In China, an official ban has been introduced on the creation of films and series in which a rich man falls in love with a poor woman.
According to representatives of the authorities, such plots create unrealistic expectations among the public and negatively affect work motivation. The authorities believe that the romance of success through love is no longer beneficial to society.
The ban is part of a broader initiative from the Communist Party of China, which is increasingly controlling not only the economy and politics but also cultural aspects. The authorities emphasize that entertainment should convey "healthy values" rather than instill hope for random success.
This is not the only restriction but part of a consistent policy. In the past, restrictions have already been imposed on the depiction of "tyrant bosses," excessive luxury, and plots where success comes without effort. The state is consistently removing stories that may distract from the concepts of labor, discipline, and personal responsibility.
China seeks to change mass culture as strictly as it does the economy and technology. The question is where the line is drawn between educating society and controlling its imagination.
By 2020, China officially eradicated absolute poverty, lifting nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty and eliminating impoverished areas based on a national standard that is lower than the World Bank's criteria. Although absolute poverty has been eliminated, relative poverty and the gap between urban and rural areas remain, but the country has significantly reduced the poverty level, achieving the UN goals ten years ahead of schedule thanks to large-scale investments and development programs.
Among the richest people in the country, Zhong Shanshan leads with a fortune of $72 billion. He is often referred to as the "lonely billionaire," as he amassed his wealth through Nongfu Spring, a bottled water and pharmaceutical company, highlighting the diversity of private wealth in China.
The technology sector still holds leading positions. Ma Huateng, with a fortune of $67 billion, founder of ByteDance and Tencent; Zhang Yiming with $65 billion; Lei Jun of Xiaomi with $35 billion; and the well-known Jack Ma of Alibaba with $46 billion demonstrate the scale of fortunes created within China's digital economy. William Ding of NetEase, with a fortune of $44 billion, also confirms that online platforms have become the main sources of modern Chinese wealth.
The consumer goods sector remains strong, with entrepreneurs like He Xiangjian of Midea Group and Wang Chuanfu of BYD building empires in electronics and electric vehicles. At the same time, figures like Xu Yantian and Xu Gaomin testify to the rapid growth of retail and e-commerce.
The industrial sector also has significant representation. Zhang Bo, Huang Shilin, and Zhang Xuexin have accumulated their fortunes in manufacturing and heavy industry, demonstrating that traditional sectors still yield substantial profits. Billionaires in healthcare, such as Zhong Huichuan and Sun Piaoyang, highlight the growing importance of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals for an aging population.
Leaders in the financial and investment sectors, including Qi Shi and Yu Yong, also show good results, although they are still fewer than representatives from the technology sector. At the same time, the service and entertainment sectors are becoming increasingly promising, with figures like Cai Haoyu and Wang Wei accumulating significant wealth in these areas.
Interestingly, Robin Li, co-founder of Baidu, rounds out the list of the 50 richest, reminding us of the fierce competition and rapid changes in the market environment that characterize China's entrepreneurial landscape.
From e-commerce giants to industrial magnates and retail innovators, China's billionaire class vividly reflects the country's economic priorities.
This map of wealth distribution highlights the dominance of sectors such as technology and consumer goods, while new directions like healthcare, finance, and green energy are confidently developing.
