Wealthy rising China star Esther Yu known for bold fashion sense forges own path

Chinese actress Esther Yu Shuxin, who is known for her playful personality and bold fashion choices, pursued her passion for acting despite coming from a privileged background.

The 28-year-old was born in Shanghai to a wealthy family – her father a mining magnate and her grandfather the head of a steel corporation – with an estimated family net worth of 40 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion), according to Chinese digital news outlet QQ News.

By the age of 15, Yu reportedly had a personal net worth of more 40 million yuan (US$5.6 million) and owned five companies by 25.

However, Yu chose to follow her acting dreams independently, starting with smaller roles.

In 2016, she made her TV debut in the martial arts drama Border Town Prodigal, playing a supporting role as a female detective.

Yu rose to fame in 2020 through the mainland idol survival show Youth With You Season 2, which racked up 2.3 billion views on iQIYI, a leading Chinese streaming platform.