Xi's Purge of Jackie Chan: Fake Charity Scandal, $274M Loss, and 37 Years of Lies

With a fortune exceeding $460 million, martial arts icon Jackie Chan stands among China's wealthiest entertainers. When asked about his wealth on Sina, he humorously remarked, "...not as rich as Jack Ma, but certainly not poor either." He even joked, "...my fee for a single Hollywood movie could fund Hong Kong's entire film industry for a year." However, at 70, Jackie Chan faces a starkly different reality. Aging and lonely, he continues to act. But his projects have suffered staggering losses, $274 million over six years. Once celebrated as an unbeatable box office straw, he is now labeled a jinx and box office poison. The golden era of his career has long faded, and today, Jackie Chan is often seen as a star whose time has passed. What went wrong? What events led to the downfall of a global superstar? Could his deep dive into politics have brought about his undoing? Join us in today's video as we uncover the untold story behind Jackie Chan's shocking decline. A lifetime's fortune earned in a single film. Jackie Chan's paycheck for Rush Hour 3 was a staggering $15 million, and he earned a similar amount for The Forbidden Kingdom. Beyond acting fees, he also enjoys substantial revenue from box office commissions, distribution rights, and projects he produces himself. In China, Jackie Chan earns an average of $12 million per film, according to SINA. A single event appearance can bring him $1 million, while endorsements typically net $2 to $3 million USD each. In 2020, Jackie Chan ranked among the world's top 10 highest-paid actors, raking in $40 million. His total net worth is estimated to exceed $463 million. Jackie Chan is not just a film icon, but also a real estate tycoon. His portfolio includes luxury apartments and villas across the globe. In 2000, Jackie Chan partnered with billionaire Albert Young, investing over $25 million to develop a series of mansions in Hong Kong, which became symbols of elite living. In 2008, former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe purchased a mansion there for $5.1 million. In the U.S., Jackie Chan owns a villa in Beverly Hills, a prestigious area known as a haven for Hollywood stars. In China, he boasts an array of high-value properties, two villas in Repulse Bay, four homes in Kowloon, and even a museum in Shanghai that bears his name. In Beijing's Chaoyang District, Jackie Chan and Young acquired a 10,000-square-meter plot to construct the Emperor Group Center, now a sprawling commercial hub featuring a 20-story tower and a 20,000-square-meter shopping complex. According to Sohu, the project is valued at nearly $1.5 billion, with Jackie Chan holding a 30% stake. The duo also co-founded the Emperor Entertainment Hotel in Macau, where Jackie Chan invested over $60 million for a 20% stake. In 2019, the hotel reported a net profit of $167 million. In August 2022, Sohu revealed that Jackie Chan purchased a luxurious riverside apartment in Hangzhou for $6 million. This high-end property features interiors plated with 18k gold and decorated with 36 types of premium stone, offering a stunning view of the Chanting River. In addition to modern properties, Jackie Chan owns several ancient homes. In October 2022, Guanghua reported that the value of his eight antique houses surged 24 times due to a real estate boom, reaching 96 million yuan, about $13.2 million. Jackie Chan's influence extends far beyond properties. He is listed as the owner of 10 companies, while his wife and son manage an additional 62. Combined, these businesses generate millions in annual profits. Jackie Chan's immense wealth supports a life of extravagance. He owns 30 luxury sports cars and three private jets, including two Legacy 650s and one Legacy 500, collectively worth $90 million. Each flight costs between $38,000 and $65,000. Jackie Chan is also a passionate collector of rare antiques. His collection, which includes Qing Dynasty jewelry, priceless artifacts, and unique contemporary pieces, is so vast it could fill eight rooms. In 2009, he showcased a rare rosewood bird carving on television, valued at over $385,000, according to Sohu. Has Jackie Chan been silently blacklisted? In both Hong Kong and mainland China, the film industry is often intertwined with money laundering and corruption. While Fan Bingbing has been implicated in aiding both the government and Hong Kong triads, Jackie Chan has also faced accusations of being a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, CCP. In an interview on a date with Liu Yu by Phoenix TV, Jackie Chan candidly admitted, charity can be real or fake. He went on to confess, I started with fake charity. Chan explained that when he frequently appeared in the media, charitable organizations approached him, saying, just