Michael Lee-Chin is a Jamaican born Canadian who has been a financial wizard in acquiring wealth.
He came from a family of nine children whose parents worked hard to provide for the family.
While in high school, Lee-Chin worked his summers on a tourist cruise ship.
In 1970, he appealed for and received a special Jamaican scholarship to attend McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
After graduation, he returned briefly to work in Jamaica then moved to Toronto where he felt he could earn more income.
Lee-Chin gained employment with financial firms such as Investors Group and Regal Capital Planning.
Part of his self-learning was studying and applying the financial processes used by American billionaire Warren Buffet.
In 1983, he financed the purchase of Mackenzie Financial stock, a deal which brought him a return of over seven times his investment.
Using these profits Lee-Chin founded a business known as Portland Holdings and then purchased a mutual fund company known as the Advantage Investment Council and renamed it AIC Limited.
AIC was responsible for developing what was known as the Berkshire group of companies.
In about 11 years, the value of AIC went from less than a million dollars to over $10 million under Lee-Chin.
He continued to make financial investments and acquired shares or ownership in several prominent Jamaican companies including the National Commerce Bank and Radio Jamaica.
In addition, other Portland Holdings investments in real estate, communications, and banks brought its estimated wealth to around $12 billion.
He has received honorary degrees from several universities including McMaster University.
Lee-Chin, now a noted billionaire, has also developed a reputation as a philanthropist.
In 2002, Michael Lee-Chin was given the Harry Jerome Award for his contribution as an entrepreneur.
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