Xi Purged, Fined $126M: How Fan Bingbing Survives, Sells 20M in 10s While Zhao Wei Vanished

After seven years of being frozen out of the mainland Chinese entertainment industry and five years without a single film project, Fan Bingbing has made an unexpected return to the spotlight. Not at home, but in Malaysia. In the state of Malacca, the former red carpet queen was conferred the honorary title of Datuk, a distinction akin to knighthood, awarded in recognition of her contributions to promoting Malaysian tourism on the global stage. Dazzling in three gowns designed by local fashion houses, fans set international media buzz, and her story of withering at home but blooming abroad instantly became a hot topic of discussion. In July 2025, a Sina Finance article drew widespread attention with the headline, earning 1.45 billion yuan a year, Fan Bingbing makes a comeback through this business venture. The article spotlighted none other than Fan Bingbing, once dubbed the queen of scandals. After the infamous yin-yang contract controversy and the tax storm of 2018, Fan Bingbing all but disappeared from the public eye for six or seven years. This time, her return to the spotlight isn't as a movie star, but as the founder of the beauty brand Fan Beauty. According to 2024 statistics, the brand reached an annual revenue of 1.45 billion yuan, ranking 35th in the cosmetics industry. Netizens were stunned over the science-like countless rumors Ms. Fan had quietly pivoted her career, recovered, and reinvented herself. The article notes that China's cosmetics market is currently undergoing a restructuring. Several once-popular internet famous brands have faced ongoing losses and faded from the spotlight. For example, Hong Kong cosmetics retail giant Sasa International fully withdrew from the shutting down all physical stores. Even well-known names like Watsons and Sephora have seen declining sales and losses, forcing them to close some locations. These are the inevitable consequences of China's gloomy economic climate. Yet amid all this, Fan Bingbing's Fan Beauty has consistently maintained steady growth from 2021 to 2024, a truly noteworthy achievement. So where did this success come from? Does Fan Bingbing possess exceptional business acumen, or is there another factor at play? What does her case reveal about the entertainment industry in the post-blacklist era? Let's explore the answers in today's program. Fortune Telling and an Unexpected Arrest One day in August 2018, Fan Bingbing quietly arrived at Deji Plaza in Nanjing. She went straight to the 20th floor, to a place called Puqi Tang. The owner of this place was a well-known feng shui master and fortune teller nicknamed Little Immortal, Xiao Shenxian, whose real name was Shen Aihu. Despite the feminine-sounding name, he was actually a young man with a round, doll-like face. Little Immortal had been specially invited to Nanjing from Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, by Deji Plaza's owner Wu Tiequan, who promised, If your predictions are accurate, I'll give you an office. Apparently, his predictions were spot on because he ended up settling at Puqi Tang in Deji Plaza. Once he arrived, Nanjing's business elite began flocking to him, some for fortune telling, others for feng shui consultations. Naturally, his services didn't come cheap. A single session could cost anywhere from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan. This time, Fan Bingbing came seeking guidance, a way to ward off the bad luck surrounding the scandal ignited by TV host Kui Yongyuan's exposure of her yin-yang contracts. It's said she paid a hefty sum, reportedly up to two million yuan. But just as Little Immortal was reading her fortune, a group of people suddenly burst in. Upon closer look, it turned out to be the police. Fan Bingbing, Wu Tiequan, and Little Immortal were all taken into custody. This dramatic scene was later revealed by reporter Qiu Zimin of Economic Observer. Qiu also reported that, in order to avoid attracting attention, the police covered Fan Bingbing's head and took her from the elevator straight to the underground parking lot, where she was placed into a police car and driven away. Although Qiu Zimin eventually deleted the post, the news had already been picked up and republished by various media outlets, including France's RFI, Radio France Internationale. Officially, the incident was described as inviting relevant persons to assist in the investigation, but in reality, it was a form of forced detainment, almost like a secret abduction. Though Fan Bingbing was merely an actress with no political power, her high profile meant the authorities handled the matter with extreme discretion and tight control over information leaks. According to Qiu, even when Fan needed to use the restroom during the transfer, police cleared out the entire restroom area at a service station so she could use it privately. Afterward, Fan Bingbing and four core members of her team, including her manager and accountant, were taken to a hotel in Beijing and placed under house arrest. The investigation process was kept entirely confidential. It wasn't until October 2018 that the tax authorities announced their conclusion on Fan Bingbing's yin-yang contract case. She was ordered to pay additional taxes and fines, totaling around 900 million yuan. Because she showed good cooperation and remorse, she avoided criminal prosecution. But her acting career was effectively destroyed, dealt a blow like never before. Brands quickly terminated their endorsement deals with her, vanishing like scattered birds. Even her fans lamented that this time, Ms. Fan was truly finished. It seemed unlikely she'd ever bounce back. So after such a devastating fall, what did Fan Bingbing do? Did she give up or accept her fate in silence? A business boom like a kite in the wind. Though Fan Bingbing disappeared from the silver screen, she never sat idle. On one hand, she scrambled to gather funds to pay the massive tax bill and fines. On the other, she was already planning her comeback, a reinvention. According to the Sina Finance article, the success of Fan Beauty largely stems from Fan Bingbing's ability to manage and activate her fanbase. She could be considered a top-tier influencer, but unlike many others, she brings her own massive following. Even without collaborating with other streamers, she's capable of selling tens of millions of yuan worth of products with ease. Fan Beauty boasts 3.77 million followers on Tmall, 330,000 on Xiaohongshu Red and 1.14 million on Douyin TikTok China. In 2025, she teamed up with top-tier live streamer Li Jiaqi and on June 18th, they sold 20 million yuan worth of goods in just 10 seconds. While this result may have had promotional backing, it still set a new sales record for Fan Beauty. Some might ask, Fan Bingbing had to pay back taxes and fines totaling 900 million yuan. Without help from wealthy backers like Wu Tiequan, would she have been able to afford it? Not to mention, launching a new brand involves heavy marketing costs. Some people have calculated her earnings. According to business database Chichacha, Fan Bingbing is the legal representative of five companies, a shareholder in seven, and holds senior executive roles in nine companies. From 2013 to 2017, she topped Forbes China's celebrity list for five consecutive years with annual earnings as follows. 