Lee Jae-yong, commonly known as Jay Y. Lee, is a prominent South Korean businessman and the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group, the world's largest conglomerate by revenue. Born on June 23, 1968, in Seoul, South Korea, he is the only son of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and his wife, Hong Ra-hee. He joined Samsung in 1991 and has been groomed as the heir apparent, becoming vice chairman in 2017 and executive chairman in October 2022 following his father's death. He oversees the company's global operations including component manufacturing, maintaining Samsung's dominance in semiconductors, consumer electronics, and mobile devices, with key supply chain relationships such as providing components to Apple Inc. His strategic vision focuses on innovation in AI, 5G, and foldable technologies, while navigating challenges like U.S.-China trade tensions and global chip shortages.

Lee's career has been overshadowed by significant legal and ethical controversies. In 2017, he was convicted of bribery, embezzlement, and perjury in a scandal involving payments to South Korean officials to secure government support for a merger that solidified his control over Samsung's key affiliates; he served about a year in prison before being released on parole in 2021 and receiving a presidential pardon later that year. Additional legal troubles include a 2020 conviction for violating exchange laws related to overseas mergers, resulting in a suspended sentence. These events have drawn widespread criticism for highlighting chaebol (family-run conglomerate) influence in South Korean politics and economy.

On a personal level, Lee maintains a relatively private life. He married Lim Se-ryung, a businesswoman from the CJ Group family, in 1999, but they divorced in 2009; they have one daughter, Lee won-joo. Educated in elite institutions, Lee is fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese. His net worth is estimated in the billions, derived primarily from his stakes in Samsung entities. Despite the controversies, Lee remains a pivotal figure in South Korea's business landscape, with his decisions impacting national employment and international trade, and his influence extends beyond business into philanthropy and cultural patronage through the Samsung Foundation.