Wealth ranking clarifies China’s youngest female billionaire Zhang Zetian’s net worth

Zhang Zetian, considered China’s youngest female billionaire. Photo from Zhang’s Instagram

The South China Morning Post reported that Hurun’s list of billionaires from notable universities, published last Friday, included Tsinghua University alumna Zhang Zetian. Her net worth was stated as 60 billion yuan (US$8.4 billion).

This valuation positioned Zhang third on the list, trailing only behind food delivery giant Meituan’s founder Wang Xing and property developer Parkland Group’s founder Xu Hang.

Skepticism arose among Chinese netizens regarding the legitimacy of Zhang’s fortune following the release of the list, prompting Hurun to clarify on Monday, as per Malaysian news outlet The Star, that Zhang’s 60-billion-yuan wealth is indeed shared with her spouse.

Zhang’s husband, 51-year-old Liu Qiangdong, is the chairman of the major Chinese e-commerce company JD.com.

Zhang, 31, is frequently cited as China’s youngest female billionaire.

She was accepted into the prestigious Tsinghua University in 2011 and gained notoriety for her appearance. It is reported that acclaimed director Zhang Yimou approached her for a role in his film “The Flowers of War,” but she declined to concentrate on her education.

Since her marriage to Liu, she has reportedly assumed significant responsibilities at JD.com.

The Wall Street Journal reported that her husband Liu faced a detention in Minnesota in 2018 on suspicion of rape. Liu’s attorney denied the allegations, citing a lack of evidence. However, a Chinese-American University of Minnesota student subsequently accused Liu of sexual assault, leading to a lawsuit against him that was settled in 2022.

After his lawsuit was settled, Liu acknowledged Zhang’s enduring support during the legal proceedings, stating: “Without her, I couldn’t have made it to this day. I will cherish, care for, and protect my family.”

Zhang is also a notable figure in the Chinese fashion scene with her regular appearances at international fashion weeks and the Cannes Film Festival, according to Sina.