Li Yapeng, famously known as “Guo Jing,” has shocked the public after pulling off a remarkable business comeback, generating a staggering 7 billion RMB in revenue in just one year. This achievement comes after years in which his business ventures were widely viewed as repeated failures, leaving him buried under massive debt and prompting fans to urge him to return to acting.
For audiences, Li Yapeng is often remembered as a beloved childhood “male god” who walked away from showbiz to pursue business, only to suffer loss after loss. Once admired for daring to abandon fame, he instead became synonymous with failed investments and overwhelming debt. Despite constant calls for him to return to acting to repay what he owed, Li Yapeng remained firm in his decision not to make a screen comeback, choosing instead to earn a living through livestream sales.
Few expected that at the age of 53, Li Yapeng would stage such an impressive reversal. According to 163, the revenue of his company reached an astonishing 7 billion RMB within a single year. While the exact profit figure has not been disclosed, his strong rebound from the depths of debt has left netizens in awe especially given that his personal life has been far from smooth, as he finalized his divorce from his beauty queen wife just months ago.
What has impressed the public even more is that during his most difficult financial period, Li Yapeng continued to maintain his charitable activities, which he has carried out consistently for nearly 20 years, helping countless people in need. Recently, his adopted daughter who lost both legs in the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake and has been supported by Li Yapeng for 17 years moved many by writing a heartfelt letter expressing her gratitude. She described Li Yapeng as “the elder I respect the most,” prompting widespread admiration for his compassion and integrity.
Li Yapeng is one of the most iconic male leads in Jin Yong’s wuxia universe, leaving a lasting impression through works such as Laughing in the Wind, The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Royal Swordsmen. After leaving the entertainment industry, he was once admired as an “intellectual heartthrob” who gave up fame to pursue business ambitions. Unfortunately, his investments collapsed one after another, leading to consequences far more severe than expected.
Due to repeated losses, the The Legend of the Condor Heroes star once said to own assets worth 1 billion RMB lost his luxury villas and supercars, had to rent modest housing, and shouldered massive debts. In 2023, he was even placed on China’s list of “untrustworthy individuals,” preventing him from taking out loans and restricting air travel due to unpaid debts. Li Yapeng admitted that the crushing financial pressure severely affected his health, mental state, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, his recent business turnaround has brought relief not only to himself but also to fans who long worried about his situation.
In his personal life, Li Yapeng previously went through a high-profile divorce from diva Faye Wong and has a daughter, Li Yan, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. After successful treatment and surgeries, she has grown into a graceful young woman and occasionally helps her father during livestream sales. In 2022, Li Yapeng married beauty queen Haiha Jinxi, who is 19 years his junior, and welcomed his second daughter. However, after three years together, the couple announced their divorce this past October, surprising many.
From financial ruin to a jaw-dropping annual turnover, Li Yapeng’s story has once again placed him in the spotlight this time not as a wuxia hero on screen, but as a real-life figure who managed to rise from the lowest point of his life.
Sources: K14
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