This was the largest donation in the orchestra's 180-year history. But it wasn't Tang Liuqian's largest philanthropic act. In 2021, he and his wife donated $125 million to help art museums weather financial difficulties, rebuild, and restore galleries and public spaces. Previously, they also donated $40 million to several universities and dozens of valuable paintings to museums.

Tang is the 21st generation descendant of the prominent Tang family of China.

Tang Liuqian and his wife, Xu Xinmei, an archaeologist 33 years his junior. He married her years after his first wife passed away from cancer. Photo: QQ

Tang Liuqian and his wife, Xu Xinmei, an archaeologist 33 years his junior. He married her years after his first wife passed away from cancer. Photo: QQ

The Tang family's roots trace back to the Ming Dynasty, with their ancestor, Tang Shunzhi, renowned as both a great writer and a talented general. Later, a branch of the family moved to Wuxi to establish their businesses.

By the late Qing Dynasty, they became one of the "four great families of Wuxi" with rice shops, flour mills, and textile factories. Tang Liuqian's grandfather built a textile empire. His father, known as the "king of Chinese textiles," established the Nanhai textile factory, the first textile company listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Born in 1938 in Shanghai, Tang grew up amidst the family's wealth. At the age of 10, he moved to the US and graduated from two prestigious universities, Yale and Harvard. Instead of following in the family's textile business, Tang entered the world of finance on Wall Street.

In 1970, he founded the investment firm Reich & Tang, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987, becoming the first publicly listed private money market fund in the US. Tang Liuqian earned the title "Father of the American Money Market Fund."

Not only skilled in finance, he turned his passion into business by acquiring the KOA campground chain, gradually building it into a leading brand in the US. Before the age of 40, he achieved financial freedom but didn't stop there, shifting his focus to art, education, and heritage preservation.

Prominent figures in the Tang family. Photo: QQ

Prominent figures in the Tang family. Photo: QQ

With his second wife, Xu Xinmei, an archaeologist, Tang took a major step in solidifying the Tang family's legacy. Over the past 30 years, he has donated more than $200 million to preservation and art initiatives. For the couple, "the true value of money lies in its ability to revive civilizations lost to the dust of time,".

In 1990, he co-founded the Committee of 100 with world-renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei (a 17th generation descendant of the Bei family), cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and other prominent figures of Chinese descent.

In her autobiography, Tang Liuqian's first mother-in-law, Yan Youyun, wife of diplomat Gu Weijun, praised her son-in-law.

"It is thanks to Tang Liuqian's hard work that my husband and I were able to live a comfortable and worry-free life," shared Yan, who lived to be 112.

Tang Liuqian and his wife, Xu Xinmei, remained close to his first mother-in-law, Yan Youyun. Photo: QQ

Tang Liuqian and his wife, Xu Xinmei, remained close to his first mother-in-law, Yan Youyun. Photo: QQ

Beyond their contributions to the arts, the couple are also actively involved in social welfare activities. In numerous media appearances, Tang has shared his belief that the duty of the wealthy is not only to make money, but also to pass on their wealth, preserve the family's honor, and share with the community.

"Wealth is not about the amount of money in your wallet, but how you use it to make the world a more vibrant place," he said.

Another impressive aspect of the Tang family is their tradition of elite education, maintained for centuries. Starting with Tang Liuqian's father, nearly every family member has graduated from top US universities, creating an "Ivy League family" phenomenon.

"The most valuable inheritance I received wasn't money, but a measure of values: humility, discipline, and compassion," Tang once said.

This philosophy is perhaps the key to the Tang family's enduring wealth and prosperity over 21 generations.

Bao Nhien (From QQ)