lend us your name as an ambassador. From there, his charity work became a tool to bolster his public image and boost box office sales. He even revealed that in today's entertainment industry, some view philanthropy merely as a way to attract fans. Prominent critic Song Zudai publicly accused Jackie Chan during the tax evasion scandal involving Fan Bingbing. Song stated, For the past 20 years, most of Jackie Chan's income has come from mainland China. He has a duty to pay taxes here. Let him disclose his total income and tax contributions over the last two decades. In 2021, Kris Wu faced a public downfall after a sexual misconduct scandal that implicated several artists and industry moguls. Song Zudai revealed that Wu's case exposed 14 other prominent figures. He called for severe penalties for stars like Jackie Chan, accusing them of supporting and enabling Wu. Song further criticized the extravagant lifestyles of celebrities, claiming they mislead Chinese citizens into idolizing wealth and fostering toxic competition. He remarked, The annual income of a famous artist, ranging from 50 million to 500 million yuan, $772,000 to $77 million, equals the lifetime salaries of 100 scientists working 20 to 50 years. Song also denounced foreign artists flocking to China to profit, while domestic stars would often emigrate after accumulating wealth. He highlighted how children are pressured into costly arts programs that drain their parents' finances, often without learning meaningful skills. Song singled out Jackie Chan, criticizing him for endorsing video games at his age, calling it harmful. Jackie Chan reportedly helped Kris Wu enter the elite Beijing Circle, Jinken, a group of influential artists and cultural figures connected to Beijing's political elite. This network, initially formed for mutual support, includes prominent figures like film executives, directors, screenwriters, actors, and top-tier celebrities with strong ties to the government and business world. The Beijing Circle provided Jackie Chan with unparalleled resources and opportunities, thanks to backing from mainland entertainment tycoons like Zheng Qinghuai, the brother of Zheng Qinghong, a Jiang Zemin loyalist. Zheng controlled artistic programs at China Central Television, CCTV, and cultural operations in Hong Kong. Kris Wu was also supported by Jackie Chan and Qi Jianhong, a billionaire with assets once valued at 10 billion yuan, $1.54 billion. Qi founded the Yao Lai Honor Club, Yao Lai Zou Nou Wei, an exclusive group of over 3,000 billionaires deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry. Yao Lai's cinema management company, once owned by Qi Jianhong, was fully acquired by Cultural Investment Holdings in 2014, making Qi its second-largest shareholder. Together with Jackie Chan, the trio formed an iron triangle that propelled Chan's films in China. According to Tianyancha data, major figures like Feng Xiaogang, Zhang Guoli, Huang Xiaoming, and Li Bingbing held shares in Cultural Investment Holdings, creating a powerful network. By 2016, Yao Lai had built 25 Jackie Chan-themed cinemas across 14 provinces in China. With access to vast resources and a robust theater network, Kris Wu quickly rose to stardom, securing roles and awards many veteran actors could only dream of. However, in 2018, under Xi Jinping's sweeping crackdown on the entertainment industry, Cultural Investment Holdings' stock plummeted. That October, Yao Lai declared bankruptcy. Qi Jianhong, once listed among the Harun Rich List billionaires, was branded untrustworthy overnight. Seven of his properties in Beijing's Chaoyang District were seized, and he faced court-issued consumption restrictions. By 2021, Kris Wu's arrest led to further revelations implicating high-profile figures in the entertainment industry, particularly those linked to John Zimmon's faction. Jackie Chan's once-powerful connections and resources were all but eradicated. Life Turned Upside Down by Purging Jackie Chan's life and career have faced significant turbulence in recent years. After his son, JC Chan, was blacklisted in 2014 for drug use, and Kris Wu's scandalous downfall in 2021, Jackie Chan's fortunes took a turn for the worse. The situation worsened when Chinese President Xi Jinping realized that Jackie Chan had aligned himself with John Zimmon's faction. Products endorsed by Jackie Chan, ranging from cars and shampoo to food, were plagued by controversies. Some were recalled, while others were linked to companies that later went bankrupt. In Chinese business circles, a saying has emerged, there's a kind of business doomed to fail. It's the one endorsed by Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan's string of endorsements has an infamous track record. He was the face of Xiaobao Wang Electronics, which later collapsed. He promoted AIDA