Chinese Gaming Tycoon's $42 Million Legal Battle Reveals Shocking Claims of 300 Children

Xu is a prominent figure in China's gaming industry and founder of the successful Duoyi Network.

A high-stakes legal battle has erupted in China between gaming tycoon Xu Bo and his former partner Tang Jing, according to South China Morning Post. Xu has demanded 300 million yuan (approximately $42 million) from Tang, while she has countered with the shocking allegation that he has fathered more than 300 children.

The founder of gaming giant Duoyi Network, known for creating the popular Fantasy Westward Journey game, claims the dispute centers on a "relationship agreement" from their 14-year partnership. The pair reportedly met on a matchmaking website in 2009 and lived together for over a decade without legally marrying.

In response to his financial demands, Tang Jing has publicly claimed that Xu fathered hundreds of children, an allegation that has sparked widespread debate and controversy across Chinese social media.

This contentious case has highlighted broader societal concerns regarding polygamy, exploitation in relationships, and alleged misogyny among China's elite. Legal experts observing the proceedings suggest this dispute could establish important precedents for how Chinese law addresses unofficial relationships and paternity claims.

The former couple shared a home for 14 years but never formalized their relationship through marriage.

According to SCMP's reporting, the financial dispute involves 300 million yuan that Xu claims Tang still owes him. He alleges transferring 819 million yuan (US$115 million) to Tang between 2012 and 2018. While Tang reportedly returned 515 million yuan, Xu filed a lawsuit in 2024 seeking the outstanding balance. Tang's defense maintains that these funds were used to support what she describes as a "big family" of 300 children allegedly planned with Xu. She claimed that most of the money went toward raising these children, many of whom reportedly lack official household registration—a revelation that has prompted intense public discussion and legal examination.

When faced with online skepticism about her claims, Tang Jing doubled down, suggesting the number of children might actually be higher than reported. She has revealed that a court ruled in her favor, rejecting Xu Bo's demand for 300 million yuan. Currently, Tang is raising 11 children fathered by Xu while fighting for custody of their two daughters. Meanwhile, Duoyi Network has attempted to distance itself from its founder's personal controversy, accusing Tang of spreading misinformation.

Xu has previously gained notoriety for promoting controversial views on relationships and family planning. He once publicly announced his intention to find multiple partners to father "at least 50 sons" and has claimed to have 12 children with different women. Describing himself as a "one-in-a-million elite male," Xu outlined plans to raise 50 elite children, with expectations that at least 10 would achieve extraordinary success. As a business leader, his practices have also raised eyebrows—demanding "gratitude red envelopes" from employees, encouraging pay reductions, and charging departing staff for company cafeteria meals. These behaviors have triggered significant online backlash, with critics accusing him of treating children as experiments in his personal ambitions. In another notable case involving China's wealthy elite, tycoon Zhao Bingxian, sometimes called "China's Warren Buffett," was ordered by a court to provide his former wife Lu Juan with assets valued at 536 million yuan (US$75 million).