At 30 Years Old, Possessing 11 Trillion Won... The Identity of the Richest Chinese Woman from Tsinghua University

Revisiting Chinese Fashion Star Zhang Zhetian
Husband is Former JD Group Chairman Liu Changdong
Received Gifts from 5 Companies After Childbirth

China's fashion star Zhang Zhetian (30) has been identified as the richest female student graduate from Tsinghua University, according to a recent survey.

On the 9th, Vietnamese media VN Express cited the 'List of the Most Successful University Alumni in China,' revealing that Zhang Zhetian owns assets worth 60 billion yuan (approximately 11 trillion 922 billion KRW), making her the wealthiest female graduate from Tsinghua University and bringing her back into the spotlight.

[Image source=Screenshot from Zhang Zhitian's Instagram]

The Trending 'Milk Tea Girl'... Connection with a Tycoon During Study Abroad

Photo that gained attention as the 'Milk Tea Girl.' [Image source=Online community capture]

Zhang Zhetian became widely known by the nickname 'Milk Tea Girl' after a photo of her in school uniform holding milk tea spread online in 2009. After enrolling at Tsinghua University in 2011, she reportedly declined casting offers from Chinese film directors such as Zhang Yimou, citing her studies as the reason.

In 2013, while studying abroad at Columbia University in the United States, she formed a connection with Liu Changdong, the former chairman and founder of JD.com, who gained fame as a successful entrepreneur from a 'dirt spoon' background. JD.com is China's largest e-commerce company, and according to the American economic media Forbes, as of 2021, Liu's personal assets amounted to a staggering 11.5 billion USD (approximately 16.5 trillion KRW).

They overcame a 19-year age gap to marry in 2015 and had a daughter in Hong Kong the following year. At that time, it was widely reported that Liu gifted Zhang five companies under the JD Group, which made her instantly rank as the 29th wealthiest person in China.

Establishing an Investment Firm Amid Husband's 'Sex Scandal'

Ryu Chang-dong, former chairman of JD Group, and his wife Jang Jeo-tien. [Image source=Capture from Jang Jeo-tien's Instagram]

However, controversy arose in 2018 when Liu was investigated for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a Chinese female college student in an apartment in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Following the incident, Zhang Zhetian did not make any public statements, and the scandal was settled in 2022 after an agreement between Liu and the female student.

At that time, Liu expressed, "I want to deeply thank my wife for her tolerance and support," while Zhang responded, "Every life has rain and wind. But time always moves forward."

Meanwhile, Zhang acquired a 1% stake in the investment firm 'Tianchang Group,' which was established by combining one character from both her and Liu's names. She is currently regarded as one of the most influential figures in China's fashion industry and actively shares updates on social media about attending international fashion weeks and the Cannes Film Festival.