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Billionaire Profile
Shirley Kao
Global Rank
#2675

Image: RadioKAOS | CC BY-SA 3.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Shirley Kao

CEO, Food & beverage retailing
Tainan, Taiwan
Real-Time Net Worth
$1.49B
Estimated based on Food & beverage retailing stock value as of September 10, 2026
-0.51% (24h)
Age
69
Source
Food & beverage retailing
Industry
Food & Beverage
Citizenship
Taiwan

Biography

Shirley Kao, born in 1956, is a prominent Taiwanese businesswoman and heiress to the Uni-President Enterprises fortune, a leading food and beverage conglomerate co-founded by her father, Kao Chin-Yen, in 1967. With an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion as of 2024, Kao's wealth stems from her significant stake in the food and beverage industry. She serves as a board member at Uni-President and is responsible for the group's health and beauty-related subsidiaries. Her career has been marked by her role in ensuring the long-term, stable management of the company, building on the legacy of her father. Before Lo turned 60 and stepped down from the CEO post in 2016, he had more than doubled the company's market cap to over $10 billion.

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Data Updated
Sep 10, 2026
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Wealth Over Time

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2026$1.49B
2025$1.40B
2024$1.50B
2023$1.16B
2022$1.17B

Portfolio Holdings

Uni-President Enterprises Corp.

Uni-President Enterprises Corp.

1216.TW•food-beverage
Market Cap
$12.4B
Stock Price
$69.5
Tainan, Taiwan
10,000+ employees
Founded 1967

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Shirley Kao's life began in 1956, and she is a citizen of Taiwan. Her father, Kao Chin-Yen, co-founded Uni-President Enterprises in 1967. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Marymount California University. Kao's family maintains a notably low public profile, emphasizing privacy.

Rise to Success

Shirley Kao inherited her father's fortune after his death in 2016. She is a board member at Uni-President, and heads the group's health and beauty-related subsidiaries. Her husband, Alex Lo, was promoted to CEO of the group in 2007 and served as chairman after her father retired in 2013. Before Lo stepped down as CEO in 2016, he more than doubled the company's market cap to over $10 billion.

Key Business Strategies

Kao's structural role is centered on fiduciary stewardship of her inherited assets, ensuring the long-term, stable management of the Uni-President legacy. Uni-President's strategies for growth include online expansion through investments. Uni-President is also focused on expansion through new stores and acquisitions.

Philanthropy

Specific philanthropy amounts are not available in the search results.

Career Milestones

2013

Board Member, Uni-President

Became a board member of Uni-President Enterprises.

2016

Inherited Wealth

Inherited her father's fortune after his death.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Not available

Undisclosed

Philanthropic efforts not available in search results.

Billionaires Connected to Shirley Kao

Peers in Food & Beverage

All Food & Beverage billionaires →

Richest in Taiwan

All billionaires from Taiwan →

Adjacent Global Ranks

Full global ranking →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shirley Kao's net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Shirley Kao's estimated net worth is $1.494 billion, ranking #2675 among the world's billionaires. The estimate is based on publicly available shareholding data and market prices, updated daily.
How did Shirley Kao make their money?
Shirley Kao's wealth primarily comes from Food & beverage retailing, most notably through Food & beverage retailing.
Where is Shirley Kao from?
Shirley Kao is from Taiwan.
How old is Shirley Kao?
Shirley Kao is 69 years old.

Sources & References

  1. Shirley Kao — Forbes profile — Forbes