A financial and custody dispute between Chinese gaming tycoon Xu Bo and his former partner Tang Jing has erupted into a viral scandal, drawing nationwide attention across Chinese social media.
Born in 1977, Xu Bo rose to fame in China’s gaming industry despite dropping out of middle school. He developed the blockbuster game Fantasy Westward Journey and founded Duoyi Network in 2006. The company reportedly earned over 2 billion yuan annually, with net profits surpassing 1 billion yuan ($140 million) by 2017, according to the South China Morning Post.
Xu met Tang Jing in 2009 through a matchmaking website. At the time, she claimed to be a university student. Though they lived together for 14 years, the couple never legally married. The dispute centers on 300 million yuan ($42 million) Xu claims Tang still owes him. He alleges that between 2012 and 2018, he transferred 819 million yuan ($115 million) to her. Tang repaid 515 million yuan ($72 million), but Xu filed a lawsuit in 2024 for the remaining amount.
Tang responded publicly on November 15, claiming the money was primarily used to raise what she described as a “family of 300 children.” She wrote, “For over 10 years, the cost of maintaining and caring for this large family was immense. Most of the money went toward our daily living expenses.” She also stated that the children do not have official household registration.
When questioned whether “300 children” was a typo, Tang insisted, “No. That number might even be undercounted, but it’s certainly not exaggerated.” She added that in one court ruling, the judge sided with her and rejected Xu’s claim for the 300 million yuan. Tang also said she is currently raising 11 children fathered by Xu and is in a custody battle for their two daughters.
In response, Duoyi Network released a statement on November 16, condemning the spread of misinformation and urging social media platforms to take action.
Xu Bo, long a controversial figure in China, has frequently drawn criticism for promoting sexist views and polygamy. He previously posted on social media seeking girlfriends with the goal of “having at least 50 high-quality sons.” He listed strict criteria for potential partners and even renamed his account to “Having More Children Solves Everything.”
Claiming a personal fortune of 28 billion yuan ($4 billion), Xu boasted of having fathered 12 children with different women. He often described himself as a “rare elite man” and aspired to raise 50 sons into societal elites—at least 10 of whom, he claimed, would become top achievers.
Xu’s workplace practices have also come under fire. Employees were reportedly required to submit “thank-you envelopes” after one year of service. Those who refused had to write self-reflection letters. He also encouraged staff to “voluntarily” reduce their salaries by 10% and express gratitude for the opportunity. Departing employees were asked to reimburse the company for cafeteria meals at 30 yuan ($4) per meal.
Sources: Znews
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