Asian Godfathers is a book by Joe Studwell profiling the billionaire businessmen of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.  Studwell states that the term is meant to reflect the traditions of paternalism, male power, aloofness, and mystique that are part of the Asian tycoon story.  He also goes into humorous detail about the indispensable sidekick of every Asian Godfather: the "Chief Slave" or "Uber-Lackey."  These men are constantly at their master's beck and call, subject to public humiliation, and likely to be called up in the middle of the night on some frivolous matter.  They give their lives to their masters, but will never get handed the reigns of power as that privilege will always pass to the family heirs.

There are also stories of legendary stinginess, as when one tycoon en route to clinching a deal abroad decided to save a few pounds by making his investment banker and colleagues take the London underground to the airport instead of a taxi.

PROMINENT GODFATHERS

Li Ka-shing (Hong Kong) Born in 1928, Li was catapulted into the top rank of tycoons when he bought the former British trading house Hutchison Whampoa from Hongkong Bank. Li built on Hutchison’s dominant positions in the local port-handling and retail cartels, and acquired Hongkong Electric. He made a $15 billion profit when he sold his Orange mobile-phone business to Germany’s Mannesmann.

Lee Shau-kee (Hong Kong) Lee was born in 1928 in China’s Guangdong province, the son of a wealthy banker and gold trader. He was one of the founders of the Sun Hung Kai property empire. In 1976, he broke out on his own, establishing Henderson Land, of which he now holds 68%. He controls other real-estate companies, as well as Hong Kong’s main gas supplier and Miramar hotels.

Stanley Ho (Hong Kong) Casino magnate Stanley Ho is a great nephew of Hong Kong’s original Eurasian godfather, Sir Robert Ho Tung. Stanley made his first fortune during the second world war smuggling goods across the Chinese border from neutral Macau. In 1962 his consortium won the Macau gaming monopoly. Ho modernised and expanded the casino business and built a group encompassing hotels and sea and air transport. He has had four wives and fathered at least 17 children.

Thaksin Shinawatra (Thailand) A former policeman, Thaksin made a fortune out of mobile-phone, broadcasting and other telecommunications services. He went into national politics and was swept to power on a populist agenda in 2001. Ousted last year by a military coup, he now faces corruption charges. He announced last Friday he had bought Manchester City football club.

Robert Kuok Hock Nian (Malaysia) Kuok was born in 1923 in Johore and built up his business through commodity trading and import substitution deals. In the 1970s he became known as the “sugar king” but diversified into other commodities such as flour and palm oil, as well as shipping, property and financial services.

The Lims (Malaysia) Lim Goh Tong made money trading war-surplus equipment after the second world war. After independence in 1957, he obtained the only casino licence in Malaysia and built the vast Genting Highlands resort outside Kuala Lumpur. Other Lim interests include plantations, property and electricity generation. His son, Lim Kok Thay, now runs the family business and has used his gambling profits to expand into cruise lines.

Mohammad “Bob” Hasan (Indonesia) Hasan was the closest confidant of President Suharto and amassed huge logging concessions. When Indonesia banned the export of raw logs in 1981, Hasan diversified into shipping, property, banking and held many companies in tandem with Suharto family members.

The Tans (Philippines) Lucio Tan, a Chinese immigrant, was catapulted into the big time by President Ferdinand Marcos. He came to dominate the tobacco industry, was handed control of a major bank and was allowed to open Asia Brewery to compete with the San Miguel beer monopoly. Several younger brothers work with him. In 2000, he became the biggest shareholder in Philippine National Bank (PNB).

The Zobel de Ayalas (Philippines) This dynasty – the oldest in the Philippines – derived from the union of the Zobels and the Ayalas in the 19th century. Since the second world war, the Zobel de Ayalas have transformed their Makati hacienda into the financial district of Manila, and diversified into banking, hotels, telecommunications and manufacturing.