Interesting Facts About Stephen Chow, Once a Famous Artist Now Retired from Acting and Faced Bankruptcy

Kapanlagi.com - The name Stephen Chow is certainly familiar to fans of Asian cinema, especially iconic and satirical Hong Kong comedies. From his heyday as a top actor with a string of legendary films, Stephen Chow's life journey has not always been smooth.

He once chose to step back from the acting world, faced financial pressures, and was reported to have gone bankrupt, before finally focusing behind the scenes as a director and producer. These interesting facts about him make the public take another look at the career journey of the legend only at KapanLagi.com!

1. The Title "King of Comedy" That Ended with Financial Tragedy

Stephen Chow, the Hong Kong comedy icon with the legendary title "King of Comedy", is now facing a sad irony in his life. After achieving great success with iconic films like Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, he transitioned from actor to director and producer. However, behind the fantastic financial success, there are serious financial problems that have befallen him. His situation has become a hot topic of conversation, turning the narrative from a comedy masterpiece to a bitter tale of debt that was exposed in 2020.

2. Early Retirement from Acting and Transition to Film Entrepreneurship

Since the film CJ7 (2008), Stephen Chow effectively ended his on-screen career to focus behind the scenes. This transition was not without results, as the films The Mermaid (2016) and Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons were huge successes. This confidence led him to take significant investment risks in 2016.

He guaranteed billion-dollar investment returns to his investors. Unfortunately, the dual role as a visionary director and entrepreneur with promises of high returns backfired when market conditions changed.

3. Failed to Fulfill Investment Profit Promises

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The root of Stephen Chow's debt problem lies in a deal made in 2016. He assured investors that they would earn substantial profits within four years from an investment of HK$1.33 billion in his company. For three years, the targets were met.

However, disaster struck in the fourth year (2020) when the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the film industry. His company failed to meet the promised profit targets, forcing Chow to take responsibility for buying back their devalued shares.

4. Staggering Debt Value and Public Bankruptcy Threat

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The total debt faced by Stephen Chow reached a staggering amount of around HK$270 million (over Rp511 billion at the time's exchange rate). This debt not only stemmed from unmet obligations to investors but was also exacerbated by a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Yu Man Fung, who was demanding a commission for selling luxury homes. This fantastic amount placed the film icon at risk of widely publicized bankruptcy, making headlines across various Asian media.

5. Forced to Pawn His House

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To cope with the mounting debt, Stephen Chow is reported to have taken drastic steps such as pawning his luxurious house located on the elite hilltop of The Peak, Hong Kong. This property is known to have a very high value.

Despite offers to sell the house for a fantastic price of HK$1.1 billion, Chow reportedly rejected them and chose to pawn it instead. This move reflects his efforts to retain property assets while seeking a way out of financial troubles.

6. Lawsuit Against Yu Man Fung

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Stephen Chow's financial problems became more complicated with a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Yu Man Fung, who is demanding a commission of HK$80 million (around Rp150 billion). Yu Man Fung claims that the commission is her right from the sale of a luxury house.

Stephen Chow defended himself in court that the promise of the commission was merely a goodwill gesture or a gift, not a binding legal obligation. This court case is not only draining his finances but also damaging his public image.

7. Innovation Entering Large Platform Partnerships

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Despite facing debt difficulties, Stephen Chow has not completely given up on the creative world. He is known to be exploring partnerships with large platforms such as Tencent Video China to produce films in an online format. This shift can be seen as a business adaptation strategy in the midst of a drastically changing film market post-pandemic. By focusing as a director and digital content creator, he strives to ensure that his creative legacy continues in the new era, regardless of his personal financial issues.

8. FAQ

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Why hasn't Stephen Chow made movies anymore?

Quoting Today Online, Stephen Chow has a debt of around 270 million Hong Kong dollars or equivalent to Rp700 billion. It turns out that Stephen Chow has been experiencing financial crises since 2012. Well, Stephen Chow has not starred in a movie for 12 years.

Who is the king of comedy in the world?

"King of Comedy" does not refer to one person, but Stephen Chow is often referred to as the "King of Asian Comedy" because of his globally recognized films like Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, while Jerry Lewis is dubbed the "King of Comedy" in the West for his 20th-century comedy, but Stephen Chow is the most prominent global comedy figure from Asia widely known as the "King of Comedy"

How rich is Stephen Chow?

Hong Kong comedy icon, Stephen Chow, 61 years old, is reported to have a net worth of at least S$251 million. A recent Weibo post claimed that Chow, who has no partner or children, has prepared a will to distribute his wealth, with Cecilia Cheung and Xu Jiao as some of the beneficiaries of his inheritance.

(kpl/chn)