Crazy Rich Asians / Characters

These are characters that appear in the Crazy Rich Asians novels and its film adaptation.

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Rachel's family

Rachel Chu

Professor Rachel Chu

Played By: Constance Wu

A Chinese-American economics professor at NYU who is invited to meet her boyfriend Nick's family in the first book.

Affluent Ascetic: Even after she marries Nick, she balks at spending too much of his money, and her taste in fashion and jewelry remains Simple, yet Opulent. She does admit to enjoying being pampered by the family's maids, but always with a twinge of guilt and a determination to be Nice to the Waiter.
Beauty Equals Goodness: She's good looking, level-headed, diplomatic, humble, educated, and The Hero of the novels.
Beware the Nice Ones: She is a very diplomatic, pleasant, and forgiving woman but the behaviors of some of the wealthy (i.e. Eleanor Young, Colette Bing to name) have pushed her to tell them off for their lack of character and regard for others.
Decoy Protagonist: While she is very much at the center of Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, she is completely peripheral in Rich People Problems, which focuses on Nick and his relatives.
Disappeared Dad: Rachel has never known her father and her mother told her that he died before she was born. This turns out not to be the case.
Fish out of Water: Middle-class Rachel is out of place with the Singaporean upper class.
Heroic Bastard: She's born out of an affair her mother Kerry had with a friend named Kao Wei.
Hero with Bad Publicity: The entire family except for Astrid thinks she is a Gold Digger.
Meaningful Rename: Learns at the end of the first book that her name at birth was Zhou An Mei, but Kerry changed both their names so her abusive husband's family couldn't track them down in America. ^note.
Mistaken Nationality: Poor intelligence led Eleanor to believe she was from "the Taipei Plastics Chus." It turns out she was born in mainland China.
Not with Them for the Money: She didn't know about Nick's wealth when they got together, and it doesn't make him more appealing when she finds out—quite the opposite, in fact, given how put off she is by much of his Singapore circle.
Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: She's the poor suitor to all of Nick's old flames since she's not particularly wealthy and doesn't have great connections.
Suddenly Suitable Suitor: Downplayed in the books. Nick's "crazy rich" Old Money Singaporean family dislikes her for being a middle-class American. In China Rich Girlfriend, Eleanor reveals Rachel's biological father's identity...Chinese billionaire, Bao Gaoliang. Eleanor admits that this does soften the blow of Rachel marrying Nick, but Nick and Rachel were going to marry anyway.

Kerry Chu

Played By: Tan Kheng Hua

Rachel's mother, who raised her as a single parent.

Absurdly Youthful Mother: She had Rachel when she was about 19 years old and when Bao Gaoling a.k.a. Kao Wei sees her again, he remarks she is still as beautiful as she was when they were young.
Domestic Abuse: On the receiving end from her ex-husband Zhou Fang Min.
Good Parents: To Rachel, her worst trait being slightly naggy about Rachel giving her a grandchild, but she has encouraged Rachel's pursuits and left China with Rachel for her infant daughter's safety.
Mama Bear: A big part of her backstory is that Kerry left her abusive husband's family when a servant disclosed about the in-law's planning to pour acid in one of Rachel's eyes so that Kerry can have a second child due to the loophole in the one child policy allowing another child if the first born was disabled, Kerry with the help of Kao Wei and her family, leaves China with Rachel.
Odd Friendship: Surprisingly develops a good relationship with Eleanor Young, despite how different they are in background and personality. It helps that they both want grandkids and that due to her job Kerry is able to give Eleanor sound advice on real estate market investment.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Left China for America when her husband's parents tried to pour acid in Rachel's eye.
Self-Made Man: Made a respectable career out of real estate to support herself and Rachel, and managed to put Rachel through Stanford.
Sympathetic Adulterer: Cheated on her husband Zhou Fang Min, who abused her. Her affair with her friend Kao Wei resulted in Rachel's conception.

Bao Gaoliang

Bao Gaoliang, formerly Kao Wei

A Chinese politician and pharmaceutical billionaire.

Absurdly Youthful Father: He sired Rachel when he was 17.
Disappeared Dad: For Rachel. He had no idea that Rachel was his daughter and Kerry did not dare contact him in case Zhou Fang Min found out and killed him.
Luke, I Am Your Father: He is Rachel's father.
Walking Spoiler: Rachel's father was thought to be dead. This is not the case.

Bao Shaoyen

Gaoliang's wife, Carlton's mother, and Rachel's stepmother.

Affair? Blame the Bastard: Even though it happened long before she and Gaoliang were married, she can't deal with the fact that he had an illegitimate child and refuses to accept Rachel into her home. She gets over it, though.
Affluent Ascetic: Prefers flying coach to first class, which surprises Eddie.
Red Herring: Her hostility towards Rachel makes her a prime suspect for Rachel's poisoning. The real culprit turns out to be Colette's assistant.
Secret-Keeper: Will stop at nothing to safeguard Gaoliang and Carlton's career prospects, which is why she tries so desperately to cover up Rachel's existence and Carlton's car crash.
Simple, yet Opulent: Her clothes are expensive but subdued.

Carlton Bao

Gaoliang and Shaoyen's son and Rachel's half-brother.

Accidental Murder: Accidentally killed one of his passengers in a car crash and the other is left paralyzed.
Cool Car: Makes a living by importing cool cars and selling them to his friends.
Drives Like Crazy: Likes to race cars down busy streets, which results in at least one fatality.
Idle Rich: His father is concerned about him not working and ever being competent enough to run the company, but he sells imported luxury sports cars on the side to his friends.
Long-Lost Relative: He's Rachel's half-brother.
Strong Family Resemblance: Bao Shaoyen brings a photo of him while she's in London so the doctors will know what he looks like for plastic surgery, and this kicks off Rachel's plot because Eleanor sees that he closely resembles her (Rachel).

Nick's immediate family

Nicholas Young

Professor Nicholas "Nick" Young

Played By: Henry Golding

A Singaporean history professor at NYU and Rachel's boyfriend at the beginning of the first book.

Affectionate Nickname: Close family members call him Nicky.
Didn't Think This Through: He didn't think to tell Rachel about how wealthy and snobbish his family is, which causes a few problems.
For Happiness: He doesn't let his high-class background define him as a person, and only cares about being together with the one who makes him the happiest.
Happily Married: Despite the difficulties posed by his family, he adores Rachel and would do anything for her.
Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Colin Khoo.
I Am Very British: He has a posh British accent because he grew up studying in fancy British schools.
Lost Food Grievance: In Rich People Problems, his frustration with Singapore's changing values comes to a head when he discovers that his favorite noodle place is becoming a designer boutique. This gives him the determination he needs to save Tyersall Park from being sold.
Nice to the Waiter: Close with all the servants at Tyersall Park and never takes unfair advantage of his position over them.
Obsessed with Food: His first priority when he and Rachel arrive in Singapore is figuring out which classic local dish to introduce to her first.
Only Sane Man: Living away from his family and their environment has made him a lot more down to earth than most of them.
Raised by Grandparents: His grandmother did most of the job raising him.
Rejecting the Inheritance: Willing to give up whatever his grandmother planned to leave to him, including Tyersall Park, as long as he can be with Rachel. Ultimately he doesn't have to.
Secretly Wealthy: The Young family is very secretive about their wealth, and Nick is no exception. One reason is that he wanted to form genuine attachments to people without having hangers-on who were only interested in his money.
Sharp-Dressed Man: His clothes often come from more expensive brands than he lets on, but he looks completely comfortable and natural no matter what he wears.
Three-Way Sex: With Amanda and Francesca when they were all sixteen years old.
Uptown Girl: A male version since his family is very wealthy and connected and Rachel is not.

