Wealthy top China influencer rebuked for linking massive deposits to daughter’s job at bank


A top Chinese education influencer has come under fire for saying he will smooth his daughter’s career path by depositing his millions in the bank where she gets a job. - Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu

BEIJING: A well-known education influencer in China has sparked controversy by suggesting he would deposit hundreds of millions of yuan into the bank where his daughter gets a job to help support her career.

Zhang Xuefeng, who has more than 26.5 million followers on a major social media platform, ignited controversy online over his bold statements about using his funds to pave his daughter’s career path.

During a live streaming session, Zhang, who is recognised for advising parents on selecting majors for their children said.

“If my daughter does not excel academically, I will have her randomly earn a simple bachelor’s degree and then secure a job for her at a bank.

“The reason is straightforward. I run two companies each with more than a hundred million yuan (US$14 million) in savings. I will deposit my money in whichever bank she works for.”

Zhang went on: “If you are a graduate from a prestigious university in China, you still need to solicit deposits one by one. But my daughter would not need to.

“Even if she is not from a top university, as long as she occasionally dines with me and takes good care of her dad, that is all she needs to do.”

The personal details of his daughter, Zhang Nianhan, have not been disclosed.

Zhang’s remarks quickly drew an online backlash.

One online observer said: “It is brutally honest, but makes people really uncomfortable!”

“If you are that capable, keep it to yourself. Public bragging only invites resentment,” said another person.

Key opinion leader (KOL) Zhang, whose real name is Zhang Zibiao, was born in 1984 in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province, northeastern China and began his career as a graduate exam tutor.

In 2016, he gained national fame with a viral video entitled “Seven Minutes to Understand 34 Top Universities,” in which he analysed the strengths of various Chinese universities, offering guidance to young adults on their career prospects.

Despite his reputation as a leading figure in education consulting, Zhang has often been at the centre of public controversy for his materialistic outlook, which typically prioritises job market prospects over personal interests when advising young adults on majors and careers.

In mid-2023, during a live session, a mother said her child, who is a high-scoring science student, wanted to pursue journalism for their undergraduate major and asked for his advice.

Zhang strongly discouraged this and told the woman that “any major is better than journalism”, expressing pessimism about its future job prospects and further revealing his general opposition to arts and humanities majors.

In December the same year during another live stream, he described all arts majors as a “service industry”.

“Humanities degrees are essentially service-oriented, and what is service? It boils down to ‘flattery,’ meaning, ‘Sir, let me give you a smile.’”

While some agreed that his comments reflected the harsh realities faced by art graduates, others criticised him for undermining the value of these academic fields.

Despite the controversies, Zhang’s blunt revelation about the finance industry also hit home with many who appreciate his candid take on navigating career paths.

One person said: “He is just stating facts. It is harsh, but it is the truth.”

“He understands the financial industry perfectly. In banking, whoever has large deposits is the king,” said another. - South China Morning Post

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