Peter Woo started his career with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York in 1972 after earning an MBA from Columbia University. He met his future wife, Bessie, daughter of shipping tycoon Y.K. Pao, in New York, and in 1975 he joined her family business in Hong Kong. The crown jewel: Woo-led Wharf, which runs landmark Hong Kong malls Harbor City and Times Square. Woo also holds stakes in Longfor Properties and Salvatore Ferragamo. Son Douglas, heir apparent, chairs Wheelock and Company, the holding company for Wharf. Peter has announced plans to step down as chairman at the Wharf in 2015. He was once a candidate for Hong Kong's top political job. One of his passions is skiing.