VCD players, whose company chairman ended up in jail. His endorsement of Fenhuang Soda led nowhere as the brand disappeared. Kaidi Cars, another product he championed, sold fewer than 900 units across China. Ba Wang Shampoo, which he backed, was found to contain carcinogens, while Simeon Dumplings were recalled due to bacterial contamination. Even Hong Kong Airlines, which Jackie Chan represented, fell into a severe financial crisis. One of the most high-profile failures was Jackie Chan's endorsement of Kaspersky, a Russian antivirus software banned by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Authorities cited concerns that it acted as a digital Trojan horse, covertly infiltrating sensitive networks for the Russian government. Given these repeated misfortunes, Chinese netizens have coined the term Jackie Chan Comet to describe his perceived knack for bringing bad luck to brands. At 70, Jackie Chan remains committed to acting, but his films have consistently underperformed, earning him the unfortunate title of box office poison. For example, The Myth 2, with a production budget of 360 million yuan, approximately 50 million dollars, became a major flop, earning only 71 million yuan, around 10 million dollars in its opening week. Similarly, Panda Plan ended its run with a mere 350 million yuan in revenue, far short of the 675 million yuan needed to break even. Another project, Ride On, which cost 300 million yuan, 43.6 million dollars to produce, brought in just 98 million yuan, 14.2 million dollars, after five days in theaters. Jackie Chan himself has admitted to losing nearly 2 billion yuan, 290 million dollars, over the past six years due to failed film projects. Adding to this string of setbacks, Jackie Chan was overshadowed on the global stage by Michelle Yeoh. The lead role in Everything Everywhere All at Once was originally written for Jackie Chan, but he declined due to scheduling conflicts. Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert reworked the story to center on a female protagonist casting Michelle Yeoh. Her performance went on to earn her an Oscar nomination. It's becoming increasingly evident Jackie Chan's golden era has long passed. Jackie Chan lied for 37 years In November 2020, a popular Chinese content creator exposed Jackie Chan for using stunt doubles in many of his action films. The article, titled Jackie Chan, the man who fooled the world and even the Oscars, was later changed to Jackie Chan, you've lied for 37 years. How much longer will you keep hiding the truth? The creator stated, behind the scenes footage is staged. Out of 15 dangerous stunts, 13 were performed by stunt doubles. This is how Jackie Chan has glorified himself for the past 37 years. They also declared, this article is solely intended to reveal the truth. If there is any false accusation, I will take legal responsibility. In Jackie Chan's films, stunt doubles are everywhere. The investigation highlighted Jackie Chan's shifting statements over the years. In 1983, he claimed he would never use stunt doubles. By 1985, he admitted he sometimes used them. Later, he softened his stance, saying, However, according to the expose, Jackie Chan rarely performed any dangerous stunts himself. The creator accused Jackie Chan of taking credit for the work of underpaid stunt doubles, who were often dismissed from film sets immediately after completing high-risk scenes. Meanwhile, Jackie Chan frequently boasted about performing stunts himself. In his 2017 autobiography, he repeated four times that he did not use stunt doubles. Even during his Oscar acceptance speech, he spoke about the injuries he allegedly suffered while performing stunts. Jackie Chan has long been surrounded by controversies. A prominent Chinese blogger, Bobo, published a viral article titled, that outraged millions of netizens, which detailed scandals from the early days of his career. These included acting in adult films, fathering an illegitimate child, alleged car-related affairs, accusations of charity fraud, inappropriate behavior with colleagues, money laundering, misleading advertisements, and his notoriously wild personal life. The article captured widespread attention, and Jackie Chan was even voted one of China's top 10 most despised figures of the year. Jackie Chan's story is not just about a movie star entangled in politics. It represents a broader narrative of the era. In an authoritarian society governed by the CCP, can any artist truly be considered authentic when their fame, wealth, and future depend entirely on the system? When their livelihood is tied to the regime, can they afford to speak the truth, act righteously, or will their conscience be buried under material gain? What are your thoughts on today's topic? Share your comments below. Thank you for watching and see you next time.