Jackie Chan built a global empire worth hundreds of millions. Yet at the same time, his estranged daughter, Etta Ng Chok Lam, claimed she was homeless, penniless, and abandoned. Her story raised painful questions about how one of the world’s most successful stars could have a child living in such distress.
A Daughter Outside the Spotlight
Etta was born to Jackie Chan and former Miss Asia, Elaine Ng. Their relationship ended before her birth, and Jackie never played a role in her upbringing. Elaine later confirmed that the action legend had been completely absent from their daughter’s life.
Years later, Etta recorded a desperate online video saying she had no money and no safe place to stay. Elaine dismissed the plea, insisting her daughter should work instead of posting emotional clips online.
Homeless Struggles and Public Pleas
In 2018, Etta revealed she and her partner, Canadian influencer Andi Autumn, were homeless in New York. They said they slept under a bridge after being rejected by family. The couple eventually returned to Hong Kong, where they struggled to pay even small hostel fees. At one point, they attempted to check in with just $2.60.
Etta had already cut emotional ties years earlier, stating, “He is my biological father, but he is not my dad.”
A Fortune Given Away
Meanwhile, Jackie Chan’s career soared. His films earned more than $2.6 billion, and his fortune once reached $350 million. Yet he chose to donate much of it to charity, focusing on schools, children’s programs, and disaster relief. Known for his frugal lifestyle, he often said he wanted his money to help the world.
But while his generosity changed lives across Asia, Etta says it never reached her — leaving a painful gap between a global icon and the daughter who grew up without him.
