Nobody ever expected a former kindergarten teacher to become the world's wealthiest working actress, but Chinese beauty and brains Zhao Wei did just that. Because of her investing acumen, she has been hailed by Chinese media as "China's showbusiness Buffett."
Zhao didn't expect to become such a rich actress either, nor did she plan on becoming famous. Born in eastern China's Anhui Province, Zhao thought that she was too ordinary to become an actress.
"I thought actresses had to be beautiful, and I thought I was ordinary."
Fans of the beloved Chinese actress beg to disagree.
Zhao became interested in acting at the tender age of 17, after starring as an extra in the film "Hua Hun," which starred leading actress Gong Li. She then proceeded to quit her job as a kindergarten teacher and traveled to Shanghai, where she enrolled in a film arts academy founded by legendary director Xie Jin.
During her stay in the film arts academy, Zhao rose to prominence thanks to roles in hit TV drama "My Fair Princess," which earned her a Golden Eagle Award. She is the youngest actress to have been granted the prestigious honor.
Aside from acting, Zhao branched out to other creative pursuits. As a chanteuse, she was able to record seven albums from 1999 to 2009.
Numerous top 10 hits and an MTV Asia award as Favorite Artist aside, Zhao explored filmmaking and made her directorial debut with the young romance "So Young" in 2013, which went on to become, at that time, the fifth highest grossing film in Chinese box-office history.
But it wasn't because of acting, singing, or filmmaking that allowed Zhao to increase her wealth. To boost her fortune, she has made several investments over years. Her shrewdness and caution in investing earned her a spot in the "three comma club," which indicates billionaire status.
The best thing about Zhao Wei is that she doesn't keep her hard-earned wealth to herself. A known philanthropist, she is active with organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund, China Red Cross, and the China Youth Foundation's Hope Project.
Her contributions to the less fortunate were recognized in 2011, when Zhao received the China Charity Billboard Award.