Crazy Rich Asians in Real Life
Which family is the inspiration for the movie Crazy Rich Asians? The answer is, there are several real-life crazy-rich Asian families that became part of the film. And the great part is that I got to work with one of those wealthy families as a Personal Assistant and Lifestyle Manager. Read on to learn more.
My name is Brian Daniel, and for more than 20 years I have been a Personal Assistant, Lifestyle Manager, and Chief of Staff to celebrities, billionaires and royal families. I recently got to experience the extravagant lifestyle of the rich kids in Singapore, and I even have the pictures to prove it.
My name is Brian Daniel, and for more than 20 years I have been a Personal Assistant, Lifestyle Manager, and Chief of Staff to celebrities, billionaires and royal families. I recently got to experience the extravagant lifestyle of the rich kids in Singapore, and I even have the pictures to prove it.
Who are the real-life families from Crazy rich Asians?
There is a very detailed thread on Quora about it, but I will outline some highlights here:
This is a short list of the Singaporean socialite crowd (past and present) who were depicted in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. It's also worth noting that the "fictitious" characters in the movie had remarkably similar names to the real-life people they were portraying in the movie (the names had to be changed for legal reasons).
- Lien Ying Chao -- Overseas Union Bank, United Overseas Bank, and founder of Mandarin Hotels
- Li Ka Shing -- A shipping business tycoon from Hong Kong
- Russel Wong -- Famed photographer of celebrities, billionaires, and socialites
- Robert Kuok -- The "Sugar King"
- Khoo Teck Puat -- Billionaire banker and hotel titan
- Lee Kong Chian -- A business magnate ("The rubber and pineapple king")
- Tang Choon Keng -- The family owns the Tang's Department Store empire
This is a short list of the Singaporean socialite crowd (past and present) who were depicted in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. It's also worth noting that the "fictitious" characters in the movie had remarkably similar names to the real-life people they were portraying in the movie (the names had to be changed for legal reasons).
How is Kevin Kwan's book Crazy Rich Asians based on real life?
Author Kevin Kwan grew up in great wealth, so the real people who are the billionaires and socialites in Singapore were part of his circle. He came from a certain breed, so he was a Singaporean socialite himself. That's why the book is so personal.
When the rich people in Singapore were making headlines, Kwan was there living the reality with them. So, the advantage he had as a writer is that he was flying on the private jets and spending large sums of cash himself. In short, Crazy Rich Asians is the modern-day equivalent of The Great Gatsby (but in Singapore).
When the rich people in Singapore were making headlines, Kwan was there living the reality with them. So, the advantage he had as a writer is that he was flying on the private jets and spending large sums of cash himself. In short, Crazy Rich Asians is the modern-day equivalent of The Great Gatsby (but in Singapore).
Working for the real-life Crazy Rich Asians family
I'm not at liberty to say which of the above-mentioned families that I worked for, but I can say that it was a version of what was seen in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. We would often spend a lot of cash on shopping in Beverly Hills (Hermès bags, shoes, clothing, and 5-star dining).
I got to travel all over the world, and one of our stops was a billionaire capital in Europe (Marbella). The cost of the villas that we rented was extraordinary and it was like living in true imperial splendor.
I got to travel all over the world, and one of our stops was a billionaire capital in Europe (Marbella). The cost of the villas that we rented was extraordinary and it was like living in true imperial splendor.
What do the real-life Crazy Rich Asians spend money on?
It really depends because they each family has their own taste. For the division of the family that I worked for, I was taking care of four different family members, plus their extended family and some of their international Asian friends around the world.
For the high-net-worth rich kids that have a lot of extra time to play and travel, big dollars are spent on private jets, villa and house rentals, resort stays, designer bags, going to private couture shows, and buying the occasional Alaskan malamute.
For the high-net-worth rich kids that have a lot of extra time to play and travel, big dollars are spent on private jets, villa and house rentals, resort stays, designer bags, going to private couture shows, and buying the occasional Alaskan malamute.
How much of the Crazy Rich Asians movie is real life?
Well, if you're from one of the billionaire families in Singapore, then the movie accurately depicts the actual lives of the super-rich who live there -- regardless of your age.
If you have the means, you could easily spend $250,000 on a one-of-a-kind wedding dress that's made by Giambattista Valli. And, on that note, you could spend millions getting married at the Villa Lysis while you're at it.
If you have the means, you could easily spend $250,000 on a one-of-a-kind wedding dress that's made by Giambattista Valli. And, on that note, you could spend millions getting married at the Villa Lysis while you're at it.
Who are some of the "new money" Crazy Rich Asians?
Remember that the movie is not called "Crazy Rich Singaporeans." So, there are a lot of celebrities, billionaires and socialites on the scene in the Asian billionaire capitals of Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, and Seoul.
Some of the movers and shakers you might expect to see on the international scene include:
So, while the actress Constance Wu was playing the role of Rachel Chu in the movie Crazy Rich Asians, there is a small legion of new and old-school socialites in Singapore and other Asian capitals living it for real.
Some of the movers and shakers you might expect to see on the international scene include:
- Heart Evangelista
- Sisters Rachel Yeoh and Michelle Yeoh
- Feiping Chang
- Kane Lim
- Financier Lincoln Li
- Dorothy Wang
- Jamie Chua
- Arissa Cheo
So, while the actress Constance Wu was playing the role of Rachel Chu in the movie Crazy Rich Asians, there is a small legion of new and old-school socialites in Singapore and other Asian capitals living it for real.
Being a real-life crazy-rich Asian family is more than just haute couture shows
The super-rich people in Singapore are "renaissance" and cultured in so many ways. They summer in exotic locations, blow millions on a collection of rare jewels, spend the night on a private jet, and take advantage of the fact that they have an unlimited amount of cash to burn (even if their strict mother tries to get them to curb their spending).
The rest of us, of course, just have to watch on social media -- unless you become a personal assistant or lifestyle manager to one of the real-life crazy-rich Asian families like I did.
The rest of us, of course, just have to watch on social media -- unless you become a personal assistant or lifestyle manager to one of the real-life crazy-rich Asian families like I did.
Being rich kids in Singapore is like having your own fashion label
The socialites, influencers, celebrities and billionaires of Asia have great means and can live like modern-day kings and queens. The world is theirs for the taking. With an unlimited reservoir of funds, having famous fashion designers make made-to-order dresses and suits is standard operating procedure in the world of the super-rich.
Filed Under: life crazy rich Asians, Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians real family, billionaire shopping, China, Singapore, Taiwanese actor and influencer
