Lee's journey as a businessman began in 1965 when his father, Lee King Yek, first opened a Goodluck Store, a retail store, in Sorsogon. Garnering knowledge from his father, Lee grew his father's business into the LKY Group of Companies, serving as its chair, which has interests in the retail, food, real estate, and hospitality sectors. The LKY Group employs over 3,000 people in different provinces of the country.{{Cite web |title=About LKY While expanding the LKY Group of Companies, Lee also established the LKY Foundation, which provides medical assistance to children fighting leukemia and other terminal illnesses. The Foundation also rescues abandoned cats and dogs. During his time as a businessman, Lee was awarded the esteemed “Most Outstanding Sorsogueño Award in the field of Business and Industry” by the
Provincial Government of Sorsogon in 1997. In 2006, Lee was awarded Bicol's most prestigious “Halyao Award” for being voted the Bicolano Businessman of the Year by the
Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the
Provincial Government of Camarines Sur. In 2011, Lee was also named a Rokyaw Ibalnong Awardee for Business and Industry during the
Ibalong Festival.{{Cite web |title=WILBERT LEE OF SORSOGON IS ROKYAW IBALNONG AWARDEE == House of Representatives ==