Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong's stock wealth topped 1.9 trillion won for the first time. It took just three trading days after surpassing 1.8 trillion won 11th.
According to the Korea CXO Institute on 16th, Lee's stock wealth totaled 1.90152 trillion won based on the closing price that day. The figure is the sum of the appraised value of shares he holds in Samsung Electronics common and preferred, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung SDS, Samsung E&A, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance.
The biggest driver of the surge in Lee's stock wealth is Samsung Electronics. As Samsung Electronics' share price rose 8.2% (6,000 won) from 73,400 won 11th to 79,400 won that day, the appraised value of Lee's equity over the same period also swelled by more than 580 billion won, from 715.02 billion won to 773.46 billion won. With foreign investors piling in, Samsung Electronics is setting fresh 1-year highs.
Samsung C&T also added momentum. The appraised value of Lee's equity in Samsung C&T increased by more than 318 billion won, from 631.86 billion won 11th to 663.71 billion won that day.
Factors lifting the stock include Samsung C&T's potential to serve as Samsung Group's holding company, its active push into nuclear power generation, and expectations that profitability in the construction institutional sector will rebound after bottoming out in the third quarter of this year (July–September).
If the share prices of Lee's holdings rise by only about 5% more, his stock wealth will exceed 2 trillion won. With Samsung Electronics' stock jumping on growing expectations that prices for commodity DRAM and NAND flash will rise, there is room to reach the mark quickly.
Oil-seon, head of the Korea CXO Institute, said, "Attention is on whether, if the pace of Lee's stock wealth gains continues at the current speed, it can be achieved before the Chuseok holidays."