Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun has initiated legal action against actress Jing Tian and her parents to recover a disputed bride price of 30 million yuan (approximately HK$35 million). The lawsuit was officially submitted to a Chinese court on August 27 but has yet to proceed to a substantive hearing or result in a final ruling.
Sun, 36, founder of the blockchain platform Tron and with an estimated net worth of US$8.5 billion, detailed aspects of his personal relationship with Jing in a public online post titled “My Girlfriend Jing Tian,” also published on August 27. In the post, he recounted their history and addressed issues including surrogacy and the bride price, though he characterized the narrative as “fictional” and waived copyright, inviting widespread circulation.
Jing, 38, known for roles in films such as From Vegas to Macau and Police Story 2013, commands a considerable social media presence with over 26 million followers on Weibo. According to Sun, his interest in Jing began in 2007 when she was a prominent figure for a major Chinese instant messaging service, coinciding with his university enrollment. The exact timeline of their romantic involvement remains unspecified.
Sun stated that he proposed to Jing in January and subsequently transferred the stated bride price directly to her parents. He later alleged that Jing sought a property registered in her name in Hong Kong and requested US$50 million to pursue surrogacy arrangements for a child. Sun described consulting the AI-driven coding assistant Claude Code about these decisions, reporting that the AI advised against further payments. The relationship ended shortly after their communications ceased.
Sun emphasized that his recounting was intended to separate his personal disputes from his professional life, describing the post as an emotional outlet. Legal representation for Sun, lawyer Zhang Qihuai, confirmed the lawsuit focuses solely on recovering the bride price and explicitly denies any legal claims related to surrogacy.
In response, Jing’s studio issued a statement stressing the matter should be resolved within the legal system, highlighting the vulnerability of entertainers regarding public reputation. On August 28, Jing posted a public statement acknowledging “poor judgment in men and insufficient wisdom” but firmly denied any intent to prioritize money over love or personal integrity. She affirmed confidence in judicial processes, expressing a belief that justice will prevail.
Legal expert Li Zhenwu, an attorney with a significant social media following, cautioned that disputes involving bride prices can become complex and unpredictable, underscoring the importance of resolving such issues through courts rather than public discourse. Li described Sun’s disclosures and media activity as a strategic campaign for shaping public opinion, while commending Jing’s measured reliance on legal procedures as a demonstration of respect for the rule of law.
Neither Sun nor Jing responded to further requests for comment. The case remains pending as the court considers next steps.