Eleanor Young

Eleanor Young, née Sung

Played By: Michelle Yeoh

Philip's wife and Nick's mother.

Adaptational Personality Change: In the books, she's overprotective and prone to outbursts, and she mostly uses her regular Bible study sessions as a chance to gossip. In the film, she's still overprotective but more of a Proper Lady in terms of demeanor, and she takes Bible study much more seriously. Also, in the book she disapproved of Nick and Rachels marriage due to wanting him to marry into the family of one of her rich friends. In the film she tells Rachel that her reasons are because she assumed she would be selfish (for being an American).
Ape Shall Never Kill Ape: In the film, she admits to Rachel that her reasons for sabotaging Nick and Rachels relationship is because she's a foreigner (she in particular thinks that Americans are selfish) and she believes in "Ka gi lan" (our own kind of people).
- Elanor: And you’re not our own kind.
Big Entrance: In the second book, she shows up at Nick and Rachel's wedding in a helicopter to tell them that she approves of the match.
The Heavy: The most active antagonistic force in Rachel and Nick's relationship throughout the first book and film.
Helicopter Parents: Very controlling of who Nick marries, though she says it's for his own good.
Housewife: In the movie, she studied law at Cambridge but never practiced as a lawyer because she "chose to raise a family"—something she not-too-subtly implies will be expected of Rachel.
Hypocrite: She tried to sabotage Nick and Rachels relationship due to her not coming from a rich family despite her also not coming from a rich family and receiving criticism from her own mother and law for it. Subverted int he second book when she says that her reasons for trying to break them up was so that Rachel WOULDNT go through what she went through.
I Want Grandkids: After Nick and Rachel marry, she starts (with the help of Rachel's mother) nagging for grandkids. This is taken to an extreme in Rich People Problems when she and her friends try to trick Rachel into an OB/GYN exam to make sure there aren't fertility issues.
Mirror Character: Like Rachel, she was of a lower class than the Youngs and had to struggle with not being accepted by her potential mother-in-law.
Parental Marriage Veto: Puts her foot down about Rachel and Nick's relationship because she considers Rachel beneath them and assumes that Rachel has been lying about her father. Subverted in the second book when she learns who Rachel's father is.
Odd Friendship: By the end of book two, she and Kerry Chu get along quite well, due to both wanting grandkids and Kerry having very insightful advice on the real estate market.
Shipper with an Agenda: Pushes Amanda Ling and Francesca Shaw into trying to regain Nick's affections so Rachel won't have him. Although she is pushing more for Amanda Ling (rightfully so as Amanda is slightly nicer and Francesca turns out to be a terrible Gold Digger who's willing to have her grandpa taken off life support when he wakes up again and starts cutting back on money).
Villain Has a Point: As harsh as she is toward Rachel, she does have a fundamentally sound point that marriage is more than about love. Rachel seems to accept this by being willing to break up with Nick rather than force him to choose between him and his mother.
Villain Protagonist: The first book has several chapters of her trying to find dirt on Rachel. Other than that, most of the books reveal she is a pretty snobbish, shallow, judgmental, and materialistic character who considers the hurt feelings and betrayals of others as collateral damage.

Philip Young

Nick's father and Shang Su Yi's only son. Married to Eleanor Sung.

Adapted Out: Omitted from the film entirely. It isn't too much of a stretch because he wasn't much of a presence in the novel anyways.
Composite Character: In the film, he buys the Calthorpe hotel instead of Harry Leong.
The Ghost: In the film.
I Just Want to Be Normal: Has zero interest in his family's wealth and the social problems that come with it, instead preferring a simple life of fishing and pubs in Sydney.
Must Have Caffeine: Do not stand between him and his flat white.
Nice Guy: Very much different from his wife.
Only Sane Man: Throughout the first book, he tries his hardest to curb Eleanor and her friends' crazed prejudices over Rachel. It doesn't work.
Parents as People: He's more level-headed and open-minded than his wife but a flashback in Rich People Problems reveals that he and Eleanor had a massive argument after a family friend and her husband confronted them angrily (alluding to possible infidelities) that scared Nick enough to run away to Colin's grandmother's house where she kept him until Su Yi sent for him.
Related in the Adaptation: In the books, he enjoys a simple life in Australia away from family drama. In the film, he's stated to still be working for the family in an unknown job overseas.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Left Singapore for Australia because he didn't want to be caught up in the family squabbles. When he receives 30% of the shares in Tyersall Park after Su Yi dies, he gives them all to Nick (who was probably going to get them anyways) because he doesn't really care for the place, but he knows Nick does.

Shang Su Yi

Played By: Lisa Lu

Wife of Sir James Young and mother of Felicity, Catherine, Philip, Victoria and Alexandra Young. Has a brother named Alfred.

Affectionate Nickname: Referred to as "Ah Ma" by the grandchildren.
Delayed Family Acceptance: Shortly before her death, she gives Nick a very special pair of pearl earrings to give to Rachel, indicating that she has finally accepted their marriage.
Doting Grandparent: On Nick and Astrid especially. She can come down hard on them if they displease her, but ultimately she adores them above all her other grandchildren and places great trust in them in her final days.
Grande Dame: She is the owner and chatelaine of Tyersall Park and rules over her family with a silk-covered iron fist.
Hero of Another Story: She helped hide British soldiers from the Japanese Army during World War II.
Last Words: In the final seconds before her death, she sees the ghost of her husband and lovingly calls out to him.
(to Catherine) Be a good girl, give up your chair for him.... James!
Nice to the Waiter: Leaves large sums of cash to all her servants. She's especially fond of her head housekeeper, Ah Ling, and even offers her use of one of the upstairs bedrooms at Tyersall Park.
Parental Favoritism:
- As revealed by her daughter Victoria in the third book, due to Philip being her only son, she spoiled him with everything, while her daughters were basically given a hard time for everything.
- Of all Su Yi's grandchildren-in-law, Fiona is the clear favorite, largely since the Youngs and the Tungs go back generations.
Patriotic Fervor: For Asia generally. She signals pride in China's rise as a global superpower, and she disapproves of the influence the West has had over several family members, including Nick and Philip.
Pet the Dog: At her will reading, she wills her Malaysian estate to her grandson Alexander Leong, even noting that it's a shame she didn't get to see his children and wife and uses it as a jab against her daughter and son-in-law for disowning him.
Plot-Triggering Death: Shang Su Yi's impending death and the subsequent scramble to save Tyersall Park forms the main crux of the third book's plot.
Think Nothing of It: When she accompanies Astrid to Colin and Araminta's wedding after Astrid and Michael have an argument, even though she usually never leaves her home for special events and expects other people to visit her instead.
Astrid: Xiexie ni, Ah Ma. (Thank you, Ah Ma.)
Su Yi: Yijia ren bu yong shuo xie, a. (Family never says thank you.)

Sir James Young

Shang Su Yi's deceased husband, a neurologist.

Drink-Based Characterization: A proper and wealthy Singaporean patriarch. While the family suspects he felt somewhat guilty about living in the luxury of Tyersall Park, he did insist on "a proper afternoon tea with all the trimmings" every day, leading to the lavish tea service that Rachel and Nick enjoy.
Hero of Another Story: Saved many lives during the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II, including Dr. Gu.
Parental Substitute: To Su Yi's daughter Catherine, who he raised as his own child.
Posthumous Character: Sir James has been dead for an unknown amount of time before the story began.
Sharp-Dressed Man: Photographs at Tyersall Park showcase James's classically masculine style. Eddie believes he's the only one of his grandsons to have taken after him in this respect, although the book makes it clear that Nick emulates it much better.
Understanding Boyfriend: Er, husband. According to Nick, he was aware of how saintly his grandfather was, but amazed when he finds out that Sir James accepted Su Yi back with open arms despite carrying another man's baby and even doted on Catherine like she was his own child.

