Editor’s Note
Giving is in—and not just becuse it’s Christmas. This year, a new generation of philanthropists from around Asia have made headlines by establishing charities, investing in innovative social enterprises, and donating sums so large they’d make a Rockefeller gasp.
One of these philanthropic leaders is this month’s cover star, Charles Chen Yidan, a selfmade billionaire who co-founded technology conglomerate Tencent with some school friends in the late 1990s. For the next fifteen years, Charles rode the waves of the internet boom— he created software used by millions, introduced gaming to Mainland China and turned Tencent from a Shenzhen-based startup into a global powerhouse that’s now valued at more than US$500 billion. Then, abruptly, he left it all behind. “I remember it very clearly,” recalls Charles in the cover story. “On May 24, 2013, shortly after I had stepped down from my role at Tencent, I wrote in my diary a wish to establish a prize that goes beyond religion, race and nationality and to encourage reflections on the universe and contributions to humanity.”
Charles’ wish is now reality. In 2016, he founded the Yidan Prize Foundation, which rewards individuals or organisations who are creating a better world through education. Every year, the Yidan Prize Foundation gives two awards, each of them worth HK$30 million. “Its focus is to put the spotlight on the best and the brightest the world has to offer, so that their groundbreaking work will become available to all and benefit many,” explains Charles, who discusses his plans for the prize on p.166.
While Charles is shaking up education, other philanthropists are dedicating their time and money to different causes. Hongkonger Nancy Lee is fighting to preserve some of the world’s last wildernesses by supporting the NGO African Parks, which is also backed by Prince Harry (p.176), and Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani are injecting new life into Bangladesh’s art scene with their biannual event, the Dhaka Art Summit. I visited the Samdanis at their home to discover how their personal passion for art morphed into a philanthropic mission, and to hear their plans to build a museum in the hilly, tea-growing region of Sylhet that will turn Bangladesh into a year-round destination for art lovers (p.180).
But this issue isn’t just about philanthropy—there’s plenty of fun, too. Amelia Windsor, 39th in line to the British throne, models the season’s most fashionable frocks (p.86), Tatler’s lifestyle editor Coco Marett takes a spin around the dance floor at New York’s legendary Café Carlyle (p.200) and our 20-page gift guide reveals what you should buy for your nearest and dearest (p.145). Whether you’re shopping for a food fanatic, dapper gent or makeup maven, look no further.