Anna Erika Shay[1] (January 30, 1961 – June 1, 2023)[2] was an American socialite, businesswoman and television personality.

[8] Her mother had bought her a pet pocket monkey of an unknown gender from a Japanese department store while she was growing up.

She had taken the primate with her on a Pan Am flight to the United States; worried that authorities might not allow her to take her pet, she dressed it in clothes and claimed it to be her sister.

Shay doubled her security team and was accompanied at all times after her father's death, including at her vast estate.

[13] Shay was an heiress to Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), the leading global defense and government services contractor; which her father founded in September 1955.

[14] She, along with her younger brother, Allen - who assumed control of PAE following the death of their father[15] - sold the company to Lockheed Martin[16] on August 16, 2006, in an all-cash $1.2 billion deal.

[19] When Jeff Jenkins, the show's executive producer, approached her with the opportunity to join the cast, Shay thought she was being asked to help in a behind-the-scenes consultant capacity.

[2] She had previously served as a board member for the George Lopez Foundation; raising awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.

Speaking on her privacy, Jeff Jenkins, a friend of hers, once said: "It was held as high value in the family to be private .. She'll tell you the three most important people in her life are her mom and dad and her son.

Her most expensive piece was a platinum lady's 57-carat diamond necklace with an 8.31-carat green emerald - custom made by Vartan's Fine Jewelry in Los Angeles[35] - which estimated to cost $1.4 million.

Her collection of 184 designer purses, travel bags, trunks with gold hardware, and wallets were estimated to be worth $1.1 million.

Shay's death was announced to the public on June 5 in a statement by her family to People magazine: "It saddens our hearts to announce that Anna Shay, a loving mother, grandmother, charismatic star, and our brightest ray of sunshine, has passed away at the early age of 62 from a stroke.

"[32]Shay's Bling Empire co-stars Cherie Chan, Christine Chiu, Kevin Kreider, Kim Lee, Kane Lim, Kelly Mi Li, Jaime Xie, Guy Tang, Mimi Morris, and Dorothy Wang paid tribute via social media.

[42] Golden, Netflix's official social media channel dedicated to celebrating the pan-Asian diaspora, also paid tribute.