Nick's extended family

Catherine Young and the Aakaras

Catherine "Cat" Aakara, née Young

Nick's aunt, Shang Su Yi's second daughter and second-oldest child. Married to Mom Chao Taksin Aakara. Mother of James, Matthew, and Adam Aakara.

Comfort the Dying: Catherine is the only person in the room with Su Yi when she takes her last breath.
Family Relationship Switcheroo: Nick is the first character to discover that Catherine is actually the daughter of Thai Prince Jirasit Sirisindhu, with whom Su Yi had an extramarital affair. This is probably why Catherine inherits Su Yi's estate in Thailand.
Modest Royalty: The family travels on Thai Airways to see Su Yi before her death, instead of flying privately as they once did, and Taksin has started wearing an Apple Watch. This makes Eddie wonder if they've started having money problems.
Only Sane Man: Among the Young sisters. She's clearly more pleasant and down-to-earth than any of them.
Parental Favoritism: Catherine is plainly the favorite among Su Yi's four daughters.
Royals Who Actually Do Something: Adam runs a couple of restaurants and a food truck business. His wife, Mom Rajawongse Piyarasmi Apitchatpongse, despite being even higher in rank than the Aakaras, is a virologist with the World Health Organization.

Victoria Young

Nick's aunt, Shang Su Yi's third daughter and second-youngest child.

Foreign Culture Fetish: Loves everything British and can't wait to buy a townhouse in London after Su Yi dies.
Holier Than Thou: The most devoutly Christian of the Young sisters, as she never fails to remind everyone. She even attempts a deathbed conversion for Su Yi, who's having none of it.
Maiden Aunt: The only one of Su Yi's children never to marry.
The Resenter: Of Philip. Her childhood memories show that Su Yi was much more indulgent with her only son than with any of her four daughters.

Oliver T'sien

Played By: Nico Santos

A second cousin of Nick's, a descendant of Su Yi's sister-in-law Rosemary.

Adaptational Job Change: In the books, Oliver works for Christie's as their top Asian art and antiquities expert. In the movie, he appears to have been merged with distant Young family relation Lincoln Tay, who runs a luxury concierge service, from Rich People Problems.
Almighty Janitor: Oliver's a self-proclaimed poor relation to the Youngs, but he can procure anything they want from golden koi fish to Huanghuali furniture to a rare Cambodian gong. He also does the dirty work on splitting up Alistair and Kitty and throwing the latter at Bernard Tai.
Camp Gay: Describes himself in the film as the "rainbow sheep" of the family.
Cool Teacher: To Kitty, in the books. He becomes her chief social advisor after she dispenses with Corinna Ko-Tung.
Earn Your Happy Ending: At the end of the series, Oliver has overcome near-poverty (by crazy rich Asian standards) and is now rolling in cash, having become an in-demand interior designer whose clients include Middle Eastern royalty.
Gossipy Hens: Entertains Rachel at Colin and Araminta's wedding by making snarky comments about the arriving guests.
Impoverished Patrician: We learn in the third book that his family is horribly indebted and has been forced to hock some of their heirlooms for cash. He manages to turn things around by the end.
Makeover Fairy: Assembles an army of stylists to prepare Rachel for Colin and Araminta's wedding.
Mr. Exposition: He's got a lot of dirt on the family, which makes him useful for explaining the family relations to Rachel.
Near Victory Fanfare: In Rich People Problems, once the Bings agree to buy Tyersall Park, which would supply Oliver with the huge commission he needs to enrich his family again, he puts on a recording of "Nessun Dorma" and loudly sings along with it.
Oh, Crap!: His family has had to sell a very special brooch and replace it with a replica, which his mother wears to Su Yi's funeral. It manages to fool his aunt Nancy until Colette, who bought the real brooch, shows up wearing it moments later, invoking this reaction.

Alfred Shang

Su Yi's younger brother and chief custodian of the Shang Loong Ma Trust, which controls all of the family's business interests.

Big Fancy House: Harlinscourt, his estate in England.
The Dreaded: The absolute last member of the family that anyone would dare piss off.
Due to the Dead: He and Su Yi have an annual tradition of cleaning their parents' gravestones with toothbrushes.
Heir Club for Men: His and Su Yi's father, Shang Loong Ma, adhered to the Asian tradition of male-only inheritance. That's why Alfred controls the trust that was established in his name.
The Man Behind the Woman: Only at her will reading do Su Yi's children find out that she was never in control of the family fortune, as many people believed, but Alfred was.
Sympathetic Adulterer: His grown daughter, Cassandra, is remarkably casual about his string of mistresses. That his wife, Mabel, is renowned for her botched plastic surgeries may have something to do with this.
Who You Gonna Call?: Type 3. Few things are beyond the family's reach, but when all that stands between them and something they need is a well-placed phone call, they'll usually rely on Alfred to make it.

Astrid's family

Astrid Leong

Astrid Teo, nee Leong

Played By: Gemma Chan

Felicity and Harry's only daughter. Married to Michael Teo, with whom she has a son named Cassian.

Adaptational Intelligence: She's by no means stupid, but in the book she flunked all of her A-levels and never bothered with college, while in the movie she "graduated top of her class at Oxford."
Awesome Moment of Crowning: Played with. At the beginning of the film, she buys a $1.2 million pair of earrings that previously belonged to a self-anointed Burmese queen, then hides them from Michael, who is insecure about how much she is able to spend without blinking an eye. After Astrid leaves Michael, she puts on the earrings and calmly strides out of their apartment, newly anointing herself as queen of her own life.
Cool Big Sis: She is very close with her brother Alexander and enthusiastically embraces his Malaysian wife Salimah, which their parents did not.
The Fashionista: Her style includes haute couture, fast fashion, something vintage, something avant-garde, or something ultracasual, as long as it suits her—and it always does.
Friend to All Children: In the movie, she spots a little girl at a jewelry shop, trying to get her dismissive mother to pay attention to the bow she tied around her stuffed bunny's neck. Astrid walks right up to the little girl and sweetly compliments her "good eye."
Heirloom Engagement Ring: The one she receives from Charlie previously belonged to Su Yi.
Identical Grandson: Su Yi remarks that Astrid looks a lot like Su Yi's late mother in her fashion sense, manners, grace, and beauty.
I Just Want to Be Free: Over the course of the series, she increasingly chafes against her parents' expectations that she live according to proper old-money rules. In the end she finally reclaims her life by relocating herself and her son to a small island in the Philippines.
Nice Girl: Perfectly pleasant to be around and accepts Rachel, she seems to look past peoples' background to appreciate what they offer in their character as this attitude extends to her younger (and disowned by their parents) brother who married a Malay woman and appreciates their loving and healthy marriage. She also is very well-mannered and doesn't like the idea of her fame hogging the spotlight off other people.
Platonic Life-Partners: With Nick.
Statuesque Stunner: In the films where she's played by the 5'8" Gemma Chan.
Uptown Girl: She's part of two wealthy and powerful Singaporean Old Money families. Her husband Michael is an ex-Army captain who owns a startup tech company.
White Sheep: Somehow didn't receive the snobbish, narrow-minded, and controlling attitude displayed by the rest of her family. In fact Eleanor remarks in China Rich Girlfriend that she and Nick get along great because they have "funny ideas" about not wanting to flaunt their wealth (i.e. Astrid wears the same dress to many weddings as to not upstage the bride, as the one time she wore a new one, the press was all over her and the Bride was overlooked).

