Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee has cemented his position as South Korea’s richest business figure after a rally in semiconductor shares driven by artificial-intelligence demand pushed the combined market value of the Samsung family’s holdings above $73 billion
Market tracker FnGuide said on May 7 local time that the value of Mr. Lee’s holdings in listed Samsung affiliates had climbed to about $33.7 billion, nearly quadrupling from roughly $8.8 billion a year earlier
The sharp increase reflects soaring investor enthusiasm for AI-related semiconductor stocks, which has driven shares of Samsung Electronics and other Samsung affiliates to record highs.
Mr. Lee owns stakes in six Samsung companies, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung SDS and Samsung Electro-Mechanics.
Other members of the Samsung founding family also posted substantial gains.
Hong Ra-hee, widow of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, held listed shares valued at about $13.9 billion as of May 7 local time. Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin and Samsung Welfare Foundation Chair Lee Seo-hyun held stakes worth roughly $13.3 billion and $12.4 billion, respectively.
Combined, the four family members controlled listed holdings valued at more than $73 billion, nearly four times higher than a year earlier.
The gains coincided with Samsung Electronics surpassing a $1 trillion market capitalization milestone.
Samsung Electronics shares closed at a record high of about $191 on May 6 local time, lifting the company’s market value above $1 trillion and making it only the second Asian company after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to reach that level.
Shares of Samsung C&T also closed at an all-time high the same day.
Analysts said Mr. Lee’s wealth was further boosted by an additional stake in Samsung C&T transferred earlier this year from his mother, Ms. Hong.
Samsung C&T, which holds a major stake in Samsung Electronics, has benefited directly from the semiconductor giant’s rising valuation, reinforcing the group’s ownership structure as Samsung shares continue to rally.
