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It began as an innocent love affair. But it would blossom into a marriage of power and wealth - one worthy of the unofficial title of Macau royalty.

Clementina Angela Leitao,  once dubbed the No.1 beauty in Macau and likened to famous actress Ingrid Bergman,  was born into a prominent Portuguese family in 1924.

Her father was a famous lawyer and the only notary in Macau. He also owned a large number of properties and had family connections in the highest corridors of power in Portugal.

Clementina met young Stanley Ho  when he moved to Macau during the Sino-Japanese war in the early 1940s.

One year after they married in 1942, Mr Ho earned his first million through a trading enterprise which paved the way for later success in his casino business. One friend close to the family said the marriage opened doors for  the businessman.

But the blooming romance and financial prospects were soon to be tempered by tragedy. Clementina developed colitis in 1957 and following further complications had to have her stomach

cut away.

She had a total of 10 major operations. Before her death, she relied on medicine and could only eat a liquid diet.

Adding to her misfortunes, Clementina had a car accident in Portugal in 1973 and lay in a coma in a hospital bed for almost one month. Her third daughter said that on her recovery, she had lost most of her memory and even had difficulty walking.

The couple had four children: three daughters, Jane, Angela and Deborah, and a son, Robert. Robert and his wife were killed in a car crash in Portugal in 1981.

Of Mr Ho's four wives, Clementina had the least amount of assets at about $100 million. His second wife has $1.98 billion worth of assets; his third wife $240 million; and his fourth wife $400 million.



Marriage built on powerful foundations