China’s 15-Year Divorce Battle Ends with Record $75 Million Alimony
Beijing court orders investor Zhao Bingxian, dubbed “China’s Warren Buffett,” to split assets with ex-wife Lu Juan after years-long legal fight
A marathon divorce case in China lasting 15 years has concluded with a landmark ruling ordering an alimony payment of 536 million yuan (approximately US$75 million), drawing widespread attention across Chinese social media.
The case involves 63-year-old Zhao Bingxian — often called “China’s Warren Buffett” for his success in financial investments — and his ex-wife Lu Juan. The Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court ruled that the couple must evenly split their shares in Beijing Zhongzheng Wanrong Investment Group, an investment firm they co-founded. Zhao will now pay Lu her half based on the current value of their jointly owned shares, the report said.
The ruling came after years of legal battles. The company Shandong Wohua Pharmaceutical, listed in Shenzhen, disclosed the judgment on November 4, noting that Zhongzheng Wanrong is its parent company and Zhao serves as Wohua’s chairman.
Zhao, who earned a master’s degree in finance from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in the 1980s, met Lu while serving in the People’s Liberation Army in 1986. They married two years later and went on to build a joint business empire that eventually led to this long-drawn legal battle.
The verdict, issued in early November during the second hearing, marks one of the largest divorce settlements in Chinese legal history. The decision has sparked widespread debate online about property division, spousal rights, and transparency in high-profile divorces in China.