Retailing tycoon billionaire Solomon Lew takes the old investment adage of "buy and hold" to extreme levels.

In the digital age where lightning-fast high-frequency trading, short selling and aggressive hedge funds charging in and out of stocks are on the rise, Mr Lew plays the long game. He relies on street smarts and an eye for value first honed in the back lanes of Melbourne's bustling rag trade district more than 50 years ago.