Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1)

by Kevin Kwan

There are the Chinese from Mainland China, who made their fortunes in the past decade like all the Russians, but then there are the Overseas Chinese. These are the ones who left China long before the Communists came in, in many cases hundreds of years ago, and spread throughout the rest of Asia, quietly amassing great fortunes over time. If you look at all the countries in Southeast Asia—especially Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia—you’ll see that virtually all the commerce is controlled by the Overseas Chinese. Like the Liems in Indonesia, the Tans in the Philippines, the Leongs in—”

If you're interested in reading more about the Overseas Chinese and the incredible wealth that some of these families have accumulated over centuries, Sterling Seagrave's "Lords of the Rim" is a riveting read. I do a great amount of historical research for all of my novels, and this book in particular was a great inspiration and resource.