Samsung Billionaire Accused of Stealing Millions From Late Father's Trust
May 03, 2012
The chairman of the Samsung Group, Lee Kun-hee, comes in at number 106 on Forbes’ list of the world’s top billionaires, with a reported net worth of $8.3 billion, as of March. But did he acquire some of that fortune illegally from his late father’s trust? That’s what his brother and sister accuse him of in a recent lawsuit that is growing uglier by the day.
In February, Kun-hee’s older brother, Lee Maeng-hee, filed the suit in Seoul, South Korea. Now joined by two other family members, the lawsuit claims that when their father, Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull, died in 1987, he left millions of shares in Samsung Life Insurance (the world’s 14th largest insurance company) as well as preferred stock in Samsung Electronics and cash, in trust. Specifically, he placed the asset into the name of Samsung executives for the benefit of his family. Lee Kun-hee then wrongfully took the stock and cash and transferred it into his own name, rather than dividing it among the heirs as he was supposed to, according to the allegations.
The U.S. value of the stock is around $877 million. If Kun-hee loses, it could potentially cause him to lose his controlling interest in the Samsung Group, which controls dozens of companies, including Samsung Electronics.
If the allegations are true, why did this take 25 years to come to light? Maeng-hee says he’s been trying to find out what happened to the stock for 25 years. Events started to come to light in recent years because of a corporate whistleblower who used to be Samsung’s top attorney.
In 2007, the attorney brought to light that Kun-hee was evading taxes by holding stock and other assets in the name of other people. Mr. Lee was prosecuted, found guilty of tax evasion, and forced to step down as the Samsung Group chairman. But South Korea’s President later pardoned him, after he paid a large fine and transferred the stock to his own name. His three-year jail sentence was rescinded.
Prosecutors also tried to bring claims against Lee Kun-hee based on widespread abuses, including bribery and illegally trying to transfer controlling interest in Samsung to his son, again based on information from the whistleblower. They lacked sufficient evidence of the bribery charges and weren’t able to secure convictions on the rest.
Perhaps that is why Lee Kun-hee is so confident about winning this lawsuit. He vows to fight the suit to South Korea’s highest court, refusing to settle. Last week, he publicly ridiculed his older brother, saying he had been exiled from the family and was not permitted to look at him in the eyes. Lee Kun-hee told reporters when discussing his older brother, “How dare he say my first name?”
A recent New York Times article discussing the case reported that these types of family fights over large Korean conglomerates are common. Recent inheritance battles have affected Koren companies like Hyundai, Kumho and Doosan.
It’s a wonder that such rich and powerful businessmen wouldn’t do the proper planning to protect their heirs from court battles like these. Business succession planning shouldn’t be done through secret arrangements, but through the proper estate and corporate planning.
It’s a lesson for everyone, especially those who own businesses. Don’t wait until it’s too late to plan how your assets, including your ownership interest in any business you own, will pass onto the next generation. Choose those who will be in control after you’re gone carefully. Make sure that you document your planning the right way with an experienced estate planning attorney, and if necessary, a business succession attorney as well.
By Danielle and Andy Mayoras, co-authors of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, husband-and-wife legacy expert attorneys, and hosts of the national television special, Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune! For the latest celebrity and high-profile cases, with tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your clients, click here to subscribe to The Trial & Heirs Update. You can “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Google+.
For legal help in Michigan, visit Andy and Danielle's law firm's websites, The Center for Elder Law and The Center for Probate Litigation.