Lin Shu-hong
Source of wealth: Petrochemicals
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The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Lin Shu-hong's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Lin Shu-hong 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, Lin Shu-hong 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
Lin Shu-hong could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 1.6 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 Lin Shu-hong 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
Lin Shu-hong could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 9.2 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Lin Shu-hong 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
Lin Shu-hong's fortune is equivalent to 37 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.
Lin Shu-hong could buy 9,975,053 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 Lin Shu-hong will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Lin Shu-hong was chairman of Chang Chun Group, one of Asia's largest petrochemical companies with plants in Taiwan, mainland China and Southeast Asia, until the end of 2013.
He cofounded the business in 1949 with classmates Tseng Shin-yi and M.K. Liao, with only $100. He's the only surviving member of the trio.
The name "Chang Chun" in Chinese loosely means "long spring," and reflects the wish among the three that their bonds would endure.
Financial Assets
Financial assets information not available.
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison