A 15-year-long divorce battle has captivated China and the world, with a jaw-dropping alimony settlement. The story involves a wealthy businessman, Zhao Bingxian, and his ex-wife, Lu Juan, who are now at the center of a social media storm.
The Beijing court's ruling has ordered Mr. Zhao, often dubbed the 'Chinese Warren Buffett', to pay a staggering US$75 million to his former spouse. This amount represents half of the shares in Beijing Zhongzheng Wanrong Investment Group, a company they co-owned.
But here's the twist: The case's outcome wasn't revealed by the court or the couple, but by a pharmaceutical company, Shandong Wohua, listed in Shenzhen. The company disclosed the news as Zhao is its chairman and Zhongzheng Wanrong is its parent organization.
Zhao, a financial genius with a master's from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, met Lu during their army service in the 1980s. Their marriage, which began in 1988, lasted until the divorce proceedings started in 2008. Lu's family has a long history of investments, dating back to pre-1949 China.
This divorce settlement has sparked intense discussions online, with many questioning the fairness of such a substantial award. Is this a victory for women's rights, or an excessive financial burden on the husband? The debate rages on, with no clear consensus in sight.
