Actress Zhao Wei has once again become the center of controversy as media accounts accuse her of concealing assets abroad to evade financial liability 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 multiple media accounts posted aggressive allegations claiming the My Fair Princess star was deliberately avoiding compensation by hiding her wealth overseas. A popular Weibo account wrote: “Zhao Wei is truly malicious she’s hidden all her assets abroad while leaving the 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 their unethical reporting. “It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to see these self-righteous people throwing insults while pretending to act in the name of justice,” he said. “Such media figures lack any professional ethics. They fabricate stories without shame, and their so-called righteous outrage is just a greedy pursuit of attention and profit.”
Zhao Jian also denied allegations that his sister had set up complex financial structures like offshore trusts. He emphasized their intention to seek legal action to protect Zhao Wei’s reputation and legal rights.
This isn’t the first time Zhao Jian has stepped in to defend his sister. In July, he addressed rumors linking Zhao Wei to a human trafficking and illegal gambling ring operating out of Myanmar, firmly denying any involvement.
He also criticized certain media for deliberately shaping public opinion against Zhao Wei, portraying her as a domineering figure with unchecked influence in the entertainment world an image he insists is far from reality.
Zhao Wei was abruptly 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 their peak, the couple’s fortune reportedly reached $1 billion, earning Zhao the nickname “the female Warren Buffett.”
However, in 2018, the China Securities Regulatory Commission fined both Zhao and Huang 300,000 RMB (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 downfall, and she later faced over 400 lawsuits from disgruntled investors and partners.
Zhao Wei 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 taking on further debt related to his family.
Currently, Zhao Wei’s bank and investment accounts have been frozen. Despite her high profile, she is reportedly unable to pay off debts as small as 14,000 RMB (around $1,900). Some netizens allege that she has moved her assets overseas, which is why she cannot settle domestic obligations.
Sources: kenh14