Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat has endeared himself to critics and movie fans alike for starring in films like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "A Better Tomorrow" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." He also made a fortune by becoming one of the most effective Asian actors in Hollywood.
Chow landed in the Top 24 of Forbes' highest paid Hollywood actors list in 2015 along with Australian superstar Russell Crowe. His fortune is estimated to be around $700 million.
But in a recent interview with Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation in South Korea, Chow declared that he would be donating his fortune to charity when he dies. The 63-year-old star revealed that his decision has the support of his wife, Jasmine Tan. They both agreed that they would give his wealth to the needy since money will be useless in the afterlife.
Last October, Tan shared in an interview with Oriental Daily that her husband pretty much lives a frugal lifestyle despite his fame. Chow has been holding on to the same Nokia mobile flip phone for the last 17 years and did not buy a replacement until the device finally conked.
Chow also takes public transportation when he gets around the city. Being in the subway doesn't bother him because people in Hong Kong don't generally care that there's a celebrity in their midst. He said 90 percent of the time; commuters are always staring down their mobile phones anyway.
The actor also enjoys eating at common food stalls more than fancy restaurants. He still lines up at movie houses to pay for the tickets even if his face is on the big screen.
Chow's hometown is deemed as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Hong Kong is also the city where the world's richest live, eclipsing even the rich people of New York.
But living in luxury was never the actor's style. He does not believe that if you have the money, then you must possess a lot of material goods. Chow shuns status symbols and chooses practicality and comfort. Most of all, he does spend a lot of time doing charity work when he's not working on a film project. Incidentally, Chow will be filming his next movie, "Cold War III," with Andy Lau and it's set for a 2019 release.
The actor's only child died during birth in 1991. He's been married to his wife since the 1980s.
