Summary of the Core Content
Xie Xian’s inheritance of HK$100 million did not come from a single source; it reflects the ups and downs of his life’s wealth. In his youth, he caught the golden age of Cantonese cinema and made a fortune. In middle age, he faced financial difficulties due to investment failures and high spending. In his later years, he was able to rebuild his wealth thanks to substantial gifts from his son Xie Tingfeng, and ultimately, he left his estate to his grandchildren. Behind this is not only the flow of money but also a story of three generations carrying the responsibility for their family.
1. Youth: Capturing the Golden Age of Cantonese Cinema
The 1950s and 1960s were the golden age of Hong Kong’s Cantonese cinema, and Xie Xian entered the industry at the right time. His acting fees were astonishingly high; his first film, “ downstairs闩 water喉,” paid him HK$150, which was enough for the whole family to eat for a month. By the 1960s, his fee had risen to HK$20,000 per film—higher than the average for top actors at the time. Shooting 10 films a year would have earned him HK$200,000—a sum that could have bought a property in Kowloon Tong at that time, equivalent to buying an entire floor of a building today, worth over HK$100 million.
He also founded his own company and directed several films, such as “Narrow Stair” and “Tomorrow’s Horizon,” rising from being filmed to becoming the one who directed. However, his wealth came and went quickly: he bought yachts and a fleet of luxury cars, and when immigrating, he sold his Rolls-Royce, discarding the remaining vehicles and yacht in Hong Kong without any regret.
2. Setbacks in Middle Age: Investment Failures and High Spending
After the 1970s, Cantonese cinema declined, and Xie Xian turned to making television dramas (such as “The King of Kings,” with a fee of HK$80,000 per episode). Unwilling to limit himself to being an actor, he ventured into business but faced significant setbacks:
- He lost HK$40 million running a bar in the Tsim Sha Tsui Beauty Bay mall by investing in imported beer machinery.
- He lost HK$10 million on real estate investments; for example, he spent HK$28 million on a luxury property on Hung Shan Peninsula in 1996 but could only sell it for HK$18 million during the tech bubble in 2000.
His investments in garment manufacturing and Vancouver real estate also failed. Coupled with his persistent high spending habits (such as hiring French designers to decorate his villa in Repulse Bay and importing luxury bathroom fixtures), his financial situation became very strained by the late 1990s. (Note: Rumors of gambling debts were false; Xie Xian denied them repeatedly; the problems were mainly due to poor investments and spending.)
3. Rebuilding His Wealth in Later Years with Son’s Help
After the new millennium, Xie Tingfeng became a superstar and began to generously support his father:
- On Father’s Day 2013, he gave him a Rolls-Royce (worth HK$647,000) and a custom license plate (HK$26,000).
- In 2017, he gifted him a luxury villa with sea views in Repulse Bay (worth HK$15 million), bought a mansion for his grandmother Deborah for HK$5.3 million, and an apartment for his sister Xie Tingting in Central.
Xie Xian also owned a unit in Repulse Bay worth HK$85 million, which was later transferred to his son, although the rent (HK$110,000 per month) still went to him.
Xie Xian remained the carefree “Fourth Brother,” selling the Rolls-Royce he received from his son to help pay off his girlfriend Coco’s debts, showing no concern for money, confident that his son would make up for it.
4. Leaving the Estate to Grandchildren: The Cycle of Responsibility Passed Down
Xie Xian’s will left most of his estate to his two sons (his grandchildren). This was not incidental:
- Xie Xian dropped out of school at 16 to support his mother and four younger siblings;
- Xie Tingfeng followed in his footsteps, dropping out of school at 16 to help ease his father’s financial burdens.
Leaving the estate to his grandchildren is like passing on the baton of family responsibility to the next generation.
Money here is not just a cold statistic; it symbolizes three generations supporting each other: Xie Xian supported his siblings, Xie Tingfeng supported his father, and now the wealth is passed to his grandchildren, completing a circle of love.
Conclusion: Xie Xian’s “Carefree Life”—a Mix of Luck and Choice
Xie Xian’s life included both glory (earning a fortune in his youth) and hardships (financial struggles due to investments), as well as moments of warmth (his son’s devotion). He was not a perfect person, but he lived with integrity: he earned money freely, spent it extravagantly, and was responsible for his family. Behind the HK$100 million inheritance lies the opportunities of his time, his own efforts, and the support from his son. More importantly, he maintained a proud and graceful attitude towards life—perhaps this is what truly defines being a “life winner.”