What Has Happened to Li Xiang? Insiders Reveal Shocking Details

Former Hunan TV "first sister" Li Xiang. (Internet image)

[People News] Recently, former Hunan TV "first sister" Li Xiang has made headlines in the mainland entertainment industry. On January 16, her social media accounts on Weibo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu were all banned from being followed. Shortly after the suspension of her accounts, reports emerged that "more than ten of her companies have been deregistered." Notably, just two days earlier, she was in the spotlight at an official gala, and now, the situation has taken a dramatic turn. What exactly has Li Xiang gotten involved in? Speculation is rife online, with theories ranging from flaunting wealth and money laundering to economic crimes.

Li Xiang was born on February 10, 1976, into a well-off family in Changsha, Hunan Province. Her father was a soldier, and she grew up in a military compound. After graduating from Beijing Broadcasting Institute in 1996, she hosted "Evening News" and "Lanterns in the Dusk" at Hunan TV. In 1997, she became the host of Hunan TV's popular entertainment variety show "Happy Camp," which quickly gained nationwide popularity. By around 2000, at just 23 years old, her annual salary had already exceeded one million. According to industry insiders, her endorsement fee at that time reached as high as two million. In addition to hosting and endorsements, Li Xiang also ventured into acting and music. At that time, her popularity and resources were remarkable, and her career success allowed her to build a substantial financial foundation.

Li Xiang has experienced two marriages. In July 2004, the 28-year-old Li Xiang met 'diamond tycoon' Li Houlin, who was then the chairman of Hengxin Diamond Company with a net worth exceeding 3 billion. Just 33 days after their first meeting, they had a whirlwind marriage, which led many to speculate about undisclosed secrets behind their union. The lavish wedding banquet, luxurious villa, private jet, and ostentatious pigeon egg diamond ring concealed numerous hidden interests. However, this marriage between a wealthy businessman and a celebrity ended in just over a year. Following their divorce, Li Houlin remarked that 'any woman picked up off the street is better than Li Xiang.' 

In 2005, Li Xiang met mainland director Wang Yuelun while working on music videos for two songs. They registered their marriage in January 2009, and in October of that year, Li Xiang gave birth to their daughter, Wang Shiling. Wang Yuelun's income was significantly lower than Li Xiang's, which led to him being labelled as a 'stay-at-home husband' by the public. In July 2021, the couple divorced, with rumours of Wang Yuelun's infidelity surfacing. He left the marriage with nothing and stated in a post that their long-term personality conflicts had led to the breakdown of their relationship.

After leaving Hunan Television, Li Xiang gradually entered the fields of corporate investment and management, with her affiliated enterprises spanning various sectors, including film and television media, equity investment, and business services. Within Li Xiang's business portfolio, real estate investment holds a central role in her wealth strategy. As early as the late 1990s, she invested her savings in the Beijing real estate market, adhering to the principle that 'location is king' by acquiring high-quality properties between the third and fourth ring roads. It is rumoured that she once owned more than 70 properties. During the 2008 financial crisis, she took advantage of the downturn to invest in Wangfujing commercial street in Beijing, later reselling for several times the purchase price, which solidified her reputation as the 'Queen of Real Estate.' 

Reports suggest that Li Xiang's net worth is around 50 billion yuan. If anyone in the mainland entertainment industry is known for flaunting wealth, it would be Li Xiang, who seems to be the type that is eager for others to know just how wealthy she is. She resembles a nouveau riche, openly displaying her wealth and often undermining the self-esteem of ordinary people. 

With a monthly food budget of 600,000 yuan, her breakfast includes a bee glue-filled bun costing over a thousand yuan, watches worth millions that she can't even keep track of, a ten-million-yuan Rolls-Royce as a birthday gift for her daughter, and even her slippers are handmade silk embroidered versions. Netizens have mockingly pointed out that it’s no surprise Li Xiang has gained weight, as she consumes over 4,000 yuan worth of Wagyu beef for breakfast. 

Consequently, after her multi-platform accounts were reported to be banned from following on the morning of January 16, and despite Li Xiang and her team remaining silent, netizens speculated that she may have crossed the regulatory red line regarding 'flaunting wealth and materialism.'

In addition to showcasing wealth, netizens have discovered that, according to data from Qichacha, 14 out of the 20 affiliated companies under Li Xiang's (Li Xiang) name were reported to have been cancelled in the early hours of the day the ban was imposed, resulting in a cancellation rate of 70%. Such frequent corporate changes at this juncture inevitably raise suspicions.