Michael Teo

Played By: Pierre Png

Astrid's husband and Cassian's father. A tech CEO and former Army captain.

Abusive Parents: His approach to disciplining Cassian for very typical five-year-old behavior is much harsher than it needs to be.
Acquired Situational Narcissism: In the second and third books, he makes a lot of money from Charlie making heavy investments in his company and he takes a massive level in jerkass.
Adaptational Jerkass: In the books, he fakes having an affair because he wants out of the family. In the film, he really is having an affair.
Big Bad Duumvirate: With Isabel Wu for Astrid's storyline in the third book.
Brutal Honesty: Tells Astrid in the first book that he married her for the wrong reasons—namely, her beauty and their excellent sex life—and he feels far too much pressure from the Leong family to be happy with her.
Cool Car: Collects many of these after his company is acquired.
Foil: To Rachel. Like Rachel, Michael was middle-class, fell in love with a member of the Young family and struggled with being accepted into their circle. Unlike Rachel, Michael allowed his pain and resentment to get the better of him, never told Astrid of the problems her relatives gave him and let it ruin their marriage.
Mistaken for Cheating: Invoked. He wanted to get out of his marriage with Astrid, so he had a relation of his send him salacious texts to make Astrid believe he was cheating on her.
Not with Them for the Money: Never takes advantage of his Astrid's wealth and outright refuses to accept certain lavish gifts from the Leongs.
Obnoxious In-Laws: On the receiving end, as his brothers-in-law and father-in-law treat him like a servant.
Sharp-Dressed Man: Upscales his previously casual ex-military style to suit his new-money status.
Took a Level in Jerkass: To horrific levels in the second and third books, where he locks his son in a garage for minor gaffes (mostly typical kid stuff) and gaslights Astrid and puts her down for perceived mistakes, he even threatens their au pair with strangulation when she is about to leave with Astrid and Cassian.

Felicity Leong

Puan Sri Felicity Leong, née Young

Played By: Janice Koh

Shang Su Yi's eldest daughter. Married to Harry Leong and mother of Henry, Peter, Alexander and Astrid.

Doting Grandparent: Gushes over Cassian despite being overbearing and judgmental with Astrid.
I Have No Son!: She and Harry disinherited Alexander because he married a Malaysian woman.
Jerkass: She is very tight-fisted, controlling, a hypochondriac, a complainer, racist (disowning one son because he married an ethnically Malay woman), narrow-minded, and she goes so far as to isolate Astrid after the latter goes through scandals...all because her image is so important.
My Beloved Smother: Especially to Astrid.
The Scrooge: She's tight-fisted about money, as evidenced in the book's prologue when she makes Eleanor, Nick, Astrid, Alexandra and Eddie walk nine blocks in the pouring rain because she doesn't want to take a taxi.
Those Two Guys: With her sister Alix in the film.
"Well Done, Daughter!" Gal: Su Yi thinks Felicity displays "cloying" and "obsequious" behavior around her.

Harry Leong

Tan Sri Harry Leong

Felicity's husband and father of Henry, Peter, Alexander and Astrid. Director of the Institute of ASEAN affairs.

Adapted Out: Does not appear in the film.
Everyone Is Related: His deceased sister is Colin Khoo's mother.
Helicopter Parents: A controlling father to his children, particularly to Astrid and Alexander.
Hypocrite: His family made their money in Malaysia. Doesn't stop him from disinheriting his son Alexander for marrying a Malaysian woman.
I Have No Son!: Disowned his son Alexander for marrying a Malaysian woman.
Jerkass: Bullies Michael Teo and gleefully makes him feel lesser, racist, disowns his son for marrying a Malaysian woman, is controlling of Astrid, cares more about his image rather than attending to his daughter's needs, and displays narcissistic traits.
Just the First Citizen: Claims to be a mere public servant, though he is said to be a kingmaker in Singapore's government.
Karma Houdini: Doesn't get any comeuppance for his treatment of Michael, which ruined his marriage to Astrid.
Never My Fault: He and his family never take responsibility for ruining Astrid and Michael's marriage.
Obnoxious In-Laws: He and his sons treat Michael like a servant.
Pet the Dog: At the reading of Shang Su Yi's will, Felicity complains that she'll be a nobody after not getting much in the will, only for Harry to assure her that she'll never be a nobody.

Eddie's family

Eddie Cheng

Edison "Eddie" Cheng

Played By: Ronny Chieng

A private banker, Alexandra and Malcolm's eldest son and older brother of Cecilia and Alistair. Married to Fiona Tung and father of Constantine, Kalliste, and Augustine.

Abusive Parents: Threatens to kill his son for getting his suit dirty.
Arc Villain: For the first half of Rich People Problems when Su Yi is dying and Eddie is scheming to keep Nick from visiting her so that he (Eddie) can inherit the estate when he thinks Nick and Astrid are disgraced.
Attention Whore: Everything always has to be about him. Even in his grandmother's obituary, his name is thrice the size of hers and the text includes a link to his private banking services.
Catchphrase: "Fucky fuck!"
Conspicuous Consumption: Loves flaunting his wealth and doesn't see the point of having money if you can't show that you have money.
Demoted to Extra: He isn't as prominent in the film as he is in the books, where he has several chapters dealing with his point-of-view.
Dreadful Musician: His performance of "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler for Shang Su Yi's funeral leaves much to be desired.
Early Personality Signs: Even as a preteen, he was heavily influenced by his even richer friend Leo Ming and obsessed with signifying his own wealth, as revealed in the opening scene of the series.
Fat Bastard: In the books he's noticeably gaining weight (which he refers to as looking prosperous), and at one point splits his pants.
Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: At one point, he breaks down in front of his mother and blames him for all his problems, essentially claiming that he is an Attention Whore because she married a man with the wrong family name, and an Abusive Parent because she never gave him a butt massage. He still has to take these issues to a therapist and do the work to be better about it.
In-Series Nickname: Everyone refers to him as "Eddie".
Jerkass: Cares for nothing but his own status, wealth and appearance.
Jerkass Has a Point: In the film, he crassly remarks that Nick and Rachel is an unequal partnership that will be looked down upon, pointing out that despite the fact that he married well, the family gave him grief. As it turns out, most of the other wealthy people in the Young’s circle reject Rachel because she is not from their background.
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: For China Rich Girlfriend; he sets off the plot because he doesn't want to deal with Bao Shaoyen and passes her off to Eleanor. Eleanor sees that Bao Shaoyen's son resembles Rachel, prompting the search for Rachel's father and Eleanor approving of the match.
Skewed Priorities: Tries to pick up Peik Lin as a wealth management client, much to her silent outrage, while they're on the way to the ER where Rachel is being airlifted. During the same conversation, he brags that Rachel will be "treated like a VVIP from the moment she arrives," which Peik Lin couldn't care less about.
Slave to PR: His top priority at all times is making sure he and his family look as rich as they are.
Took a Level in Kindness: After Fiona threatens to divorce him, he agrees to see a therapist and becomes a better husband, father and brother. He remains his over-the-top self, however.
Ungrateful Bastard: His parents may have been snobbish but they clearly loved their children and tried their best to make sure they had the right opportunities for education for their careers. Eddie looks down on his father as a "peasant" and his mother for being tight-fisted with money to the point where she has decorated since the early 1990s or updated her wardrobe since Thatcher was in office, never appreciating what he has and was given nor for the family he made with Fiona.
Villainous Breakdown: After Su Yi's will is read and he doesn't get anything but a pair of cuff links.

