Leading Chinese Film Star Fan Bingbing Has a Massive Net Worth
The entertainment world is a global stage and Chinese actor Fan Bingbing is one of the most famous players.
She may not have any leading roles in United States based Hollywood productions, but she has had cameos in some of the industry’s biggest blockbusters such as X-Men: Days of Future Past. The 38-year-old entertainer is also the most famous leading lady in China.
Bingbing is a hard worker, which led her to become the top-paid Chinese celebrity for four years running. With hundreds of movies and international fame, the X-Men alum has managed to amass millions of dollars over her career.
Unfortunately, all that attention turned ominous when she disappeared briefly in 2018 after cheating the Chinese government out of tax payments.
Fan Bingbing got an early start in acting
Not much is known about Bingbing’s early life in China beyond the fact that she was born Sept. 16, 1981, in Qingdao and was raised in Yantai. Her passion for acting led her to Shanghai Xie Jin Film and Television Art College and Shanghai Theatre Academy.
The model and actor first got noticed in the Chinese television series My Fair Princess, which became popular enough to gain her name recognition across her home country.
According to Vanity Fair, Bingbing is described as baifumei, a phrase meaning pale-skinned, rich, and beautiful. Many of her fans have undergone cosmetic surgery to copy her “melon seed” face.
Her star rose quickly, leading to a massive fortune
She was offered multiple movie roles after becoming famous and started winning awards for her work, including Best Actress at the 27th Hundred Flowers Awards (equivalent to the Golden Globes). In 2006, Bingbing was named Star of the Year in Forbes China.
Thanks to her extraordinary popularity and multiple movie roles plus endorsements, Bingbing has managed to earn an estimated net worth of $100 million, Daily Mail reported. But that wealth didn’t come without consequence.
Bingbing mysteriously disappeared in 2018
The star’s fans went into an uproar when she went missing in May 2018 following a serious tax evasion scandal. Chinese TV host Cui Yongyuan shared two versions of Bingbing’s contract for the upcoming film Cell Phone 2, seemingly indicating she was reporting a smaller salary to avoid paying more taxes. The actor’s production company denied any part in the scam, claiming they never had her sign two contracts.
Millions of adoring fans were terrified when Bingbing disappeared without a trace following the investigation and some out-of-character behavior from the country’s most famous star. Conspiracy theories went wild until finally, on Oct. 3 of the same year, Bingbing reappeared just as suddenly with an apology.
Bingbing came back with an apology
She shared on social media that she felt “ashamed and guilty” for not “setting a good example for society and the industry.”
Bingbing wrote: “Today I’m facing enormous fears and worries over the mistakes I made! I have failed the country, society’s support and trust, and the love of my devoted fans! I offer my sincere apology here once again! I beg for everyone’s forgiveness!”
Apparently, Bingbing was ordered to pay millions in taxes and penalties to avoid prosecution. Even so, she remains one of the richest women in China.
