Hong Kong tycoon Cecil Chao’s shift: From $128M marriage offer to accepting daughter’s same-sex partner

On Sept. 23, Gigi shared a photo on social media, resting her head on her father’s shoulder, reflecting their close bond, , according to Singtao. In recent years, Cecil has reportedly come to accept Gigi’s same-sex relationship, marking a notable shift from his previous views.

St Headline reported that Cecil’s relationship with Gigi and her current partner, JW, has significantly improved. JW, Gigi’s former primary school classmate, is now considered part of the Chao family, and the couple openly shows affection at family events. Earlier this year, Gigi introduced JW to her father during Lunar New Year celebrations, and the three even posed for a rare photo together.

In 2012, Gigi secretly married her partner, Sean Eav, becoming Hong Kong’s first celebrity same-sex couple to publicly acknowledge their legal marriage. Initially, Cecil opposed the union, offering HKD500 million to find a husband for Gigi, later raising the offer to HKD1 billion, which drew over 20,000 suitors.

A week after her father increased the bounty, Gigi wrote an open letter expressing regret that he couldn’t understand her happiness with Sean, as reported by SCMP.

Born in 1936, Cecil Chao is a real estate tycoon and chairman of Cheuk Nang Holdings. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, he made headlines worldwide in 2012 with the HKD1 billion offer to find a suitor for Gigi.

Gigi Chao serves as executive vice-chairman of Cheuk Nang Holdings and is also active as a specialist flight lieutenant with the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps. She is an advocate for LGBTQ rights, campaigning for marriage equality in Hong Kong, and in 2008, she founded the Faith in Love Foundation, a charity supporting underprivileged children in the city.