Evergrande Founder Hui Ka Yan: From Property Tycoon to Life in Prison

Hui Ka Yan rose from modest beginnings to become the billionaire founder of China Evergrande, once one of the country’s biggest property developers. His aggressive expansion helped build a vast business empire, but heavy borrowing eventually left the company unable to meet its obligations. Evergrande’s collapse triggered losses for homeowners, investors and creditors, turning Hui into a symbol of China’s property crisis. His life sentence marks a dramatic fall from influence and highlights Beijing’s determination to punish corporate misconduct and financial excess.