Actress Zhao Wei has once again become the center of controversy as media reports accuse her of stashing assets overseas to evade financial responsibility after losing a lawsuit. This comes four years after she was banned from the Chinese entertainment industry in 2021.
On November 10, Chinese outlet Sina reported that several media reports published aggressive accusations claiming that My beautiful princess The star was deliberately avoiding compensation by hiding his wealth abroad. A popular Weibo account wrote: “Zhao Wei is truly evil: she hid all her assets abroad and left her debt in China, trying to escape her financial responsibilities.”
In response, Zhao Wei’s older brother, Zhao Jian, released a lengthy statement condemning the media for its unethical reporting. “It is heartbreaking and infuriating to see these hypocritical people hurl insults while pretending to act in the name of justice,” he said. “These media figures lack professional ethics. They shamelessly make up stories, and their so-called righteous indignation is just a greedy quest for attention and profit.”
Zhao Jian also denied allegations that his sister had created complex financial structures such as offshore trusts. He emphasized their intention to take legal action to protect Zhao Wei’s reputation and legal rights.
This is not the first time Zhao Jian has intervened to defend his sister. In July, he addressed rumors linking Zhao Wei to a human trafficking and illegal gambling ring operating in Myanmar, firmly denying any involvement.
He also criticized some media for deliberately shaping public opinion against Zhao Wei, portraying her as a domineering figure with uncontrolled influence in the entertainment world, an image which he said is far from reality.
Zhao Wei was suddenly blacklisted in August 2021, sparking a wave of negative coverage aimed at uncovering the reasons behind the ban. Before her fall from grace, Zhao Wei and her then-husband Huang Youlong had amassed vast wealth through multiple business ventures. At its peak, the couple’s fortune reportedly reached $1 billion, earning Zhao the nickname “the Warren Buffett woman.”
However, in 2018, the China Securities Regulatory Commission fined both Zhao and Huang RMB 300,000 (over $40,000) each and banned them from trading for five years due to stock market manipulation. This marked the beginning of Zhao Wei’s business decline, and he later faced over 400 lawsuits from disgruntled investors and partners.
Zhao Wei has accepted some responsibility, as she was involved in a fraudulent stock acquisition deal in 2017. In early 2025, she publicly announced her divorce from Huang Youlong, reportedly to avoid incurring further debt related to her family.
Currently, Zhao Wei’s bank and investment accounts have been frozen. Despite his high profile, he is reportedly unable to repay debts of up to RMB 14,000 (about $1,900). Some netizens claim that he has transferred his assets abroad, which is why he cannot fulfill national obligations.
Sources: kenh14
