Popular mainland Chinese actor Wang Yibo, known for his role in the ancient costume drama “The Untamed,” has been removed from the talent show “Young Battlefield” produced by his talent agency, Yuehua Entertainment, despite contributing more than 60% of the agency’s revenue through his personal projects.
According to the financial report released by Yuehua Entertainment, the company’s revenue in 2024 was 7.65 billion RMB, showing a slight increase of 1.2% compared to the previous year. Although the growth rate is modest, it remains stable compared to most other companies. Wang Yibo’s individual contribution to the revenue has consistently exceeded 60%, making him a significant asset for the company.
The financial report also revealed that from 2020 to 2022, Wang Yibo, as a shareholder, has brought in over 1.083 billion RMB in revenue for the company. His own remuneration is reported to be exceptionally high, with rumors of receiving over 30 million RMB for each project, in addition to earnings from endorsements and commercial appearances, leading to an estimated market valuation of nearly 1 billion RMB – making him one of the few stars in China with a net worth exceeding a billion RMB amid the economic downturn.
The renewed public attention on Wang Yibo’s high income and the ensuing discussions were sparked by comments made by Yuehua Entertainment’s founder, Du Hua, during the self-produced variety show “Young Battlefield.”
Du Hua addressed the issue of “Wang Yiren being in the industry for 6 years without any income.” In the public perception, celebrities are expected to be high-income earners, making it surprising that an artist like Wang Yibo could go for six years without any earnings – a fact that seems almost unbelievable.
Du Hua explained that in the early days of Wang Yiren’s group EVERGLOW, significant funds were invested in songwriting, music video production, and international promotion, and artists are required to first pay off the company costs before receiving a share. He described this practice as a “common industry operation” and emphasized that other groups under the company, such as NAME and BOYHOOD, follow the same rules.
Yuehua Entertainment operates as a typical “training system” company, where amateurs are selected, trained systematically, and then make their debut through various variety shows or performances. However, success stories visible to the public are few, with Wang Yibo being a rare exception, while many artists remain relatively unknown or less successful.
The depiction of the harsh and risky nature of the mainland Chinese entertainment industry by Du Hua has left some netizens expressing their astonishment, stating, “What a shock to hear about the cruelty of the industry.”
Previously, there have been reports in Chinese media about the group “Photosynthesis Boys” member Ziyu being physically assaulted and seeking contract termination from the company, with the contract period lasting for 12 years, which seems to be the industry norm.
Despite Wang Yibo being a major contributor to Yuehua Entertainment’s revenue, the recent incident where he was initially tagged in the announcement for “Young Battlefield” on Weibo but then removed, has raised questions among fans regarding the company’s treatment towards Wang Yibo.
Furthermore, comparisons have been drawn between Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan, another actor who rose to fame through “The Untamed.” While Xiao Zhan has been actively signing new film contracts, Wang Yibo has not been filming since “The Wind Chaser.” These developments have sparked discussions among netizens about Wang Yibo’s career choices.
There are reports suggesting that although Wang Yibo has not been involved in filming for a year and a half, he has been busy with endorsements. As per statistics, he has secured 9 new endorsements and renewed contracts with 13 brands, making it unlikely for the company to neglect this “money-making tree.” The decision to initially tag Wang Yibo in “Young Battlefield” and later remove his name was seen as an attempt to distance the show from the association with him, in hopes of discovering potential new stars and breaking away from the perception that “Wang Yibo is supporting the entire company.”