From the West, the world knows many famous names, and in the entertainment industry, most of them live under the limelight of Hollywood.
In the East, legends also live, and some are even greater than others.
And one of those handful of world-class celebrities from the East, is the Hongkong screen legend Chow Yun-fat.
From his iconic roles in Hong Kong cinema, like God of Gamblers, A Better Tomorrow, and more, Chow also made his way to international success, with titles like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
With a net worth shy of $1 billion, Chow is not only famous, but also rich, even to 'Hollywood's rich standards'.
But unlike most world-class celebrities who spend their hard-earned fortune on real estates, luxury cars and other expensive things, all of which to support their lavish lifestyle, Chow isn't anything like that.
He lives modestly, and is frequently seen at eating food stalls and commute on public transportation.
Chow lives a life way below his means.
And this time, a passerby spotted the 66-year-old taking a photo with a fan.
"Isn't it easy to meet stars in Hongkong? You’ll run into them when you go out for a meal, or go hiking or take public transport, or even shop at the local markets, [here’s] the affable Fat Gor," wrote the fan, who also shared a number of pictures with the star, as well as a video of the encounter.
Netizens who saw the video left comments praising Chow for being nice and humble, seeing how he took the initiative to hold the camera for a selfie.
However, as Chow and the fan prepare to take a photo together, an auntie walks into the frame.
The woman literally photobombed it.
And instead of realizing what she just did, or even paying Chow an attention, the woman simply walks past him without casting a second glance.
Netizens find this amusing.
In an old interview, Chow Yun-fat said that he never turns down requests for photos from anyone, believing that it's the least he can do to thank his fans for their many years of support.
"Many people have never met me before, and yet, they continue to support me silently for over 30 years. Now, they only want to meet me for just three minutes, how can I even reject that?" he said.
Some even compared Chow to Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, who also live a modest life and frequently travel with public transportation.
Chow has vowed to donate his entire fortune to charity after he dies.
But rather than seeking publicity for the act of giving, Chow's modest lifestyle and public statements about wealth and happiness demonstrate his belief in using his resources for the greater good, rather than emphasizing the numbers he would like to donate.
His overall philosophy emphasizes the importance of contributing to society in meaningful ways, even if it's not immediately visible.
Chow has been married twice; first was in 1983 to Candice Yu, an actress from Asia Television. The marriage lasted only nine months. Then, in 1986, Chow married Singaporean Jasmine Tan, and the two had a stillborn daughter in 1991.
Chow has a goddaughter, Celine Ng, a former child model.
