Charlie Wu Character Analysis in Crazy Rich Asians

Charlie is a billionaire in the tech industry and Astrid’s ex-fiancé. The two reconnect at Araminta and Colin’s wedding, and Charlie soon reveals that he’s there without his wife because they’re separated. Despite the fact that Astrid broke off their engagement in a dramatic, public fashion almost 10 years ago, Charlie still loves her and would ideally like to win her back. However, when it becomes clear to him that Astrid genuinely loves Michael, he settles for trying to help Astrid be happy with Michael by having his company sneakily buy Michael’s for way more than Michael’s company is worth.

Charlie Wu Character Timeline in Crazy Rich Asians

The timeline below shows where the character Charlie Wu appears in Crazy Rich Asians. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...levels and was sent to England for school, where she “lived in sin” with boyfriend Charlie Wu (son of a tech billionaire). She accepted his proposal when she was 22 but... (full context)

...boxes, remembering that the last time Astrid spent like this, she’d just broken up with Charlie Wu. Minutes later, Astrid gets into her car and opens up the box with the... (full context)

...she walked away, Michael’s friends cackled and said that Astrid doesn’t date in their “stratosphere”—even Charlie Wu wasn’t rich enough for her—but she’s clearly into him. (full context)

...won’t have to lie about where Michael is. But when she turns around, she notices Charlie Wu watching her. He joins her at the railing, where they briefly discuss his job... (full context)

...has been erected in the forest. Trees and vines drape over the glass panels, and Charlie observes that it cost more than $40 million. Araminta, in a white silk dress, and... (full context)

...leaves the banquet for one of the terraces and, after watching her for a minute, Charlie joins her. They joke about how they’d steal all the media attention if they danced... (full context)

Astrid is charmed when Ah Chee, Charlie’s childhood maid, opens the door and greets her and Charlie warmly. She hurries away to... (full context)

It’s 1995, and Charlie has brought Astrid to see Paris for the first time. Charlie grew up flying through... (full context)

Astrid runs into Charlie as she’s leaving the boutique. He’s enraged to hear that the saleswoman wouldn’t help Astrid... (full context)

Charlie buys Astrid all sorts of things over the next week, from Hermès luggage to dozens... (full context)

...Ah Chee ordered. Then, Astrid dresses as inconspicuously as she can, borrows a pair of Charlie’s sunglasses, and insists on walking to Charlie’s office. Joining the energetic pedestrian traffic, Astrid expertly... (full context)

...and Astrid says she wants to see him. Astrid insists on seeing Michael alone, without Charlie. (full context)

A speedboat takes Astrid from the jetty out into Repulse Bay, where Charlie is waiting on a restored 18th-century Chinese junk to take Astrid sailing. (She’s spent the... (full context)

Sighing, Astrid says her parents will be mad now that she didn’t marry Charlie. They used to stick up their noses at the Wu family’s new tech fortune, but... (full context)

...her money—but she was wrong, and he cared too much. She begins to sob into Charlie’s shoulder, and Charlie assures her that it’s okay for her to show emotion. Charlie recognizes... (full context)

After Charlie drops Astrid off, he calls Aaron, the chief financial officer of his family’s company. He... (full context)