beyond property. The CK Group developed operations in ports, retail, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, hotels and life sciences. The group’s reach also extended from Hong Kong and mainland China to all over the world.

Li, who is nicknamed Superman, announced his retirement as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings in March 2018, shortly before his 90th birthday. According to a Xinhua report on his retirement, he stepped down from the chairmanship in May that year and became a senior adviser. His elder son, Victor Li, succeeded him.

Li Ka-shing’s philanthropy and education work

The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980 and focuses on education, medical services and research. According to the CK Asset biography, Li has invested more than HK$30 billion in education, health care, charity and anti-poverty programs.

The biography says about 80% of these projects have been in mainland China and Hong Kong. He also founded Shantou University in 1981. The university became a major project of the foundation, which has supported education and medical training.