“Crazy Rich Asians” made its debut on the silver screen in 2018. Critics loved it, even landing a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes upon its release! (Although it dropped to 93% after a week. Still a really good rating, though!)
If you’ve seen the movie based on Kevin Kwan’s book of the same name, you’ll know that they weren’t joking about the “crazy rich” aspect of the film. Seriously, the outfits and locations look so extravagant, wei!
Although it’s hard to believe anyone could be that rich, did you know that the story is actually loosely based on a real family? They got any single grandsons, ah? Asking for a friend.
Well, according to Vulture, Crazy Rich Asians is inspired by Kevin Kwan’s own family. Like one of the protagonists, Nick Young (portrayed by Henry Golding in the movie), Kwan is also the product of three “crazy rich” families from Singapore – the Kwans, the Ohs, and the Hus.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Kwan revealed that he was born in Singapore but moved to the United States at the age of 12 to escape the scrutiny of Singaporean society.
Here are just some of the most interesting things about Kwan’s family;
1. Kwan’s family tree dates back to the year 946
Source: kevin kwan via town & country
As Kwan notes in his piece for Town & Country, that he is the descendant of an old establishment family from Singapore with roots that date back to year 946. We can’t even brain how long ago that was! Three digits, wei!
He writes,
“Three families intermarried: mine, the Kwans; my grandmother’s, the Ohs; and my grandfather’s, the Hus, which made for a sprawling clan that helps inspire the stories in my novels and what you see onscreen in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’.”
2. His great-grandfather founded OCBC Bank
Source: the straits times
Believe it or not, Kevin Kwan’s great-grandfather was actually the founding director of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC Bank), Singapore’s oldest bank.
Founded 92 years ago in 1932, OCBC was the product of three banks – Chinese Commercial Bank, Ho Hong Bank, and Oversea-Chinese Bank – merging together. It soon expanded over the next few decades, becoming one of Southeast Asia’s biggest banks.
3. Everyone in Kwan’s family is English-educated
Source: kevin kwan via town & country
During his grandparents’ time in the 1920s, Kwan said that everyone in his family, like most elite Chinese families, were English-educated and often emulated the British.
“As a child, I didn’t even realize I was Chinese. I was Singaporean, but my identity was wrapped up in the culture I was experiencing every day. For example, I didn’t know a word of Mandarin, and my parents didn’t either. I grew up with a posh English accent, and all my aunts sounded as if they came out of a Merchant Ivory movie. It’s a world that has all but disappeared.”
4. His great aunt and uncle lived in an estate that belonged to the Sultan of Johor
Source: kevin kwan via town & country
Kwan’s great aunt Margaret Kwan, and her husband, his great uncle Dr Hu Tsai Kuen, lived in one of Singapore’s grandest homes. The estate had previously belonged to the Sultan of Johor. He writes,
“There’s this idea that Asian people lived in these houses with lots of antiques and brocade, but when this house was built, in the 1920s, its furnishings reflected the height of fashion.”
5. Kwan’s great uncle helped invent Tiger Balm
Source: kevin kwan via town & country
If you think having your family be behind one big brand is insane, try two!
Tiger balm is a staple ointment in every Asian household, but did you know that one of its inventors was also part of Kevin Kwan’s family?
Some might know the story of its founders, brothers Aw Boon Haw (“Gentle Tiger”) and Aw Boon Par (“Gentle Leopard”), formulated an analgesic balm from their father’s recipes and in 1924, produced Tiger Balm (which was named after Boon Haw).
However, others might not know that Kwan’s great uncle, Tsai Kuen, was also part of the process, and helped invent the formula for Tiger Balm, too!
So, that’s just a mere glimpse into the luxurious life of Kevin Kwan’s family. It really is hard to imagine how different life must be for them!
Read Kevin Kwan’s full story about his family here!
Also read: Highly-Anticipated “Crazy Rich Asians” Scores 100% Rating on Rotten Tomatoes After Its Premiere
