Vietnamese tycoon claims to have US$2 billion
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Well-known businessman Dao Hong Tuyen says he has US$2 billion, far exceeding the $809 million fortune owned by the officially wealthiest person by a recent top ten richest list that did not mention Tuyen’s name.
Dan Tri’s list which estimates assets based on total value of stocks traded on official channels recognizes Pham Nhat Vuong as the richest person in Vietnam in 2010.
But Tuyen, aka Lord of Tuan Chau as he owns the vast tourism island, is quoted by Phap Luat Vietnam as saying he has $2 billion from the 14 firms and 34 factories that he currently owns.
He said he is employing tens of thousands of people.
If true, his colossal wealth is equal to the combined fortunes of Vietnam’s 50 richest women.
When asked if he is the richest in the Southeast Asian nation, Tuyen avoided the question and said “I have organized a big meeting of 100 rich Vietnamese people and 100 international beauties. Isn’t it spectacular?”
He also denied rumors that he is heavily in debt and had to sell his island to a Korean company.
“I had hired a Korean company to manage my business on Tuan Chau Island and they stepped out last year after failing to do their job.”
He told Phap Luat Viet Nam he used to be very poor and wandered along in a park in Ho Chi Minh City as he had no roof to sleep under.
A thief once snatched his most precious property - a worn-out pair of plastic slippers.
But Tuyen said he resolved to be rich after spending a night nearly starving to death.
The secret of his success is: “I only do what others don’t. Or I only do what they think of but cannot do.”
In 1997, he built a road connecting mainland Vietnam’s Quang Ninh Province to the Tuan Chau Island where a Vietnamese beauty contest was held in August last year.
The chairman of multi-sector Au Lac Company last year offered to gift a $3 million villa to Professor Ngo Bao Chau.
Chau, who was awarded the Fields Medal for his achievement in mathematics, politely turned him down.
