Zhang Zhiyi, born on the 9th of February, 1979, is a Chinese actress, model, and brand ambassador who became famous for her roles in movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, and “Memoirs of Geisha”.
So how much is Zhang’s net worth? As of early 2017, based on authoritative sources, it is estimated to be $100 million, acquired from her years as an actress and model, which began in the mid-‘90s.
Zhang Ziyi Net Worth $100 million
Born in Beijing, China, Zhang is the daughter of Zhang Yuanxiao, an economist, and Li Zhousheng, a teacher. Zhang’s passion for the arts started at a very young age, when she began studying dance at the age of eight. When Zhang was 11, she enrolled at the Beijing Dance Academy, a boarding school where she harnessed her passion for dance. Later on her efforts paid off when she won the national youth dance championship at the age of 15. Her popularity for winning the competition led her to star in various commercials.
In 1996, Zhang decided to focus on acting, and started attending the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. While studying, her career as an actress was also starting to gain some traction, and when she was 19, she was able to book her first movie, “The Road Home” directed by Zhang Yimou. Zhang thought that she was just auditioning for a shampoo commercial, but Yimou’s main purpose was to find a star for his film. Zhang’s starring role in “The Road Home” officially started her acting career, and also her net worth.
Not long after, Zhang enjoyed commercial success, when in 2000 she starred alonsideg Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh in the critically acclaimed movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” directed by Ang Lee. The movie catapulted her to new heights, earning her awards as Best Supporting Actress Award from Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and Chicago Film Critics Association Awards among others.
Opportunities in Hollywood then opened up for Zhang. In 2001, she appeared in her first American movie, “Rush Hour 2” with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. In 2002, she came back to China and appeared in movies including “Hero”, and in 2004 she “House of Flying of Daggers”. Both movies became critically and commercially successful, and were recognized by various award-giving bodies.
In 2005, she starred in the movie adaptation of the book “Memoirs of a Geisha”, in which she once again acted with Michelle Yeoh and other notable Asian actors. The movie was also a commercial success in the west, and garnered her plenty of recognition.
After appearing in a couple of Hollywood movies like “The Horsemen”, Zhang also made sure that she continued making films in her homeland. Some of her most notable films in China have included “Sophie’s Revenge”, “Love for Life”, and “The Grandmaster” for which she won 12 Best Actress awards, making her the most awarded actress for a single movie.
Aside from being an actress, Zhang is also a model, and brand ambassador for products including Omega Watches, Maybelline, Visa, and Garnier that also helped in raising her net worth.
Today, Zhang is still active in acting, with her most recent works including “Run for Love” and “The Wasted Time”. She will be coming back to Hollywood with an upcoming film entitled “God Particle”.
In terms of her personal life, Zhang married Wang Feng, a Chinese rock musician, in 2015, and together they have a daughter.
