The Child Stars Turned Billionaires: A Tale of Two “Corporate Titans” with Mirror-Image Fortunes

One of the most stubborn yet adorable characters in the classic 1986 TV series, Journey to the West, is Hong Hai Nhi, the son of Niu Mo Wang and Thiet Phien Princess (Ba La Sat). Despite his young age, he is cunning and clever.

Hong Hai Nhi had cultivated at the Fire Flame Mountain for 300 years, mastering the Three-eyed True Fire. Niu Mo Wang then sent his son to guard the Fire Cloud Cave in that area.

Hong Hai Nhi’s character in “Journey to the West 1986”

With just this role, Zhao Xin Bao had secured a glorious page in his acting career. In 1984, through the introduction of the set secretary, Xin Bao, who was about 7-8 years old at the time, was assigned the role of Hong Hai Nhi in Journey to the West by female director Yang Jie. She found him adorable with his chubby appearance and independent personality.

Throughout the filming process, Xin Bao never complained, even when his hands were in pain from having to redo the scene of being tied and hung on a tree branch multiple times. When the series aired, he was teased for having a “nude” scene on screen. However, as he was still young, he did not feel too embarrassed.

WATCH: Hong Hai Nhi’s appearance in “Journey to the West 1986”

The young Xin Bao’s performance in the film has become a classic, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

This was not the first time the child star had acted. Xin Bao once shared on China Daily: “My strength lies in my good-looking childhood face and my ability to remain calm in front of the camera. I am quite different from my peers, which makes it easier for me to get roles.”

Director Yang Jie and the young Xin Bao.

The child star had already gained experience from acting in the film Truat Trang Thanh Truong (1982) prior to this, so he was quite confident, and his performance exceeded expectations. After the impressive role of Hong Hai Nhi, Zhao Xin Bao became a promising actor selected by SCTV in 1987. However, despite receiving many invitations to act in films and commercials, he declined them to focus on his studies.

“After my first roles, I realized that I was not someone who could succeed in showbiz. To become famous, one needs many factors, including appearance and luck. In contrast, pursuing a career in technology offers more certainty,” shared Zhao Xin Bao.

Recalling the reunion with the Journey to the West crew, he said: “I remember when I met the crew again, they said I had ruined my career because I had gained weight. In fact, I didn’t need to lose weight because I wasn’t making a living out of acting.”

Giving up acting, he focused on technology research and became a talented CEO.

In reality, Zhao Xin Bao grew up in a working-class family in Beijing, China. He passed the entrance exam for Peking University, earned a scholarship, and went on to pursue a master’s and doctoral degree. Afterward, he worked at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since 2014, he has co-founded a company specializing in agricultural science and innovation, based in Beijing, serving as its chief technology officer.

Currently, he is a well-known CEO in China’s science and technology industry, dubbed the “billionaire farmer.” At the age of almost 50, his net worth is estimated to be over 100 million CNY, equivalent to more than 349 billion VND. His married life with his wife, whom he met during graduate school, is filled with happiness.

He is dubbed the “billionaire farmer.”

Thai Vien Hang – the young Tang Monk

Although he did not appear frequently in Journey to the West 1986, the role of the young Tang Monk, played by child star Thai Vien Hang, still left a beautiful impression on viewers. Many audiences remember the scene of the young Xuan Trang exchanging a bundle of firewood for a carp from an old woodcutter, only to release it back into the water.

Vien Hang as the young Tang Monk.

At that time, Thai Vien Hang was only eight years old and a primary school student. His handsome appearance, with prominent ears and rosy cheeks, captivated director Yang Jie. His facial features also resembled those of actor Xu Shao Hua, who played the adult Tang Monk later in the series. As a result, the role of the young Tang Monk became his first acting experience.

After the success of this child role, the eight-year-old continued to pursue acting. He took on several child versions of male lead characters in various films, including the young Pu Yi in Mo Dai Huang Di (1986), the young Chu Ba Jian in uyen Quan (1990), and the young Tai Tong in Chuyen Luoi Tinh (1998).

Thai Vien Hang in some of his child roles.

However, as an adult, Thai Vien Hang’s acting career did not flourish. He decided to leave the entertainment industry and pursue business ventures.

The former “young Tang Monk” is now the CEO of a large media corporation in China, with a net worth of over 100 million CNY (over 349 billion VND), on par with “Hong Hai Nhi.” According to QQ, Thai Vien Hang is among the self-made billionaires in the country.

The “young Tang Monk” is now the CEO of a large media corporation.

In his personal life, he married the beautiful actress Sun Xian, known for her roles in Chân Hoàn Truyện and My Nguyệt Truyện. Their fairy-tale wedding received many blessings from fans. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2017.

Thai Vien Hang with his wife, Sun Xian, and their son.

Shi Xiao Long

Shi Xiao Long (real name Chen Xiao Long) started his artistic journey at the age of five. Within a few years, this child star had participated in dozens of film projects, big and small. By the age of 14, Shi Xiao Long had already starred in 12 theatrically released films. The following year, he appeared in four television series. Thanks to his early success, he was able to earn hundreds of millions of CNY even as a child.

Shi Xiao Long gained popularity through his child roles in martial arts films.

Known for his roles in Shaolin Temple, Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre, The Ninth County Mayor, and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Shi Xiao Long could not escape the shadow of his childhood fame. As an adult, he faded into the background among other stars.

Shi Xiao Long’s unforgettable smile as a child star.

At the age of 15, despite being sought after by filmmakers, Shi Xiao Long decided to study abroad in the US. In subsequent years, he participated in some projects with lower remuneration, being labeled a “has-been.” In 2021, he took on a leading role in Yan Xi Ha La Yao Story, but the box office revenue was below average.

Nevertheless, the former child star’s life is quite luxurious, thanks to his father’s foresight in investing in a martial arts school during the peak of his son’s popularity. In addition, the father-son duo are also considered savvy investors.

According to various sources, the actor has inherited a substantial fortune from his father, Chen Shan Dong, a martial arts master. Shi Xiao Long took over his father’s martial arts school chain and multiple companies in various fields, with an inheritance valued at up to 1.4 billion USD (nearly 35,000 billion VND).

Shi Xiao Long as an adult.

Currently, Shi Xiao Long is a low-key billionaire with extravagant hobbies, including collecting supercars and