Fiona Tung-Cheng

Played By: Victoria Loke

Eddie's wife and mother of Constantine, Kalliste, and Augustine Cheng.

Awful Wedded Life: With Eddie. He loudly berates her and their three children if they ever fail to look or behave according to his standards, and he has kept three mistresses just because he believes that's what men of status in Hong Kong ought to do. She does persuade him to change at the end of the third book.
Badass Boast: In the first novel, upon lending an exquisite sapphire necklace to Rachel just to spite Eddie:
I'm not going to be wearing a single piece of jewelry tonight. I was born a Tung, and I have nothing to prove to anyone.
Church Lady: Corinna Ko-Tung notes that Fiona is one of the few true Christians at their elite Hong Kong church, where she runs the after-service coffee hour in chic designer dresses. Fiona proves Corinna right when she magnanimously forgives Kitty Pong for her past social transgressions.
Deadpan Snarker: In the movie, when Eddie blames her for the family's photo shoot landing them in only the Hong Kong edition of Vogue:
Eddie: I knew it! Your dress is a disaster! If you'd worn the Bottega gown like I'd told you to, we'd be in the American Vogue!
Fiona: You can wear that gown to hell, Eddie.
Mama Bear: Often forced to defend her children against Eddie's tyranny. In general she's the more indulgent parent of the two, taking the kids to and from their activities and allowing them to eat ice cream against Eddie's objections.
Nice to the Waiter: So kind to one of the kitchen maids at Tyersall Park that the maid is determined to defend her against what she mishears as Eddie's physical abuse.
Old Money: Her family's wealth is older than that of the Chengs. It's one of the reasons why Eddie can marry her.
Silent Snarker: Usually reacts to Eddie's outbursts with a simple eye roll.
Spanner in the Works: Eddie is outraged to discover that she was a witness to Su Yi's will, which granted him no more than a pair of cuff links, but did not read it and therefore did not try to change Su Yi's mind. She protests that she was only respecting Su Yi's privacy.
Taking the Kids: Threatens Eddie with this if he doesn't start going to therapy. It works.
Turn the Other Cheek: Her cousin Corinna Ko-Tung notes that she's a true Christian who genuinely believes in the possibility of redemption.

Alistair Cheng

Played By: Remy Hii

Alexandra and Malcolm's younger son. At the beginning of the novels, he is dating a movie star named Kitty Pong.

Adaptational Jerkass: He participates in the "revelries" at Colin's bachelor party in the film, and makes an insulting remark about Rachel that nearly makes Nick punch him.
The Ditz: It's mentioned he isn't too bright, and barely scraped by at Columbia University.
Horrible Judge of Character: Had the misfortune to give his heart to Kitty Pong.
Martial Arts Movie: Finances one of these, called Taipei Tiger 2, in the film.
Nice Guy: In the books, he is close friends with Colin, his own cousin Nick and their friend Mehmet and shows up to the hospital when Rachel gets sick.
Pair the Spares: Marries Peik Lin in the epilogue.
Throw the Dog a Bone: Inherits 10% of the shares in Tyersall Park, something his elder brother Eddie did not receive.

Alexandra Cheng

Alexandra "Alix" Cheng, nee Young

Played By: Selena Tan

Shang Su Yi's youngest daughter. Married to Dr. Malcolm Cheng and mother of Eddie, Cecilia, and Alistair.

Affectionate Nickname: "Alix"
Affluent Ascetic: Despite her remarkable talent for making money in real estate, she'll go out of her way to avoid spending money when it's not absolutely necessary, especially on herself. She doesn't even like to be seen benefitting from anyone else's money, turning down borrowed jewelry from Su Yi and free trips on Eddie's friend's private jet.
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: As far as Eddie is concerned. She hasn't changed her apartment decor or wardrobe since 1991, with a yellowing out bathmat in the restroom and a fashion sense that her sister-in-law Eleanor and Kitty Pong describe as "dowdy".
Classical Tongue: The only one of the Young siblings to speak fluent Mandarin.
Disco Dan: She hasn't changed her wardrobe since the 1980s (the books are set in the early to mid 2010s) which contrasts her to the other members of society that are always updating their wardrobes at the speed which a Sickly Neurotic Geek sheds tissue paper.
Housewife: Invoked; she built her and Malcolm's fortune, but refers to herself as "just a simple housewife".
Not So Above It All: Compliments Rachel's dress in the film.
Those Two Guys: With her sister Felicity in the film; they're always in the same scene together.

Colette's family

Colette Bing

Colette Bing, Countess of Palliser

A very famous socialite and fashion blogger in China, who's also the daughter of a Chinese multi-billionaire. Carlton's on-and-off girlfriend.

Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Her true colors come out when she mistakes Rachel's intention to respect Carlton's privacy as keeping her away from him.
Blue Blood: In the third book, she marries a British-French nobleman, making her a countess.
Conspicuous Consumption: Spends thousands of dollars on designer clothing, expensive meals, and travel seemingly every day, to the point that Rachel and Nick are exhausted by her generosity and are desperate to skip one of her five-star banquets and grab a burger.
Contrasting Sequel Main Character: To Astrid: She's the richest, most beautiful, and most fashionable person in her own world, but she loves the spotlight and can't appreciate anything that isn't insanely expensive, whereas Astrid prefers not to be noticed and can find a perfectly nice dress at Zara.
Control Freak: Always wants everything to be perfect and done just as she exactly wants to.
Cool Plane: One of her family's three private jets—all of which are named after Starbucks drink sizes—has a koi pond on board.
Fancy Dinner: Her idea of "keeping it simple" is ordering 10 different entrées and a dessert sprinkled with shavings of 24-carat gold.
The Fashionista: She is China's top fashion blogger.
Humiliation Conga:
- Begins when she rejects Richie Yang's proposal, resulting in a mishap that involves Mario Batali's hair catching on fire.
- Then her father cuts off her allowance.
- Then, when she accuses Rachel of trying to keep her and Carlton apart, Rachel delivers a reason-you-suck speech that goes viral, causing Colette to lose a lucrative sponsorship opportunity.
- Things seem to be improving throughout most of Rich People Problems, after she marries a wealthy English lord and is treated like actual royalty in Asia. However, it all goes wrong at the very end, when a freak electrocution puts her into medical rehabilitation.
Practically Different Generations: She and her stepmother Kitty Pong are close in age, so that makes her newborn brother Harvard more than 20 years apart. This is one of the many reasons there's a rivalry between her and Kitty.
Rich Kid Turned Social Activist: Following her above-noted Humiliation Conga, she meets environmental lawyer Lucien Montagu-Scott, Earl of Palliser, who becomes her husband. Together they spend most of their time campaigning to protect wild orangutans in Indonesia from the ravages of the palm oil industry.

Jack Bing

One of the wealthiest men in China, he's Colette's father.

Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Believes his immense wealth spares him from having to chew with his mouth closed or have clean-smelling feet, which disgusts Colette.
Arc Villain: He's the antagonist for the second half of Rich People Problems because he wants to buy the land for Tyersall Park and Nick wants to save the house.
Fiction 500: He's anywhere from the second to seventh richest man in China, depending on the reports.
Matchmaker Failure: His efforts to make Colette marry Richie Yang come to nothing.
Miserable Massage: In Rich People Problems. His masseuse suspects his diet has led to an inflamed gallbladder, which she unfortunately pinpoints exactly.
Politically Incorrect Villain: Manages to be this in a society of people who hold racist and sexist views and look down on others not like them. The 2nd book has him declare his daughter to be his possession, he clearly regards both his wives as disposable, he states he wants his daughter to marry a man he picked out for her and have lots of grandsons for him. He also internally dismisses the Young sisters because they are so dowdy and declares to Kitty he can always get another wife.
Separated by a Common Language: Looks down his nose at the three Young sisters who can't converse with him in fluent Mandarin.
Wine Is Classy: Subverted. We see him drinking a glass of Chateau Petrus, one of the world's most expensive wines, but he undermines the classiness by putting ice in it.

