Lee's release will, no doubt, be a major relief to the world's biggest smartphone maker and perhaps the most important company in Corporate Korea.
For bribing the country's ex-president, Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong was jailed for five years.
A South Korean court has now freed him after suspending the jail sentence.
The 49-year-old was found guilty of giving donations worth 41bn won ($37.7m; £26.7m) to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye, in return for political favours.
Samsung Electronics is regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Samsung Group conglomerate, which comprises of 60 interlinked companies.
Lee, has effectively been responsible for directing operations at the mobile phone and chip maker from the time his father, Lee Kun-hee, was incapacitated by a heart attack in 2014.
Seoul High Court upheld parts of the conviction, but used its discretion to release the executive.
The case gripped the public amid growing anger against the country's biggest companies. It is believed these mega firms wield an obscene influence on wider society.
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