In the annals of high-stakes crime, the story of the Hong Kong gangster known as "Big Spender" stands out as a bizarre movement of criminal boldness. In 1996, Cheung Tze-keung orchestrated the abduction of Victor Li, the son of Asia’s most prominent tycoon, Li Ka-shing. Unlike typical criminal interactions, the negotiation took a surreal turn when Cheung personally visited the elder Li at his residence to demand a historic sum.
Li Ka-shing, remaining remarkably composed, agreed to pay a record-breaking amount of over one hundred million dollars to ensure his son's safe return.
What followed the payment was an extraordinary exchange that blurred the lines between a crime and a business consultation. After securing the massive fortune, Cheung reportedly asked the billionaire for advice on how to invest the funds wisely so he could leave his criminal lifestyle behind.
Li Ka-shing, ever the pragmatic businessman, suggested that the only way to truly secure wealth was to invest in stable assets rather than the high-stakes risks typical of a gambling lifestyle. Unfortunately, the advice was not heeded; Cheung reportedly lost much of the fortune at casinos in Macau within a few short months.
This historical movement highlights a strange moment where the worlds of extreme wealth and organized crime briefly overlapped, proving that even a vast fortune cannot sustain a person who lacks the discipline to manage it properly.
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