2013 – 110 million yuan 2014 – 122 million yuan 2015 – 128 million yuan 2016 – 240 million yuan 2017 – 300 million yuan That totals roughly 900 million yuan over five years. Adding unreported income, including overseas investments, it's plausible that she could grit her teeth and cover the penalties. Still, her personal wealth undoubtedly took a huge hit. To survive, she had to carve out a new path, and managing fans alone wouldn't have brought such a quick recovery. This is where her well-established network began to shine. After stepping away from acting, she used her connections to pave the way for her younger brother, Fan Chengcheng, to enter the entertainment industry. And the strategy worked well. Fan Chengcheng debuted through the talent competition show Idol Producer, introduced as Fan Bingbing's younger brother, which immediately drew public attention and helped him make a successful debut. The brand halo effect of his sister gave him an initial boost. After the 2018 tax scandal, while industry insiders were hesitant to help Fan Bingbing directly, many lent their support to Fan Chengcheng. Money and connections flowed together. The brother became a representative figure to gather resources, which in turn circled back to help his sister get back on her feet. Fan Bingbing's network wasn't limited to mainland China. She had deep ties in Hong Kong as well. During her time working with brothers, she formed close relationships with major figures in the Hong Kong film industry, such as Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, and had a particularly strong connection with Emperor Group boss Albert Yeung Tsao-Shing. Many of the films she starred in were backed by Emperor Group. After the 2018 tax scandal, her Hong Kong network expanded even further. On December 24, 2024, the media reported that Fan Bingbing attended a family banquet at the mansion of 88-year-old Hong Kong shipping tycoon Zhao Shizeng at 200 Doherty Road in The Peak. Zhao Shizeng, known for his extravagant lifestyle and long list of romantic entanglements, stunned Japanese reporters with the size of his mansion, said to rival the Tokyo Dome and even grander than that of Hong Kong's richest man, Li Kexing. Reporters noted that Zhao had sent a private luxury car to personally escort Fan Bingbing to the event. At the banquet, the two interacted warmly, even dancing together. Fan Bingbing performed with enthusiasm. Also in attendance were Zhao's two sons and his eldest daughter. Despite his reputation, Zhao had chosen to remain unmarried, possibly to avoid inheritance disputes. Fan Bingbing's presence at such an intimate family event, including a private tour of Zhao wanted her to become the ambassador for one of his real estate projects. But among all the actresses and beautiful women in the world, why choose Fan Bingbing, who is now over 40? In mainland China, she still carries the label of a disgraced celebrity. Establishing ties with a figure like shipping king Zhao Shizeng clearly carries implications beyond mere business. This move is the latest in Fan Bingbing's strategic web of relationships, one that could play a crucial role in rebranding and repositioning her business ambitions. On June 1, 2024, the Hong Kong Economic Times reported that Fan Bingbing had officially relocated to Hong Kong, signaling the city would become her new career base. She rented a luxury apartment in the prestigious mid-levels area, with a monthly rent of HKD It seems her toughest years are behind her. She has successfully recovered and reinvented herself. Fan Bingbing is a rare case in China's entertainment industry. The road to stardom for female celebrities in China is riddled with unspoken rules. Becoming famous is already difficult, but staying famous means avoiding becoming prey to powerful officials or tycoons, all while enduring constant public scrutiny and gossip. A female actor's prime is brief. Once public opinion turns, all previous efforts can vanish overnight. Very few, after being publicly cancelled, manage to pivot and make a successful comeback like Fan Bingbing. In a different time, under different circumstances, she might truly have been a business genius. The Unspoken Rules of China's Entertainment Industry Fan Bingbing is one of the rare cases of a celebrity who managed to bounce back swiftly after being blacklisted. In contrast, Xiaowei has remained silent for four years, and it's still unclear whether she'll ever reclaim her former glory. Kris Wu is still in prison. His career is completely over. Even worse, Angela Baby, despite only being banned from public appearances for a year after attending a black-pink burlesque-style show in France, has also faced significant setbacks. Recently, reports suggest she returned to Hong Kong in search of new work opportunities. But not only was she photographed appearing noticeably out of shape, she was also allegedly scolded in public by her manager. According to Hong Kong media outlet East Week, 36-year-old Angela Baby is said to be trying to restart her career in Hong Kong. She's been spotted on the streets of Central, frequently clearly making efforts to re-enter the industry. On one occasion, she was seen with her manager, who appeared to be raising their voice and gesturing at her, much like a superior reprimanding a subordinate. Meanwhile, Angela Baby simply listened quietly and smiled politely. Later, someone claiming to be a close friend of hers revealed These days, she pretty much accepts any job her manager can find. She's no longer as selective as she used to be. In reality, to soar high in the entertainment world, a celebrity needs solid backing. Fan Bingbing was able to recover quickly because she skillfully leveraged her long-standing network of relationships. At the very least, her backers weren't This is a harsh truth in China. Being a star may seem like the pinnacle of glamour, but in reality, celebrities often live on the edge. If they align with the right faction, they rise like a kite in favorable winds. But if they choose the wrong side, the result is often nothing but downfall and regret. Because in China, the film and television industry is not just about entertainment, it's also a money-making arena for the powerful. What do you think of Fan Bingbing's incredible comeback? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for watching and see you next time.