NWU Vice President Fan Daiyi Becomes Shaanxi's Richest Person, Sparking Debate

Fan Daiyi, 59 years old, and her husband, Yan Jianya, also 59, graduated from Northwest University's chemical engineering department, likely where they met. They control two listed companies, Giant Bio and Sanjia Defense, with a total market value of nearly 900 billion yuan, covering the fields of biomedicine and aerospace. Their 29-year-old daughter, Yan Yubo, has been strictly trained and has already joined the family business, serving as the board secretary and executive director of Giant Bio. Despite her low salary of 140,000 yuan in 2023, she has risen to become a key figure in the company, with a salary increase to 360,000 yuan in 2024.

The couple's success can be attributed to their strategic control of Giant Bio and Sanjia Defense, with Yan Jianya serving as the chairman and actual controller of Sanjia Defense, holding 13.77% of the company's shares. The family's business empire spans multiple industries, including medical and biotechnology through Giant Bio and aerospace through Sanjia Defense. As of April 24, 2025, the total market value of their holdings reached 443 billion yuan, catapulting them to the top of China's entrepreneurial elite.

The family's business empire is not without its challenges, however. Sanjia Defense has faced declining stock prices and a significant drop in revenue and net profit in 2024, primarily due to the reduction in orders from its major client, China Aviation Industry Group. Furthermore, the company has been subject to regulatory scrutiny, with the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Securities and Futures issuing an administrative regulatory measure decision book and a regulatory letter to Yan Jianya and other senior executives in March 2025. In contrast, Giant Bio has experienced rapid growth, with its revenue increasing fivefold from 9 billion yuan in 2019 to 55 billion yuan in 2024.

As the new vice president of Northwestern University, Fan Daiyi's appointment has raised questions about the intersection of education and business. Her family's business empire, spanning multiple industries, has created a complex web of relationships and interests. As the university's vice president, Fan Daiyi will be expected to navigate these complexities while maintaining the integrity and independence of the institution. The challenges and opportunities presented by her appointment will undoubtedly be closely watched by the academic and business communities.

The news of Fan Daiyi's wealth has sparked a wide range of reactions among netizens, with some praising her as a paragon of "knowledge creating wealth" and others expressing skepticism and criticism, calling for a thorough investigation into the sources of her wealth. On social media, many have taken to commenting on the irony of her English name, with some finding it amusing and others questioning its appropriateness. Meanwhile, others have voiced concerns about the fairness and transparency of her wealth accumulation, given her position of power and influence at the university.

The debate surrounding Fan Daiyi's wealth reflects the complexities and nuances of China's social and economic landscape, where issues of privilege, power, and identity are increasingly being scrutinized and discussed. As the only child of Fan Daiyi and her husband, Yan Yubo is likely to be the sole heir to their business empire, which spans the medical and biotechnology industries through Giant Bio and the aerospace industry through Sanjia Defense. Despite her relatively low salary, Yan Yubo's position and qualifications suggest that she is being groomed to take over the family business in the future. However, the challenges facing Giant Bio and Sanjia Defense, including intense market competition and regulatory scrutiny, will require her to demonstrate exceptional leadership and management skills to ensure the long-term success of the company.