Wang Yung-ching
Encyclopedia
Wang Yung-ching (18 January 1917 – 15 October 2008) was an influential entrepreneur who founded a large business empire in Taiwan
. According to the 2008 Forbes
survey, he was the 178th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of US$5.5 billion. He was born in Xindian Township in Taihoku Prefecture
(now New Taipei City) in then-Japan-ruled-Taiwan. Despite lacking any formal schooling beyond elementary school, he was ranked 2nd in the Forbes
list of Taiwan's Richest.
Wang served as the chairman of the board of Formosa Plastics Corporation
, one of the largest plastic manufacturers in the world, until June 2006, when he stepped down at the age of 89. He remained chairman of the boards of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Formosa Chemistry & Fibre Corporation, and Cyma Plywood & Lumber Co. Ltd, but indicated his intention to gradually resign from these positions to retire. He was chairman of Ming-chi Institute of Technology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University
. He had been a vocal supporter of the Three Links
between Taiwan
and Mainland China
.
He was married to Guo Yueh-lan and had 2 sons and 8 daughters. His eldest son from his second marriage with Liao Chiao, Winston Wang, founded Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing with Jiang Mianheng
, the son of former People's Republic of China president Jiang Zemin
in 2000. A daughter from his second marriage, Charlene Wang founded Taiwan-based First International Computer
, Inc. Another daughter, Cher Wang
, founded High Tech Computer
(HTC) and VIA Technologies
. Among the Wang siblings, Cher has come closest to rivaling her father's wealth.. In 2011, Forbes
estimated Cher Wang's personal fortune at $8.8 billion, making her the wealthiest individual in Taiwan.
YC Wang died in his sleep on October 15, 2008, at his home in Short Hills, New Jersey
. He was 91 years old.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. According to the 2008 Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
survey, he was the 178th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of US$5.5 billion. He was born in Xindian Township in Taihoku Prefecture
Taihoku Prefecture
Taihoku Prefecture was created in 1920 under Japanese rule, encompassing what is now New Taipei City, Taipei City, Keelung City and Yilan County. Its office, which is now occupied by the Control Yuan of the Republic of China, was in Taipei City...
(now New Taipei City) in then-Japan-ruled-Taiwan. Despite lacking any formal schooling beyond elementary school, he was ranked 2nd in the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
list of Taiwan's Richest.
Wang served as the chairman of the board of Formosa Plastics Corporation
Formosa Plastics
Formosa Plastics Corporation is a Taiwanese company based in Taiwan that primarily produces polyvinyl chloride resins and other intermediate plastic products. It is the corporation around which influential businessman Wang Yung-ching formed the Formosa Plastics Group, and it remains central to...
, one of the largest plastic manufacturers in the world, until June 2006, when he stepped down at the age of 89. He remained chairman of the boards of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Formosa Chemistry & Fibre Corporation, and Cyma Plywood & Lumber Co. Ltd, but indicated his intention to gradually resign from these positions to retire. He was chairman of Ming-chi Institute of Technology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University
Chang Gung University
Chang Gung University is a private university in Gueishan, Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.- History :The institution was established as the Chang Gung Medical College in April 1987. Engineering and management students have been accepted since 1993, when the name was changed to Chang Gung College of...
. He had been a vocal supporter of the Three Links
Three Links
The Three Links or Three Linkages was a "message of Compatriots in Taiwan" calling for the unification of mainland China and Taiwan. It was sent by the PRC National People's Congress in 1979....
between Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
.
He was married to Guo Yueh-lan and had 2 sons and 8 daughters. His eldest son from his second marriage with Liao Chiao, Winston Wang, founded Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing with Jiang Mianheng
Jiang Mianheng
Jiang Mianheng is the son of Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China. Jiang is one of the co-founders of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation , located in Shanghai. He holds a PhD in Electrical...
, the son of former People's Republic of China president Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
in 2000. A daughter from his second marriage, Charlene Wang founded Taiwan-based First International Computer
First International Computer
First International Computer, Inc. is a Taiwanese computer and components manufacturer, that designs and manufactures computer products and electronic components for other electronics equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company's products include motherboards, embedded computing systems,...
, Inc. Another daughter, Cher Wang
Cher Wang
Cher Wang is a Taiwanese entrepreneur. Wang is a co-founder and the chairperson of the HTC Corporation and VIA Technologies. Her father was Wang Yung-ching, who was one of the richest individuals in Taiwan...
, founded High Tech Computer
High Tech Computer
HTC Corporation , formerly High Tech Computer Corporation, is a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. The company initially made smartphones based mostly on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system software, but in 2009 it began to shift its core focus away from Windows Mobile devices to...
(HTC) and VIA Technologies
VIA Technologies
VIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. It is the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets...
. Among the Wang siblings, Cher has come closest to rivaling her father's wealth.. In 2011, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
estimated Cher Wang's personal fortune at $8.8 billion, making her the wealthiest individual in Taiwan.
YC Wang died in his sleep on October 15, 2008, at his home in Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills is an unincorporated area located within the township of Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. It is a popular commuter town for residents who work in New York City...
. He was 91 years old.