15 Facts About Kevin Kwan

1.

In 2014, Kwan was named as one of the "Five Writers to Watch" on the list of Hollywood's Most Powerful Authors published by The Hollywood Reporter.

2.

In 2018, Kevin Kwan made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people and was inducted into The Asian Hall of Fame.

3.

Kevin Kwan was born in Singapore as the youngest of three boys, into an established Chinese Singaporean family.

4.

Kevin Kwan's great-grandfather, Oh Sian Guan, was a founding director of Singapore's oldest bank, the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation.

5.

Kevin Kwan is related to Hong Kong-born American actress Nancy Kevin Kwan and former Singaporean finance minister Richard Hu, who was a cousin of his father.

6.

The family moved to Clear Lake, Texas, and Kevin Kwan attended Clear Lake High School, graduating when he was 16.

7.

Kevin Kwan attended the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where he earned a BA in Media Studies, after which he moved to Manhattan to attend Parsons School of Design in order to pursue a BFA in Photography.

8.

In 2000, Kevin Kwan established his own creative studio, clients of which included Ted.

9.

The Ministry of Defence stated that Kevin Kwan had failed to register for National Service in 1990 and did not have a valid exit permit to remain overseas, even though he has been living outside of Singapore since he was 11 years old.

10.

Kevin Kwan is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 under the Enlistment Act.

11.

Kevin Kwan doesn't focus on making Asians cool; he focuses on making our stories whole.

12.

Kevin Kwan became inspired to write Crazy Rich Asians in 2009 while caring for his father, who was dying of cancer.

13.

Kevin Kwan stated one of his goals was to showcase the "educated families with style and taste that have been quietly going about their lives for generations" which went beyond the typical contemporary coverage of Asia which focused on conspicuous consumption.

14.

Kevin Kwan served as executive producer on the film, one of the conditions to selling the rights.

15.

Kevin Kwan published the first sequel to Crazy Rich Asians entitled China Rich Girlfriend in June 2015.