The Way of Wealth

A path for building wealth from the self-made Jamaican-Canadian billionaire

What are the odds that a boy born into poverty on a small Caribbean island in the 1950s would rise to become one of the world’s few Black billionaires—standing alongside global icons like Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z and Rihanna? Against staggering odds, Michael Lee-Chin did exactly that.

In The Way of Wealth, Lee-Chin tells the extraordinary story of how discipline, patience and clear principles—not luck—shaped his ascent. Born in Jamaica, he arrived in Canada in 1970 to study civil engineering, only to pivot years later into financial advising. What followed was a bold bet on himself: he acquired a struggling mutual fund company for $200,000 and transformed it into a financial powerhouse managing more than $15 billion in assets at its peak. Today, his business empire includes financial services, insurance, tourism, agriculture, consumer goods and services, real estate development, energy and targeted radionuclide therapy.

At the heart of Lee-Chin’s journey is a simple, disciplined “recipe” he has followed for decades—one that guided every major decision and protected him through volatility, risk and uncertainty. In The Way of Wealth, he distills those hard-won lessons into clear, practical principles anyone can apply, regardless of background or starting point.

This is a book about more than money. It’s about conviction over impulse, patience over speculation and building real, meaningful wealth one deliberate decision at a time. No matter where you are today, The Way of Wealth offers a path forward and a reminder that prosperity is not inherited, it can be built.

The self-made Jamaican-Canadian billionaire shares how to build a more prosperous life

One of the most renowned businessmen and philanthropists both in Canada and abroad, Michael Lee-Chin was born in Jamaica. In 1970, he came to Canada to study civil engineering, but several years later switched careers to financial advising. He quickly built a mutual fund company that he had bought for $500,000 into a financial-services powerhouse with over $15 billion in assets under management. Decades later, Lee-Chin’s empire now spans industries that include banking, finance, communications and ground-breaking health research. Leading business schools around the world, including the Rotman School at the University of Toronto, use examples of Lee-Chin’s business acumen in their case studies.

Throughout his life, Michael Lee-Chin has stayed true to his disciplined approach to business and his “recipe” for success. In The Way of Wealth, he shares the experience and expertise on which his entire business empire is built. No matter where you are in life or how much money you have, by following his simple advice and inspiring lessons you can create your own wealth and lead a more prosperous and fulfilling life.