Li Chunping, 57, the legendary and mysterious philanthropist poses for a photo leaning on his posh Rolls-Royces in Beijing. He has reportedly given a colossal 50 million yuan to charity over the past 15 years. [sina]

Li Chunping, 57, the legendary and mysterious philanthropist, asked people to not admire his life in his latest biography Nowhere to Confess.

Why not? His wealth was built at the expense of his youth and a true, heartfelt romance, the Beijing Charity Association Director writes. He has reportedly given a colossal 50 million yuan to charity over the past 15 years.

Born to a high-level military officer's family in 1949, Li carved out a highly unconventional way to extreme affluence. He married a 1930s film actress 38 years his senior.

"I was handsome while young with straight nose, sparkling eyes, and fair skin," Li writes. "She said I was the one she always dreamed of."

He says his American old lady, how he addresses his late wife, left him an unfathomable amount of money.

"She loved me so, while I didn't love her back," he says. He seldom feels regret for his decision. "I just felt obliged to tend her while she was sick in bed."

The couple legalized their 12-year-long union in the US one month before she passed away in 1991.

For a brief time after returning to Beijing super-wealthy Li plunged himself into charity, sharing his money with people in need.

"I have a lot of money and naturally I want to render part of my wealth to my home country and lend a hand to the needy," says Li.

"Some allege I fabricated my past experience and have collected the windfall through relic trafficking," he says.

In defense of his honesty and reputation, Li endorsed the release of Nowhere to Confess, a kind of eulogy as well, to his chance at real love that was traded for money.