Bing Lai Di

Colette's mother and Jack's ex-wife.

Always Someone Better: Hates how Bao Shaoyen always acts like she's better than her. Colette is quick to claim that it's because she is.
Foreign Queasine: For the big trip to Paris in China Rich Girlfriend, she and Colette's aunties pack a Louis Vuitton trunk full of ramen, having correctly anticipated that they wouldn't react well to the cheese-filled French food.
Hypochondria: Any disease you can name, she probably thinks she has it.
Meaningful Name: "Lai Di" translates to "hoping for a son." Since she never had one, her next best option is to hope for a grandson from Colette, ideally as soon as possible.
My Beloved Smother: Shares Jack's insistence that Colette marry and produce children on their schedule, not her own.
Sequel Non-Entity: Does not appear in Rich People Problems but gets a Hand Wave when Jack tells Kitty, his new wife, about the terms of his divorce settlement with her.
She Cleans Up Nicely: "Virtually unrecognizable" when she dresses up for a party, according to Rachel.

Charlie's family

Charlie Wu

Played By: Harry Shum Jr.

An old flame of Astrid's. Married to Isabel and father of Chloe and Delphine.

Awful Wedded Life: With Isabel. He married her because she seemed to be a free spirit, but he didn't realize that she was a mentally unbalanced Manipulative Bitch.
Demoted to Extra: In the film, he only shows up in The Stinger at Nick and Rachel's engagement party. Time will tell if he plays a larger role in the sequels.
Didn't See That Coming: He had no idea that Michael would take his newfound wealth so poorly.
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Gave Michael a big boost in business so he and Astrid would get back together. It doesn't work when Michael takes a level in jerkass and starts abusing Astrid and Cassian.
New Old Flame: He was going to be married to Astrid but her parents forced Astrid to break off the match because his family wasn't Old Money. As Michael's personality takes a turn for the worse, Charlie and Astrid rekindle their relationship.
Nouveau Riche: His family hasn't had their money for as long a time as the Leongs, and that put paid to his prior engagement with Astrid.

Isabel Wu

Charlie's estranged wife and mother of Chloe and Delphine.

Blithe Spirit: Subverted hard. Charlie believed she was this when they first met, but she actually suffers from an undiagnosed personality disorder and acts on extreme impulse during her manic moments.
False Friend: Makes a show of friendship to Astrid and acceptance of her engagement to Charlie. This is a ploy to gain access to the house that Charlie and Astrid are building together, where she tries to hang herself.
Driven to Suicide: Has a major breakdown near the end of Rich People Problems, which leads to her leaking revenge porn of Astrid and Charlie and try to hang herself with her gown in their new leaving room. However, the chandelier breaks under her weight, which puts her in a short coma but saves her life.
Hidden Depths: According to Charlie, many people dismissed Isabel as an airhead because of her beauty when in fact she was (however briefly) a brilliant litigator.
Love Triangle: Type 4, with Charlie and Astrid.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Chloe is actually the daughter of someone Isabel slept with while living in a commune in Hawaii.
Old Money: The daughter of a barrister and a Hong Kong High Court judge, both from families with generations of wealth.
Parental Neglect: Known to rope her daughters into her moments of "acting weird," in Chloe's words.
Therapy Is for the Weak: Or, more accurately, therapy is for the low-profile. Her parents never sought proper treatment for her disorder, dismissing her episodes as "dragon phases" on account of the zodiac year of her birth.
Villain Team-Up: With Michael in Rich People Problems. She plants the Spy Cam he supplies that captures a video of Charlie and Astrid having sex, which she later sends to Hong Kong's most notorious gossip columnist.

Irene Wu

Charlie's mother.

Big Fancy House: Wu Mansions, the family estate where she is now the sole resident.
Feuding Families: The Shang-Young family has spent years looking down on Irene and the other Wus for their new-money habits. Mabel Shang particularly dislikes her for trying to hire away her favorite seamstress.
Impossibly Tacky Clothing: Wore so many "ornately festooned frocks" and jewels as the wife of a new billionaire that she earned the disparaging nickname "Christmas Tree."
Obnoxious In-Laws: Averted: Astrid and Irene are genuinely fond of each other.
Shipper on Deck: Gushes over "lovebirds" Charlie and Astrid.

Nick's friends

Colin Khoo

Played By: Chris Pang

Nick's best friend from childhood. Engaged to Araminta Lee.

Beneath the Mask: On the surface, Colin has a perfect life; he's wealthy, well-connected, pleasant company, and has a pretty and kind-hearted fiancé. However, he also suffers from an anxiety disorder and depression (which he is seeking therapy for). Also counts as Broken Ace.
Everyone Is Related: His deceased mother was Harry Leong's sister, meaning that he and Astrid are first cousins. This also makes him distantly related to Nick.
Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Nick.
Missing Mom: His mother died when Colin was still a child.

Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Subverted in that the marriage wasn't arranged, exactly, only that both his and Araminta's families were very much in favor of the match and made sure they both knew how advantageous it would be. Luckily they really are happy together.
Raised by Grandparents: Colin's grandmother helped raise him after his mother died.
Real Men Have Short Hair: His father's attitude toward the man-bun he's sporting in Rich People Problems.
Recovered Addict: Suggested. He never forgot that Nick was there in his worse days, even checking him into rehab.

Araminta Lee

Played By: Sonoya Mizuno

Colin's fiancé.

Adaptational Nice Girl: In the books, Colin hints that Araminta is often skeptical of "new people," and she throws a fit over Astrid wearing an already-worn dress to her wedding. In the movie, she genuinely is as nice as she seems.
Affectionate Nickname: Called "Minty" by Colin and Nick.
Law of Inverse Fertility: Miscarries at least a couple times before she and Colin have a son in the epilogue.
Pimped-Out Dress: Of all the fabulous dresses in the movie, her wedding dress is the most impressive.
Significant Wardrobe Shift: Dressed very casually in her first appearance in the book, wearing pajama pants and zero makeup. When we see her again at the beginning of her bachelorette weekend, she's dressed like the absurdly wealthy party girl she is.
Spoiled Sweet: The heiress to a billion-dollar resort chain, and also cheery and welcoming towards Rachel.
Vicariously Ambitious: Her parents, Annabel and Peter, are Mainland billionaires whose money is barely one generation old, and they're accordingly excluded from Singapore Old Money society. By carefully adopting this crowd's childrearing traditions, from education to religion, Annabel ensures that Araminta succeeds where she herself failed in breaking through the social barrier, most notably by marrying a Khoo.

Bernard Tai

Played By: Jimmy O. Yang

An old classmate of Nick and Colin's.

