Born in Shaoguan, in Guangdong province, Pan grew up with his paternal grandmother until her death when he was 13. He moved to San Marino, California to live with his step- grandmother, but he spent most of his time cutting classes, and never learned much English, he said. So his family shipped him off at 18 to Hong Kong with $500,000 telling him to make something of his life. He did.

He began by trading Japanese electronics, then moved into manufacturing in Southern China, where he eventually commanded 90 percent of China’s karaoke monitor production through his Matsunichi Communication Holdings Ltd. In 2002 he listed the company in Hong Kong.

He changed the name to Goldin Properties Holdings Ltd. in 2008 after acquiring an 89-hectare (220-acre) parcel of land in Tianjin. On the site, he’s building a $10 billion project that includes a members-only polo club, a central business district anchored by a 117-story building, and luxury residences.

By last year, Pan had pretty much exhausted the billionaire’s bucket list: a 115 foot yacht; a private Gulfstream G550 that whisks him to homes in London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Tianjin; his own brokerage. None of these are owned by his listed companies.

Polo With Princes

He’s pals with the owners of France’s five first growth Bordeaux producers and he hobnobs with Princes William and Harry who play at a charity polo match he sponsors at England’s exclusive Beaufort Polo Club every June.

His thoroughbred, Akeed Mofeed earned HK$28.6 million ($3.7 million) before retiring last year and recently sired 60 mares (40 of them belonging to Pan), at his South Australia stud farm.

As for the rollercoaster ride of his companies’ shares, that’s a headache he said he could do without, even before this week’s sudden slump. Dealing himself another hand of cards, he said he still might take the company private so he doesn’t have to contend with pressure from minority shareholders.

“I am selling performance, not stock price,” he said.

And the wealth ranking? Well, that’s just paper.