Simu Liu Net Worth [Stock Photos to Marvel Superhero to Barbie]

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Net Worth:	$20 million
Profession/Career:	Actor, Writer, Stuntman
YouTube Channel:	None
College:	Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario
Major/Degree:	Business Administration
Full Name:	Simu Liu
Date of Birth:	April 19, 1989
Place of Birth:	Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Height:	6’ 0”
Weight:	174 lbs

Table of Contents

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Who is Simu Liu?

Simu Liu is a Chinese-Canadian actor, writer, and stuntman. Born on April 19, 1989, in Harbin, China, Liu and his family moved to Canada when he was five years old.

Liu was initially best known for his role as Jung Kim in the CBC sitcom “Kim’s Convenience.” He portrayed this character from the show’s beginning in 2016 until it ended in 2021. The show was praised for its representation of a Korean-Canadian family and their experiences.

Liu has also appeared in a number of other television shows, such as “Nikita,” “Orphan Black,” and “Blood and Water,” as well as movies like “Pacific Rim: Uprising.”

However, Liu’s most significant role to date came in 2021, when he was cast as the Marvel superhero Shang-Chi in the film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” This role made him the first Asian lead in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film.

As an actor, Liu has often spoken out about the importance of representation and diversity in media. In addition to his acting work, he is also a writer and has published a memoir titled “We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story.”

Simu Liu’s Net Worth

Simu Liu’s net worth is estimated to be around $20 million.

What we know about him:

Simu Liu was paid $6 million for his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This has been his biggest payday to date.

Before he blew up as a movie and sitcom star, Simu participated in a modeling gig to pay off his credit card debt.

He got paid a mere $120 for that gig. Those photos are being used in many forms of media, including textbooks, pamphlets, advertisements, stock photo sites, and more, and may continue to be printed indefinitely. He does not see a single cent for any additional usage of these photos of him as the company that has these photos outright owns them in perpetuity.

Simu Liu owns a home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles that is worth $5 million.

Simu says of his “Kim’s Convenience” salary, “we were paid an absolute horsepoop rate. Some fans speculate that he and his co-stars were paid roughly $30k per season.

It is likely that despite “Shang-Chi” breaking movie box office records, Simu Liu does not get a cut of ticket sales. Marvel rarely doles out contracts like that, and when they do, it’s reserved for tip-top A-list celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson.

Simu Liu’s Early Life and Childhood

Simu Liu was born on April 19, 1989, in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China. When he was five years old, his parents decided to immigrate to Canada for better opportunities. Liu was initially left in the care of his grandparents in China while his parents established their life in Canada, but he eventually joined his parents in Canada a couple of years later.

Liu grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. His parents worked hard to provide for the family, and Liu has spoken about the cultural and generational differences that he experienced growing up. He has said that his upbringing was traditional and strict, typical of many immigrant families.

In school, Liu excelled academically and was interested in a variety of activities. He attended the University of Western Ontario, where he studied business at the Ivey Business School.

However, despite his traditional education and career path, Liu harbored a passion for performing arts. After working briefly in accounting, he made the decision to pursue a career in acting. This decision was met with disapproval from his parents, who were concerned about the instability of a career in the arts. Despite this, Liu persisted and went on to become a successful actor, writer, and stuntman.

Simu Liu’s Most Well-Known Works

“Kim’s Convenience” (2016-2021): A popular Canadian television sitcom where Liu played Jung Kim, one of the main characters. The show follows a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021): Liu played the lead role in this Marvel Cinematic Universe film, making him the first Asian lead in a Marvel film. In this movie, Liu’s character, Shang-Chi, must confront his past when he’s drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

“Blood and Water” (2015-2017): A Canadian crime drama television series where Liu played the role of Paul Xie.

“Taken” (2017-2018): An American action thriller television series where Liu played the role of Faaron.

“We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story” (2022): A memoir written by Liu where he talks about his life, from his childhood as an immigrant in Canada to becoming an actor and landing the role of Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Awards and Accolades

Simu Liu has received several awards and accolades for his work in film and television. These include:

ACTRA Awards, Toronto (2020): He won the “Outstanding Performance – Male” for his role in “Blood and Water.”

Canadian Screen Awards (2017): He was nominated for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series” for “Blood and Water.”

Banff Rockie Awards (2017): “Blood and Water,” in which Liu played a major role, won the “Program of the Year.”

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards (2021): The association named “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” in which Liu played the lead role, the “Rogers Best Canadian Film Award” finalist.

Simu Liu’s Controversies

Simu Liu has been very good about not being involved in any serious controversies throughout his professional career. There are a few things that have been the subject of some discussion, although none are of any severe or scandalous nature.

For example, after the abrupt end of the Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience,” Simu Liu expressed disappointment and frustration in a lengthy Facebook post. He detailed several issues he had with the show, including the lack of East Asian and female representation among the writers, the decision to end the show despite its popularity, and the development of a spin-off focused on a non-Asian character (Nicole Power). His candidness about these behind-the-scenes issues received mixed reactions, with some applauding his honesty and others criticizing him for airing grievances publicly.

Simu Liu also faced controversy over some old Reddit comments he made criticizing China’s political system. After these comments resurfaced, some people in China called for a boycott of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” However, the film was still a commercial success.

Additionally, it’s quite well-known that early in his career, Simu Liu posed for a stock photo shoot. Years later, these images were used in various contexts, including an ad for a Canadian banking company. When Liu expressed surprise and humor overseeing his stock photos in the ad, some people misunderstood his comments as expressing offense or indignation. Liu clarified that he found the situation amusing and was not upset about the use of his images.

Simu Liu’s Girlfriend

Simu Liu is currently dating Allison Hsu, who is a marketing director for Interscope Records. Allison was also featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 in music for her work at the company.

The couple became Instagram official on November 20th, 2022, when Allison shared a picture of them with only a smiley face as the caption.

Since then Simu and Allison have been seen going everywhere together and have even met each other’s parents.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simu Liu (@simuliu)

Simu Liu’s Philanthropy

UNICEF

Simu Liu was named a UNICEF Canada Ambassador in 2020. In this role, he has worked to advance the rights of children around the world.

BLM and COVID-19 Relief

Liu has also been vocal about various social issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement and COVID-19 relief efforts. He has used his platform to raise awareness and funds for these causes.

Asian Representation and Advocacy

Liu is a strong advocate for Asian representation in media and has spoken out against anti-Asian racism. He uses his platform to promote diversity and representation in Hollywood.

What Luxury Items Has Simu Liu Been Known to Spend Money On?

To date, the most luxurious purchase he’s been known to spend on is his home in Los Angeles, worth roughly $5 million. Other than that, he’s been on record saying that he doesn’t spend all that much, and tries to be responsible with his money by saving and investing as much as he can in case his income grinds to a halt.

Furthermore, his $5 million home purchase could be considered by some to be a rather conservative purchase for him, given that his net worth is roughly $20 million, and he’s likely to only see continued and growing success in the future. Plus, his book royalties will earn him money for years to come, though the exact amount varies and is unknown.