Andre Koo
Source of wealth: Financial services
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The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Andre Koo's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Andre Koo could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 2.5 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Andre Koo could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 1.1 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Andre Koo could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 1.7 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Andre Koo could pay for it entirely for 2.2 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Andre Koo could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 9.5 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Andre Koo with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.2 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Andre Koo's fortune is equivalent to 39 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Andre Koo could buy 10,273,456 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 2 trucks to transport them. Although Andre Koo will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Andre Koo is the honorary chairman of Chailease Holding, an equipment-leasing outfit operating in Taiwan, mainland China and Southeast Asia.
Chailease comprises over 70 companies with 10,000 employees. It operates in Taiwan, mainland China and 12 other countries and regions.
He is the fourth-generation of the Koo Family that founded the Koos Group in the 19th century and first made their fortune in camphor, salt, sugar and land.
Andre's brothers, Jeffrey Koo Jr. and Angelo Koo, are also billionaires and own stakes in Taiwan's financial giants CTBC Financial Holding and China Development Financial Holding, respectively.
Andre, his father and his sons Andre Jr. and Matthew are all graduates of NYU's Stern School of Business. Andre sits on the NYU board of trustees and is chairman emeritus of the Stern executive board.
Financial Assets
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison