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Bobby Yip / Reuters
Gigi Chao, seen in the conference room of her office in Hong Kong Thursday, has received a flood of offers of dates and marriage from men.
HONG KONG -- The daughter of a flamboyant Hong Kong tycoon -- who has offered $65 million to any man who can woo her away from her lesbian partner -- said she's not upset with her father. Still, it's unlikely she will be accepting any of the marriage proposals flooding in.
Cecil Chao made world headlines this week when he offered the unusual marriage bounty after learning that his daughter, Gigi Chao, had eloped with her partner to France.
"I'm actually on very, very loving terms with my father. We speak on a daily basis. He just has a very interesting way of expressing his fatherly love," the 33-year-old told The Associated Press.
CNBC's Robert Frank has all the details on the story about Gigi Chao's father who is offering $65 million to any man able to marry her.
She said her father offered the reward because he was upset after learning she had "a church blessing in Paris" with her girlfriend of the past several years.
"What this whole episode really highlights is that perhaps still, the Chinese — or in fact the Hong Kong mentality — can perhaps tolerate the 'don't ask, don't tell' view of sexuality," she said. "But as a social statement, it's still very much a sensitive issue."
Hong Kong 'playboy tycoon' offers $65 million to find husband for lesbian daughter
Hong Kong decriminalized homosexuality in 1991, but it does not legally recognize same-sex marriage.
Cecil Chao is the chairman of Hong Kong property developer Cheuk Nang Holdings and has a reputation for being a playboy.
Kin Cheung / AP
Cecil Chao, chairman of Hong Kong property developer Cheuk Nang Holdings, pictured Friday, offered $65 million to any man who can woo her away from her lesbian partner.
He once claimed to have had 10,000 girlfriends but has never married.
He's also known for his love of Rolls-Royces and for being a qualified helicopter pilot, a skill he shares with Gigi Chao, one of his three children by three different women.
Cecil Chao said Friday in a separate interview with the AP that reports that his daughter had married were just rumors.
He added that he has received hundreds of offers from suitors since he made the offer and his daughter has probably had thousands.
"I was very surprised about the reaction from around the world," said the 76-year-old tycoon, sporting gold, mirrored sunglasses and a sport jacket over an unbuttoned polo shirt. "Thousands of people writing to say they want to be my in-laws."
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He said he's offering the money because he wants to make sure his daughter has a comfortable life in Hong Kong, which he believes will require a house worth $19 million. The rest of the money can be used for investments, he said.
"Living a comfortable life in Hong Kong, not super-luxury, takes HK$500 million ($65 million)," he said.
When asked whether she would accept an eligible suitor, Gigi Chao laughed off the question, saying, "We'll just worry about that when the time comes."
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Leave a Comment:
That is most unusual to offer money to someone to do one's daughter.
She should secretly marry a gay man and they can split the money. They would then be free to see who they want.
Devon-1941382 it probably has strings attached, you don't become a tycoon by being a fool.
How awkward must their family dinners be? Gigi and Lover and then dad talking about who is in contention. Or worse would be dad asking in front of Gigi's partner...what qualities would you like in a man...chemical castration please.
I'll marry your daughter. Then we can share her girlfiend.
I don't know why she is being so stuborn. She should marry a dude who don't mind her having a lover, all is happy, even dad.
Thepunisher - If she isn't into men at all then she wouldn't be happy. That's a stupid view to take. Money isn't going to magically make you sexually attracted to someone you aren't. We don't get to choose who we are attracted to, just whether we act on it.
He should turn her loose to fend for herself with nothing more than the clothes on her back, a hundred bucks and a bicycle. If she returns with a family someday, he should forgive all.
Why is this news?
Bob, I don't mean this to pick on you, but I see that kind of comment a lot on here. What, exactly, is news to you? What must a story have in order to meet your stringent criteria?
Because it is $65million.
65 million reasons why it is news bob.
don't you all love it when someone makes a comment about "why is this news?" or "who cares?!" after they took the time to read it and make a comment!
Since when do you have to live in a $19 million house to be comfortable? I live in a one-bedroom apartment and am comfortable. Happiness does not necessarily require wealth. It comes from within.
Since never.. But if you have 100 million dollars you're not going to live in an apartment. You do because you presumably don't have 100 million dollars. Its not a testament to one's inner happiness whether or not they live in a big or little house. You don't have to demonstrate you are happy within by living in a the smallest house you can find, nor does it mean youre really not happy on the inside if you live in a big house.
But he does think in order to be comfortable (not happy), a $19 million dollar house is REQUIRED. Well, that's just silly.
I had a friend that said that she didn't understand why someone would buy a $90k car. She said that her$20k car drove just as good. I asked her if she ever drove a $90k car. she said she had not. I let her drive my car. She could obviously see the difference. You my friend have never lived in a $19million house there is a difference.
After these news I'll never move to Hong Kong, I need to be comfortable, but i can't afford a $19 million home, damn prices.
Theres quite a few people, who drive cars worth 1 to 4k and say the same thing about 20k cars also lol..
it also depends where it is... in Vermont... you could have 19 mansions on a lake! in Manhattan you can have one penthouse!
If he is really interested in her happiness and is convinced that money is the key, he'd just give her the money rather than trying to buy her a husband.
The thing is, other cultures differ in their thinking than others. Not to mention that the man is like most parents in finding out that they have a child who prefers the same sex. He's in denial and hopes that it is just a phases his daughter is going through. To add to this, it doesn't help that this man is also influenced by money. His own lifestyle shows that he doesn't really understand the concept of a working and true relationship. He is a high rolling tycoon who has never been married, but slept with who knows how many women. It seems like his daughter has a better head on her shoulders than her father. But despite the very public way of going about this, at least the two of them have a decent relationship with each other.
