Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu’s (徐熙媛) sudden death shocked many, but it also brought up another issue: her inheritance. Recently, reports revealed that the actress left behind a substantial fortune after her passing – but it’s still unclear who in her family will inherit what.
Barbie, known fondly as Big S (大S), debuted in 1994 as a singer and later rose to prominence for her role in the 2001 Taiwanese drama, “Meteor Garden (流星花園)”. The actress would later star in many popular dramas and hosted several talk shows. As one of Taiwan’s biggest stars, Barbie secured numerous endorsement deals throughout her career, amounting to millions of dollars. However, the bulk of her fortune comes from her impressive investment skills.
Barbie took a break from acting after marrying businessman Wang Xiaofei (汪小菲) in 2011 and shifted her focus to property investments. Before her death, the star owned a few luxury properties, including in the affluent district of Xinyi in Taipei. Her properties have a combined estimated market value of around NT$924 million (approximately RM124.6 million), and her net worth is estimated to be NT$1 billion (approximately RM134.7 million).
With her sudden death, industry insiders are speculating who will inherit her assets. Barbie and Wang Xiaofei divorced in 2021, and she later married South Korean DJ Koo (구준엽) until her untimely death. The actress also has two children, aged 10 and 8, from her first marriage. Under Taiwanese law, a deceased person’s assets are distributed according to legal provisions or a will.
Barbie had allegedly drafted a will last year following her legal battle with her ex-husband over their divorce settlement. According to the reports, her mother and two children will inherit her entire estate. However, as both her children are underage, their portion of the inheritance could be controlled by Wang Xiaofei, who will likely gain custody of them since he is their only surviving parent.
The answer as to who will inherit Barbie’s fortune is still uncertain, as is the legal battle with her ex-husband. Meanwhile, her family is still discussing a potential farewell ceremony as they make preparations to bring home her ashes from Japan.
Sources: Oriental Daily, Dimsum Daily, Kbizoom