Data from Qichacha indicates that among the 20 affiliated companies under Li Xiang's name, 14 were shown to be cancelled on the day the ban was imposed. (Internet image)

Industry insiders have suggested that this situation is related to tax issues. Sources indicate that the rapid cancellation of companies is essentially a strategy to 'cut off the risk chain,' and that Li Xiang's tax issues are currently under verification, although no public announcement has been made yet.

Another speculation involves economic crimes. Last December, Li Xiang's first ex-husband, Li Houlin, was criminally detained for economic crimes, along with his brother and sister. Just a month later, Li Xiang was implicated in issues. Consequently, many netizens are questioning whether there is a connection between their assets. From real estate to jewellery, is Li Xiang's money truly clean?

Shortly after Li Xiang was banned from public attention, another major scandal emerged, involving a nickname for an entertainment star linked to a significant money laundering case. Netizens have deciphered that this may involve Li Xiang, Zhao Wei, Ni Ping, and Jet Li. The scandal surprisingly ties back to Chen Zhi, a 'billion-dollar telecom fraud kingpin' who was repatriated from Cambodia.

Chen Zhi was deported back to China on January 7, and just a week later, Li Xiang's account was banned. This striking coincidence has sparked endless speculation among netizens. Rumours suggest that Li Xiang may have facilitated money laundering for Chen Zhi's telecom fraud group through her businesses or investment projects. There are also theories that she might have been involved in some of the illegal operations of Chen Zhi's group and profited from them. However, these remain unsubstantiated claims at this point.

Regardless of whether Li Xiang is genuinely implicated in Chen Zhi's money laundering scandal, there have been longstanding online suspicions regarding her involvement in money laundering, which also touches on her daughter, Wang Shiling. Years ago, it was reported that Wang Shiling's painting, titled 'Peach Picture,' was sold for 1.45 million, prompting some netizens to question the actual value of the artwork. Some recalled the Korean drama 'The Glory of Darkness,' which revealed money laundering schemes in high society conducted through art exhibitions and the buying and selling of artworks. Coincidentally, Wang Shiling has also held an art exhibition. Li Xiang had previously boasted on social media about Wang Shiling winning a foreign award, which sounded impressive, but a British netizen later exposed that the award was less prestigious than that of a community cultural centre. This raises suspicions that Li Xiang may have been deliberately inflating the value of Wang Shiling's artwork. Given Wang Shiling's artistic abilities, is there something suspicious behind the high auction price of 1.45 million?

According to online reports, a painting titled 'Peaches' by Wang Shiling has been sold for 1.45 million. (Image from the internet)

It remains unclear exactly where Li Xiang has stumbled. However, whether it involves flaunting wealth, tax evasion, or money laundering, the core issue in these economic crimes ultimately boils down to one word: 'money.'

In addition to Li Xiang (Li Xiang) showcasing her wealth with a monthly food expense of 600,000 yuan, mainland China's national first-class actor Yan Xuejing (Yan Xuejing) ignited public outrage by live-streaming her 'crying poor' on December 29 of last year. During the live stream, she casually mentioned her son's household income, claiming that an annual income of several hundred thousand yuan was insufficient. Netizens uncovered multiple luxury properties registered in her name, a closet filled with high-end goods, and her short video advertisements priced at 120,000 yuan each, with live-stream sales surpassing ten million yuan. Yan Xuejing's Versailles-style 'crying poor' image has completely collapsed.

Mainland China's national first-class actor Yan Xuejing live-streamed her 'crying poor' on December 29 of last year. (Internet image)

While domestic entertainment stars flaunt their wealth, the public in mainland China struggles to afford heating during winter, 'only able to freeze.' To ensure air quality in Beijing and maintain blue skies and white clouds in the capital, northern China has enforced a ban on burning coal in rural areas in recent years, allowing only natural gas or electric heating. Many farmers simply cannot afford the heating costs of 3,000 to 5,000 yuan for the winter and are left to burn dry branches and corn cobs for warmth.

The classic lines from Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu, 'The rich man's door reeks of wine and meat, while the bones of the frozen lie on the road,' starkly highlight social injustice and the suffering of the people. Today, this scene is being replayed in what the Chinese Communist Party claims to be a prosperous China.

(People News first published)
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