Screw her happiness--he wants his daughter to have a husband so he can have some little grandkids. It's the American dream....err the Chinese dream I mean.
who says a lesbian can't have children?
Beer Mug, I'm sure she would have an easy enough time finding her way to a fertility clinic if she wants to have children but that isn't the dream for all women. Certainly not mine.
The father "once claimed to have 10,000 girlfriends but never married." Well, he certainly was a great father figure. No wonder his daughter isn't interested in men!
Could not agree more.
The best thing any Father can do for his children is love, honor, and respect their Mother.
While I agree that her dad's playboy reputation would probably eliminate his chances of being nominated for Father of the Year, I'm pretty darned sure that Ms. Chao's sexual orientation has nothing to do with dad's parenting skills (or lack thereof).
Well who knows whether her mother was worthy of respect. If he had money from the start she might have married him for that reason. Traditional morality tends to put women on a pedestal, but in my experience they tend to be just as stupid, selfish and short-sighted as men are. How many women marry or screw-around with a guy simply because he's tall/good-looking, has money, or acts like a macho alpha-male? Answer = most. Then they cry boo-hoo when he cheats. Well all the other women are compromising their standards in an attempt to screw the same guys, duh! So don't automatically assume her mom deserved anything other than what she got. Maybe she didn't or maybe she did.
Yeah, and only 3 children to show for, sad, really sad.
I'll do better than that. I will marry the father. All the 10,000 women in his life will fade away when I make love with him.
Will you marry him if he gives away all his material belongings and becomes a monk? lol
I'm confused..he's chineses, why didn't he drown her at birth?
You are confused. Hong Kong isn't China and Hong Kong doesn't have a one-child policy.
She looks pretty good. I bet dad gets plenty of offers.
eh..........a lot can be overlooked because of the money. With that much money a 3 or 4 can look like an 6 or 7.
A 3 or 4 could look like a 65 million.
Though, I would hardly call her a 3 or 4 based on the available picture.
Good for her. She accepts herself and lives her life openly and honestly, no matter what her father thinks. She also has a good relationship with him even though he would like things to be different. I'm happy for her!
It's easy to accept yourself and live your life honestly and openly when you have millions of dollars. It's also fairly easy if you have nothing.
It's the middle class that gets the shaft.
where do i enlist......millions
I'll do it for 50% off.
Poor old man just wants grandkids and the family name passed on. Can't blame him for that.
Lesbian couples have kids all the time, so that's not the problem.
Most likely his two other daughters will give him some anyways.
Sign me up. And, she can keep her girlfriend.
Why is this even news, who gives a damn!
its not news, its entertainment that draws people and makes money for sites. "sex sells".
Gary S-2352360
Why is this even news, who gives a damn!
hahahaha..........obviously you do.
I could do this, easy. I'm gangnam style!
Lesbianism is the natural order of things. If I was a woman I would be a lesbian also.
They can change that for you in Thailand.
for 65M I'd marry her dad, hell for 65M I'd marry Lindsey Lohan
65 million? That's it? Nah, not worth it. I wouldn't take 65 million for my own wife... All I need is another woman bitching at me because I didn't take out the trash and then minutes later crying her head off because she's angry that I refuse to answer a question if she looks fat in her new jeans because it's that time of them month.
And this guy wants me to woo a lesbian woman? Clearly those who are going after her don't know lesbians...
Dude, "do I look fat in these jeans?" is the easiest question a girl can ask a guy (hint the answer is "no, you look beautiful, honey"). Honestly, that's just us low balling it, if we really wanna get under a guys skin we ask "Why doesn't your mother like me?".
Oh, and for god sakes, take out the trash you lazy bum. :)
Well, if you still have to take out the trash with 65 mill in the bank. There's something seriously wrong.
Tell her father that I will put a wig on each day and eat her better than any women would,,,LOL Real men eat Chick fil lay, not dick fil lay and that's my Job skills for this job offer
Forget the dating and marriage, perverted people have one deviate agenda, Perverted Sex, period, they would marry dogs if they could..
Hey! Don't bring your own desires into the conversation. Who'd even think of marrying a dog except someone with that in the back of their mind?
I married a dog. She left me for a gorilla.
Tony, next time put the goggles down before you choose.
The father is a hetero who claims to have sex with over a thousand women and has three children by three different women and this woman who has had the same girlfriend for years is the pervert. It's unfortunate the way your mind works, Chuck.
BTW, if you think relationships are only about sex, you should see a good psychotherapist who can help you.
Where can I sign-up?
Marry her I would want to adopt her, I saw a video of her speaking about the incident, I loved her wisdom in one so young and her understanding and love for her father. That lady totally has it together, it's just sad that her dad is so proud to culture that he can't see in totality what a wonderful daughter he has raised.
Eh....adopt her. Like Woody Allen?
No that was disgusting but after listening her talk I was thinking that there's a daughter any father should be proud of. So she gives her love to a woman whats the big deal? It's not like we have a baby shortage.
Stand your ground girl. Stand your ground
She's not hard to look at. I'm surprised that her father would have to offer $1 for suitors.
Maybe he just wants her not to be confused about her sexuality.
Sounds like she isn't confused. She married the woman she loves just like I married the man I love. Love between two consenting adults isn't confusing at all.
Well, regardless of what we think, the dad obviously wants to make sure she is gay. I can't think of any other good reason he would put a price on her to be seduced by a man.
Maybe he just refuses to respect her and her decisions. I've seen plenty of parents who just refuse to accept their children as they are.
...or maybe it is just a game for him to see if he can persuade her to change her mind. He is an extremely wealthy man...these people are known to do the strangest things - one never knows.