Commissioner David SK Lee is a distinguished entrepreneur, business leader, investor, mentor, philanthropist, and the world’s most renowned Ferrari collector. He holds the position of Chairman and CEO of Hing Wa Lee Group, which encompasses Hing Wa Lee Jewelers, HWL Development & Real Estate Holdings Co., Collectible Exotic Motors, and several other enterprises. His organization is recognized as the premier authorized dealer of watches and jewelry in the United States, while David himself enjoys a substantial following on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Born in Hong Kong, his father founded Hing Wa Lee Jewelers in 1965, they then relocated to the United States when David was nine. Following his graduation from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in 1992, David spearheaded the transformation of Hing Wa Lee Gallery from a wholesale operation into a major luxury retail establishment. Under his guidance, Hing Wa Lee Jewelers has become an authorized dealer for over 25 prestigious brands, including Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, Blancpain, Breguet, Piaget, Hublot and many more. His flagship retail showrooms are in San Gabriel and Walnut, California and now he has recently opened Larchmont Jewelers, his 3rd active store in California. Recently, the group earned the jewelry industry's equivalent of an Oscar: Watchpro’s Independent Watch Retailer of the Year 2024.

Currently, the Hing Wa Lee Group has expanded to include significant residential and commercial real estate holdings, as well as real estate brokerage and property management services under Brilliant Realty. David's remarkable Ferrari collection is valued at $100 million, featuring over 30 cars spanning six decades (1964-2024). He is best known for being the first and only person to have the big five Ferrari supercars in Red and Yellow, making one of the most popular car collectors in the world. His investment portfolio extends beyond Ferraris, encompassing collectible blue-chip items, beverage companies, high-tech and startup funds, education, and his luxury brand, Monza Design.

 

David is deeply committed to community engagement and has served on USC's Marshall Business School board for over eight years. He actively guest lectures and mentors students in various entrepreneurship programs. He founded Titan EDUCATION, a leadership club that supports young entrepreneurs through mentorship, in collaboration with USC Professor of Entrepreneurship Albert Napoli. As a member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) for over 18 years, David also serves as the chair of the CEO Club, a Chinese counterpart to YPO.

 

In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed David to the California Volunteers Commission, an agency dedicated to promoting service and volunteerism among Californians. He was also appointed by Governor Gray Davis as a commissioner for the Small Business Reform Task Force in California. In September 2024, he and his wife, Katherine, made a significant philanthropic contribution to homelessness initiatives through a $1 million lead gift to support the David and Katherine Lee Home, the fifth shelter funded by Door of Hope.

Among his notable achievements, David has been recognized as Watchpro’s 2024 Independent Retailer of the Year and has appeared on Watchpro's Hot 100 list for 2022. His accolades include being named one of the Top 10 best luxury retailers in America by Leading Watch Retailers in 2022 and receiving the City of San Gabriel Bell Award in 2014. He has also been honored with the SGV Reader's Choice Best Jeweler Award and the Philanthropy Award from Sing Tao Media, and he was inducted into the USC Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2014.

 

David's passion for collecting extends to Ferraris, Ducatis, fine timepieces, and fine wines, legendary autographed guitars, alongside his enjoyment of fine dining, golf and gentlemen vintage classic car racing. He has been featured in various media outlets, including Jay Leno's Garage. David is the most appeared guest on Jay Leno’s garage with 13 appearances on the show. Jay Leno is one of the many celebrities David Lee has friendships with and done business with, this long list includes: Michelle Yeoh, Daniel Wu, Jean Todt, Tommy Lee, DJ Khaled, Offset, Lang Lang, Drake, Beyonce and many more. His influence on social media is significant, with over 1 million followers on Instagram and a dedicated YouTube audience exceeding 100,000 subscribers. His viewership on all platforms is over 100,000,000 million views and counting as of 2024. His latest is project soon to release on his channel and multiple film festivals is his short film ‘David Lee’s Stable’ which he has executive produced and starred in.