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| Chinese Influencer’s Income Sparks Industry Debate (Photo: Weibo) |
Fame does not always equal fortune, and a viral discussion from China this week proves just how brutal that gap can be. A Chinese internet celebrity with millions of followers has revealed that her current monthly income barely reaches USD 700, while a television actress casually mentioned earning the same amount in a single working day. The contrast has reignited public debate about money, visibility, and sustainability inside China’s entertainment and creator economy.
The conversation exploded after the topic “internet celebrity with millions of followers reveals monthly income of only 5,000 yuan” began trending on Weibo on 3 February 2026. At the centre of the discussion is Wang Yi Meng, a well-known content creator in China’s cosplay and ACG scene.
Once considered a top-tier influencer, Wang Yimeng openly shared that her current combined income from advertising, commercial events, short drama appearances, and stage performances sits at around 5,000 yuan per month, roughly USD 700.
In weaker months, her actual take-home pay can drop below 3,000 yuan.
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What shocked many netizens is that Wang Yimeng still has around 6 million followers, a number that would usually suggest stable brand value. However, this is a steep fall from her peak years between 2020 and 2021, when her following surpassed 21 million.
Back then, her advertising fee reportedly reached 80,000 yuan per post, and over three years she is said to have earned about 3 million yuan, enough to buy a home outright without a mortgage.
Fast forward to now, and the situation looks very different. Wang Yimeng shared that her current advertising rate has dropped to around 28,000 yuan per post, but brand offers have become rare.
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When working on short drama projects, she earns about 2,000 yuan per day on paper. After agency cuts, team salaries, and operational expenses, her personal income shrinks to roughly 500 yuan per day.
Wang is signed to an MCN management company, which handles brand negotiations, contracts, and income distribution. While MCNs offer access to resources and platforms, many creators say the revenue split leaves them with only a small slice of the total earnings.
Adding to the pressure, Wang Yimeng revealed that she spends around 9,000 yuan per month on appearance and image maintenance alone, meaning her expenses consistently exceed her income.
Industry figures suggest Wang Yimeng’s case is far from rare. Data shows that over 95 percent of streamers in China earn less than 5,000 yuan per month, while fewer than one percent make over 100,000 yuan monthly. The creator economy, once seen as a fast track to financial freedom, now looks increasingly top-heavy and unstable.
The contrast became even sharper after actress Cui Jingge shared her own experience.
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She revealed that while filming the drama Twenty Your Life On, she earned 5,000 yuan per day over eight days, totalling 40,000 yuan in gross pay.
Despite the seemingly decent figure, Cui Jingge later stated that she has already left the entertainment industry, saying she earned only a small amount compared to the effort and hardship involved.
For wider context, China’s minimum monthly wage in 2026 ranges from around 2,300 to 2,700 yuan in major cities, and 1,800 to 2,200 yuan in smaller or less-developed regions. This puts Wang Yimeng’s current income only slightly above minimum wage levels, despite her massive online following.
Online reactions to the story are sharply divided. Some fans expressed sympathy, saying the influencer economy has become overcrowded and unforgiving, with platforms and agencies taking the biggest share.
Others argued that Wang Yimeng already benefited greatly during her peak years and should now adapt or move on. A third group questioned the transparency of influencer earnings altogether, pointing out that income can fluctuate wildly depending on timing, contracts, and connections.
Is follower count still meaningful? Are influencers being fairly compensated? And is the dream of online fame still worth chasing in 2026?