Evil Parents Want Good Kids: Downplayed, since while he's not evil he is definitely a Jerkass, but after his daughter Gisele is born, even if he is extremely snobbish about it, he seems to want her to live happily and well, with a Harvard education.
The Friend Nobody Likes: Neither Colin nor Nick can stand to be around him, and the only reason why he gets to plan Colin's bachelor party is because his father is a big shareholder in the Khoo business.
The Hedonist: Loves living to excess.
Jerkass: He was a bully while growing up, and when he plans Colin's bachelor party, it involves a whole lot of things that he'd like to do, not Colin. This includes dog fights.
Jerkass Has a Point: His snobbish and perfectionist intentions raising his daughter really alienates his parents and wife saying his parents and Singapore are "too toxic" for Gisele. While it was heartbreaking for Carol to not see her grandchild, granted Bernard's assessment of his parents (father being busy with womanizing and making money and choosing to spend money on Bernard rather than quality time while mom never disciplined him and just spent time at her church) and the society he was raised in (super snobbish, elitist, narrow-minded, exclusive, and spendthrift and entitled with controlling people) isn't far from the truth.
Lonely Rich Kid: According to Kitty, Bernard chose to separate his daughter from his parents because they were both "toxic", what with his father being too busy making money to spend time with him and throwing money at him while his mother Carol was too busy with her church (and by her own admission, she didn't do much to discipline Bernard and just prayed).
Magic Plastic Surgery: Subverted hard. In the second book he tries to get plastic surgery to look like Christian Bale after watching The Dark Knight Rises, but the voice-activated machine mishears it and makes him look like Kristen Bell.

Amanda Ling

Played By: Jing Lusi

A lawyer and daughter of Jacqueline Ling, Su Yi's goddaughter.

Adaptational Villainy: In the film, she gets Francesca's scene where she has a gutted fish dumped in Rachel's quarters.
Beta Bitch: In the books, she is aligned with Francesca in a bid to split her and Rachel up, but she seems less inclined to get with Nick (unless to get her mother's approval) because she already has a boyfriend from NYC and her own life there.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: In the film she's the most welcoming of the women at Araminta's bachelorette party (aside from Araminta herself), but instigates the actions against Rachel with the Dead Animal Warning.
The Drag-Along: In the book, she's not remotely happy about being forced out of New York and into the scheme to break up Nick and Rachel. She puts in some effort at first but gives up after some mockery from Francesca.
The Dragon: To Eleanor in the film as the person Eleanor pushes to try and make Rachel feel unwelcome in Singapore.
I Am Very British: Like Nick, she speaks with an RP-type British accent, indicating she was educated in Britain.
Karma Houdini: In the film, where she's a lot more malicious, she's never brought to book for the gutted fish message. The only bad thing that happens to her is not winning.
Nepotism: Got her job as general counsel for the Young Family Corporation because her mother is Shang Su Yi's goddaughter.
Punch-Clock Villain: In the books, Nick gets the feeling that she feels sorry for the endless backstabbing to get his affections.
Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: She's the Rich suitor to Rachel's Poor suitor because of her mother's connections to the Young family, particularly in the film since Francesca is Demoted to Extra.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Does not appear in the books after the first one but gets a Hand Wave in Su Yi's will, which specifies that she would have inherited Su Yi's shares in Ling Holdings if her mother, Jacqueline, had died first.

Francesca Shaw

Played By: Carmen Soo

The daughter of Eleanor's friend Nadine Shaw and another young woman vying for Nick's hand.

Alpha Bitch: In the first book, with her actions against Rachel in effort break up her and Nick and she even drives one girl to tears when she tells this girl "the clock is ticking on your pretty face" and to marry super rich right away.
Dead Animal Warning: Leaves a gutted fish in Rachel's bed with a message: "Catch this you gold-digging cunt".
Demoted to Extra: She's much less important in the film than in the book, with only one line in the all-paid shopping spree that's barely heard.
- In the books she becomes more another symbol of the excesses of the wealthy and all their cutthroat ways.
The Dragon: To Eleanor in the first book as the main person Eleanor uses to win Nick from Rachel and make her unwelcome in Singapore.
Mirror Character: Her actions after her grandfather wakes up from his coma show that she's as much of a Gold Digger as she thinks Rachel is, such as sleeping with a married man who dumps her, then marrying another man for his money.
Rich Bitch: Francesa is not only snobbish, but she's also set out to basically make Rachel unwelcome while she's in Singapore and after her miserly grandfather wakes up from his coma and takes back the fortune and starts charging his son and his family for all they spent, Francesca laments to her parents about how they should have pulled the plug before he woke up.
Socialite: She attends various social events with her mother and they also show up a lot in society magazines.

Other characters

Eleanor's friends

Daisy Foo, Lorena Lim, Nadine Shaw, and Carol Tai

Eleanor Young's best friends and Bible study fellows. Carol is the mother of Bernard Tai and the wife of Dato Tai Toh Lui. Nadine is the mother of Francesca Shaw.

Antagonistic Offspring: They all become estranged from their children or parents to varying degrees.
The Fashionista: Having married into a family that made its fortune in jewelry, Lorena can identify the size, color grade, and designer of a piece with pinpoint accuracy.
Gossipy Hens: All of them.
Manipulative Bitch: In one memorable scene from Rich People Problems, they all conspire to trick Rachel into an impromptu gynecological exam to find out if there's a medical cause behind her failure to produce a grandchild for Eleanor. She refuses to go through with it and leaves in a fury.
Nice Mean And In Between: In terms of how they interact with Rachel and Nick, Daisy is the nicest, Nadine is the meanest, and Carol and Lorena are in between.
The Scrooge: In certain circumstances. Although they're happy to spend their money on restaurants, clothing, and stocks, they refuse to shell out for accommodations unless they absolutely must.
The Social Expert: Daisy has an encyclopedic knowledge of Singapore's social history.
Token Religious Teammate: Carol is the only one who truly takes the Bible seriously.
Uncanny Valley Makeup: Nadine is known for her gaudy makeup and jewelry.

Goh Peik Lin

Played By: Awkwafina

Rachel's best friend from college. She's the daughter of a very wealthy Singaporean real estate developer.

Adaptational Comic Relief: She's sweet and good-humored in the books, but her father considers her his smartest, most ambitious child. The film takes her sense of humor up a notch by having Awkwafina play her.
Goh Wye Mun: Let me get this straight. You both went to the same school. Yet someone came back with a degree that's useful, and the other one came back as Asian Ellen.
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Doesn't seem too proud of her parents' silly jokes and "Donald Trump's bathroom" taste in home interiors.
Commonality Connection: In the film, she and Oliver discover a shared passion for fashion and immediately get on like a house on fire.
Crazy-Prepared: In the film, she keeps a set of spare outfits, complete with shoes and accessories, in the trunk of her car in case of emergencies.
The Fashionista: Loves to go shopping and also helps Rachel to look presentable at Nick's family events.
Interclass Friendship: She's best friends with middle-class Rachel.
Non-Idle Rich: In the books, her and her two brothers all hold VP positions with their father's development company.
Nouveau Riche: Her family's money is very new, thanks to her grandfather founding a successful real estate development company.
Pair the Spares: She marries Alistair at the end of the third book.
Spoiled Sweet: She's very rich, but far from being a snob, super generous with her money regarding Rachel and they good-naturedly discuss each other's backgrounds and views on spending.

Lee Ah Ling

Played By: Beatrice Chien

Shang Su Yi's head housekeeper and Nick's former nanny.

Affectionate Nickname: Family members call her "Ling Jeh," using a Cantonese nickname meaning "elder sister," which is commonly used for favorite household helpers.
Old Retainer: She's worked for the family for more than 30 years.
Undying Loyalty: Even when technically working for Philip and Eleanor, her ultimate loyalty is to Su Yi.

Jacqueline Ling

Played By: Amy Cheng

Shang Su Yi's goddaughter and mother of Amanda.

