55-Year-Old CEO Marries Man 30 Years Younger, Offers $7.3M Dowry

A Chinese businesswoman’s marriage to a man half her age has sparked intense online discussion. The focus is not only on the couple's age gap but also on a reported dowry of 50 million yuan (US$7.3 million). Yu Wenhong, 55, is the founder of a medical aesthetics company. She recently married her 25-year-old partner. In a reversal of traditional custom, she provided the substantial dowry, which is typically given by the groom's family to the bride's. Yu's own story began in poverty. After her father's death, she started working at age 18 to support her family. She entered the beauty industry as an eyebrow tattoo technician and later built her own corporate empire. The marriage has dominated Chinese social media. It has ignited debates about wealth, love, and changing social norms in modern China.