Despite earning millions of dollars from his acting career, Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat said that he only spends $102 or P5,000 on his monthly expenses.
But what’s more impressive about Chow, whose notable works include “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”, is that he is planning to donate $714.6 million or P38.6 billion riches to various charities.
According to JayneStars.com, Chow is happy and content living a simple life, even though his estimated net worth is nearly worth a billion dollars.
He doesn’t drive luxury cars, or even an ordinary sedan, because he prefers to take public transportation.
Chow would also save up money by eating at local food stalls instead of dining in at fancy restaurants.
When it comes to his clothes, Chow would ditch luxury designer brands like Gucci, Hermes, or Louis Vuitton, and would settle to ordinary clothes, even the ones which are on sale.
“I don’t wear clothes for other people. As long as I think it’s comfortable, then it’s good enough for me,” he said.
While people would flock to electronic stores to buy the latest smartphones and gadgets, Chow used a first-generation Nokia phone for 17 years. He recently switched to a smartphone two years ago when his Nokia phone stopped working.
Being an actor, he is expected to take care of his physique. But he does not spend money on gym memberships or cosmetic procedures, and would only go hiking and jogging to keep himself in shape.
Jasmin Tan, Chow’s wife was the one who revealed that the actor is planning on donating his multi-million fortune to charity.
“The money’s not mine. I’m only keeping it safe for the time being,” he answered when asked why he decided to give away his money.
“My dream is to be a happy and normal person. The hardest thing in life is not about how much money you earn, but how to keep a peaceful mindset and live the rest of your life in a simple and carefree manner,” he said.
Before he was given his break in show business, Chow was raised in a farming community and has worked several odd jobs just to get by.
Photo credits: AFP/Dale de la Rey