Fallen Princess: As is the case with many Old Money families in Asia, hers only lets men inherit, which means she has second-class status within her own family and not enough money to her name to be a power in her own right. This changes due to her Unexpected Inheritance of Su Yi's shares in the Ling family's business, worth about half a billion dollars.
The Fashionista: Like Astrid, she manages to look fabulous in just about anything she puts on.
Head-Turning Beauty: So beautiful, in fact, that legend has it a mass brawl broke out over her upon her arrival at Hong Kong's airport.
My Beloved Smother: Disapproves of Amanda's social circle in New York City and insists that she focus on impressing "their own people."
- There's also a somewhat more literal example when the two go dress shopping and Jacqueline insists on a tighter fit, even though Amanda can barely breathe in the dress as it is.
Passive-Aggressive Kombat: Her conversations with Eleanor tend to be marked by this.
Related in the Adaptation: In the film, she also participates in Eleanor's Bible study groups.
Vicariously Ambitious: Having failed to ensnare Philip Young for herself, she's determined that her daughter, Amanda, will ensnare Philip's son, Nick.

Kitty Pong

Kitty Pong, later Tai, then Bing, formerly Pong Li Li

Played By: Fiona Xie

An actress and Alistair Cheng's girlfriend, later married to Bernard Tai, followed by Jack Bing. Mother of Gisele Tai and Harvard Bing. Stepmother of Colette Bing.

Anonymous Benefactor: Puts up the rest of the money that the Youngs need to save Tyersall Park, just so Colette and her husband can't get it instead.
Ascended Extra: She's a minor character in the first book, but becomes more and more prominent as the books proceed.
Bad "Bad Acting": In the film, she's not a very good actress, but she gets parts because Alistair is her boyfriend.
Crewman 1: She's terrible. Can we get someone else?
Crewman 2: [Alistair's] financing the movie. You tell him his girlfriend sucks.
Didn't Think This Through: She didn't realize the reprecussions of dumping Alistair for Bernard Tai.
Foil: To Rachel. She's the Gold Digger that most of the Young family thinks Rachel is.
Gold Digger: Switches to a higher prospect whenever she sees one. In the present events, she goes from Alistair (the younger son of the Cheng family), to Bernard (only heir of his family), to Jack Bing (one of the richest men in China).
Hidden Depths: Grew up in rural China and was top of her class, but lost her university spot to the son of Party members. She then became a gold digger, because the "right" way didn't work and Kitty refused to spend her life in poverty.
Make-Out Kids: In the film, she and Alistair exuberantly kiss each other in almost every scene to the point of Running Gag.
Mama Bear: She is fed up with the lifestyle that Bernard imposes on their toddler daughter and his isolating her and his mom from being a part of her life, that she takes the daughter to Singapore to live with her and build a relationship with Carol Tai.
My Beloved Smother: By the end of the series, inspired by Empress Cixi, she is planning turn her son Harvard into an absolute Momma's Boy and is depicted still breastfeeding him at age 3.
Not Evil, Just Misunderstood: Her drive to succeed in high society and her ignorance of its rules often blind her to the impact her actions have on others, but she never does anything specifically to spite another person—except Colette, who everybody agrees deserves it.
Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Believes she is entitled to a place in upper-crust Hong Kong society because she has married a billionaire, and thinks she can get one by showing off her obscenely large jewelry wherever she goes. Turns out she couldn't be further from the truth: The women she's trying to impress immediately dismiss her as a distasteful poseur. With help from Corinna Ko-Tung, she learns how to tone it down... until she marries Jack Bing and decides she has no further need of approval from these women.
Right for the Wrong Reasons: In the third book, she provides the last bit of money needed to outbid Jack Bing and allows Nick to save Tyersall Park from being torn down... all because she didn't want Colette to have a present.
She Really Can Act: In-universe. In the books, Kitty appears to be a decent actress, at least good enough to have some devoted fans. However, when her acting skills are needed for social climbing, Kitty immediately becomes this trope.
Corinna Ko-Tung: Cate Blanchett, eat your heart out.
Sleeping Their Way to the Top: Got one of her first big breaks in the film industry after becoming the director's mistress, then worming her way into Alistair's affections.
Who Names Their Kid "Dude"?: Her son with Jack Bing is named Harvard.

Corinna Ko-Tung

A Hong Kong socialite who helps the Nouveau Riche break into the upper echelons of society. Cousin of Fiona Tung-Cheng.

Brutal Honesty: Never beats around the bush when addressing her clients' social deficiencies.
Establishing Character Moment: When internally criticizing a client's handbag as "something a mistress would carry."
Makeover Fairy: The professional variant. She won't stop at her clients' appearance, either: She'll make over everything from their vocabulary to their taste in restaurants.
Oh, Crap!: Tells a white lie about Kitty's relations to ease her through some social introductions. This backfires after Eddie and Fiona recognize Kitty, evoking this reaction from Corinna.
Plain Jane: Because of her own family's social standing, she feels little need to prove anything to anyone and as a result is quite dowdy in appearance.

Roxanne Ma

Colette's Girl Friday.

Beleaguered Assistant: Despite her loyalty to Colette and her gratitude for her position, there are aspects of the job she can't stand doing, like wrangling the florists on staff or making sure Colette's dogs poop properly.
Expository Hairstyles: Her fauxhawk immediately signals that she's intense.
Hyper-Competent Sidekick: Carries out her duties for Colette with military efficiency.
I Did What I Had to Do: Her excuse for poisoning Rachel when she and Colette believe Bao Gaoliang may choose her to inherit his business instead of Carlton.
The Reliable One: Colette depends on her to run pretty much everything: scheduling, social media, contract negotiations, transportation, travel, security, pet care, home decor...
Sarcasm-Blind: Explains to Nick that Jack Bing's wealth should be ranked higher than that of Richie Yang's family on the Heron Wealth Report. When Nick jokes that they should send in a formal complaint over this, Roxanne assures him that they already have.
The Sociopath: Roxanne tries to murder Rachel over possibly being an inconvenience for Colette and is unrepentant when found out. Nobody else in the novel stoops that low.

Richie Yang

Carlton's archrival and one of Colette's suitors, whose family is somewhere in the top seven of the richest families in China.

Cock Fight: With Carlton at the below-noted party.
Compete for the Maiden's Hand: Nearly gets into a high-speed drag race with Carlton, which both Rachel and Colette fear may prove fatal. They manage to talk Carlton out of it.
Conspicuous Consumption: Don't get him talking about his watch. You'll never hear the end of it.
Hypocrite Has a Point: He's under the impression that he and Colette have been dating exclusively for three years, which she laughs off. Then again, if they were dating exclusively, why did Nick catch him getting an exclusive treatment from another girl earlier that evening?
Narcissist: Smash Eddie together with Bernard and you get Richie.
Rejected Marriage Proposal: Throws a party for Colette in Paris, which he attempts to turn into an impromptu engagement party. She's not having it.
The Unfavorite: Colette plainly prefers Carlton over him, but she's happy to string him along.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Drops out of the series by the end of China Rich Girlfriend, although he may be the "certain notorious playboy" with whom Colette is spotted "canoodling" in Ibiza.

Prof. Francis Oon

Professor Francis Oon

A doctor kept on a million-dollar retainer to treat Shang Su Yi.

Determined Doctor: Averted: After Su Yi's final heart attack, he advises his staff not to attempt a resuscitation, knowing their patient has suffered too much already.
Distracted by the Sexy: So overwhelmed by Astrid's beauty that he can barely bring himself to speak or control his pants in her presence.

Characters / Crazy Rich Asians

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