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David Lee

American businessman

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About David Lee

David Lee was a philanthropist and businessperson.

David SK Lee is an Asian American businessman, investor, automobile collector, and philanthropist. He serves as Chairman and CEO of the Hing Wa Lee Group, which includes Hing Wa Lee Jewelers, HWL Development & Real Estate Holdings, and Collectible Exotic Motors.

Early life and education Lee was born in Hong Kong. His father, Hing Wa Lee, founded a gemstone carving and jewelry business in 1965 that later became Hing Wa Lee Jewelers. In the early 1970s, his father assisted the Smithsonian Institution in the restoration of Chinese antique carvings. He subsequently obtained permanent residency in the United States and immigrated with his family. Lee later opened the Larchmont Jewelers, a jewelry store located in Larchmont Village. The property housing Larchmont Jewelers, originally constructed in 1923, received the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society's 2024 Landmark Award in recognition of its restoration and adaptive reuse.

He has served on advisory bodies connected to the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and has participated in guest lectures and mentorship initiatives. In 2006, Lee founded the CEO Club, a private peer advisory group for Chinese-speaking chief executives. The collection includes the five Ferrari flagship supercars, 288 GTO, F40, F50, Ferrari Enzo, and LaFerrari, in both red and yellow specifications, and a restored 1972 Ferrari Dino. In 2026, Lee acquired a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO for $38.5 million. It was built for British racing team owner John Coombs.

Film and entertainment activities In the 2020s, Lee became involved in short film production as an executive producer and actor. He was associated with the short film Night Shift, which received awards and nominations at the Los Angeles Film Awards, the Accolade Global Film Competition, the New York International Film Awards, the Indie X Film Festival, the Golden State Film Festival (2025), the Hollywood International Golden Age Festival, and the International Auto Film Festa in Tokyo (2025). Screenings included presentations at the TCL Chinese Theatre during the Beverly Hills Film Festival.

Lee is a member of the Widney Society at the University of Southern California (USC), contributing to scholarship and academic programs related to entrepreneurship.

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Who was David Lee?

American businessman

What was David Lee's occupation?

David Lee was a philanthropist and businessperson.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: David Lee

· Wikidata: Q140133776

· DBpedia: David Lee (businessman)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). David Lee. https://biography.guide/david-lee-philanthropist/

MLA: "David Lee." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/david-lee-philanthropist/.

Chicago: "David Lee." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/david-lee-philanthropist/.

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