Chang Yun Chung

Chang was born on Kinmen Island on 27 August 1918. He had two brothers and three sisters. Education Chang attended primary school in Kinmen and high school in Xiamen, World War II When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, Chang fled to Singapore along with his mother and siblings to join his father who had moved there in 1935. In 1940, Chang moved to Malacca to do business with his uncle, who transported goods from Sumatra to Malacca. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, Chang hid in rubber plantations outside of Malacca. When he returned to Singapore, which was also occupied by Japan, in search of his father, he found out that his father had been killed by the Japanese after being caught by the Kempeitai. He then returned to Malacca with his mother and continued to do business with his uncle. He was caught by the Japanese in 1942 and 1944 as he had aided the anti-Japanese resistance in Malaya. In 1944, he was supposed to be executed by the Japanese, but was instead held captive until the surrender of Japan in 1945 as his mother had given all her possessions to the head of the Kempeitai to ensure his safety. Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, Chang returned to Singapore. == Career ==

In 1948, Chang joined Thye Hin Guan Brothers, a produce company in Singapore, where he worked as the general manager. Originally formed as a coastal operator, PIL operated a route from Jakarta to Bangkok with two used ships that Chang had bought. == Wealth ==

According to Forbes, Chang became a billionaire in 2014, with his net worth reaching as high as $2.7 billion in 2015. In March 2017, at age 98, Chang became the world's oldest living billionaire after the death of David Rockefeller. His net worth fell below $1 billion in 2020, with Forbes estimating his net worth as $875 million in August 2020 prior to his death. == Personal life ==

Chang had eight sons and six daughters. == References ==