 |
| Vicki Zhao Wei’s Shares Frozen – Chinese Actress Now Left With Just One Company (Weibo/Instagram) |
Chinese superstar and former “Four Dan” actress Zhao Wei – better known internationally as Vicki Zhao – seems to be going through a serious rough patch, both in business and public image.
According to Chinese media reports this week, most of Vicki Zhao’s shares in various companies have been frozen, effectively leaving her with ownership of just one TV production company that’s apparently not doing too well either.
The once-thriving actress-turned-businesswoman, who shot to fame in the late ‘90s, was long admired not just for her acting chops but also her sharp entrepreneurial instincts.
Zhao Wei began investing in multiple ventures as early as 1999, later teaming up with her ex-husband, Singaporean investor Huang Youlong. The pair reportedly built a business empire worth around 4.5 billion yuan (roughly USD 625 million) by 2019 – landing her a spot on the Hurun China Rich List at no. 912.
 |
But things have taken a dramatic turn in recent years. Netizens first started raising eyebrows in 2021 when Vicky Zhao's name was suddenly scrubbed from major film award websites and all her dramas and movies were mysteriously pulled from Chinese video platforms.
Brand endorsements also quietly vanished. While there’s never been an official explanation, online chatter suspects that she may have been “soft banned” – a vague but widely understood phenomenon in Chinese showbiz where celebs get blacklisted without formal charges, often tied to politics, money, or morality clauses.
Now with most of her assets frozen, Vicki Zhao seems to be holding on to just one registered firm, which itself is reportedly facing financial difficulties. Chinese outlet QQ shared that the actress is no longer the high-flying mogul she once was, and recent unfiltered paparazzi photos have sparked concern, with fans saying she appears noticeably aged and tired.
At 49, Zhao Wei remains a household name across Asia thanks to her iconic roles in series like My Fair Princess (还珠格格) and films like Shaolin Soccer. She’s also dabbled in directing and music, cementing her legacy as one of China’s most versatile stars.
She made a rare personal statement at the end of last year, confirming that she and Huang Youlong had divorced “many years ago,” though she didn’t give any more details.
Despite everything, longtime fans are still rooting for her. As one commenter on Weibo put it, “She’s still Vicki Zhao – the legend. No matter what’s happening now, she’s already made history.”