Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire businessman and political activist, fled to the United States in 2014 after facing allegations of corruption and other crimes from the Chinese government. Guo claims these charges are politically motivated. Once among China's richest individuals, he now resides in the U.S. and is associated with Steve Bannon and Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
October 5, 1968: Possible Birth of Guo Wengui
One of the two possible dates provided for Guo Wengui's birth. If this date is accurate, he was born on October 5, 1968.
May 10, 1970: Birth of Guo Wengui
One of the two possible dates provided for Guo Wengui's birth. If this date is accurate, he was born on May 10, 1970.
2006: The Pangu Plaza Incident
In 2006, Guo Wengui provided a sex tape to the police that featured a Beijing deputy mayor who had opposed one of Guo's land deals. The deputy mayor was subsequently jailed, paving the way for Guo to proceed with the construction of the Pangu Plaza.
2008: Construction Deals During Beijing Olympics
Guo Wengui secured various construction deals in Beijing during the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking a period of significant business growth for him.
2008: Loan for Pangu Plaza Development
In 2008, Guo Wengui secured a $30 million loan from Pacific Alliance for the development of Pangu Plaza in Beijing, personally guaranteeing the loan.
2013: Beijing Zenith Holdings Acquires Stake in PKU Healthcare
In 2013, Beijing Zenith Holdings, a company reportedly controlled by Guo Wengui, acquired a minority stake in PKU Healthcare from the state-owned Founder Group's PKU Healthcare Group. However, the company allegedly failed to make the full payment for the shares after the transfer.
2014: Guo Wengui Flees China
In 2014, upon learning of impending arrest due to allegations of serious crimes including bribery, kidnapping, money laundering, fraud, and rape, Guo Wengui fled from China. He maintains these charges are politically motivated.
2015: Allegations of Guo Wengui's Ownership of Zenith Holdings
Chinese media outlets published reports in 2015 alleging that the true ownership of Zenith Holdings could be traced back to Guo Wengui. The reports claimed that the individuals listed as owners, Li Lin and Jiang Yuehua, were acting as proxies for Guo Wengui.
2015: Guo Wengui Moves to the United States and Faces Accusations
In 2015, Guo Wengui relocated to the United States. During this time, a comprehensive investigative report by Caixin media, led by Hu Shuli, was published. The report revealed details about Guo's political connections, business activities, and his aggressive tactics used against former competitors.
2016: Beijing Zenith Holdings, PKU Healthcare, and PKU Resources Group Holdings Fined
In 2016, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) imposed fines on Beijing Zenith Holdings, PKU Healthcare, and PKU Resources Group Holdings due to irregularities in their financial dealings related to the share acquisition.
January 23, 2017: Guo Wengui Engages in Media Interviews
Starting on January 23, 2017, Guo Wengui participated in numerous interviews with various media outlets, including Mingjing, Voice of America (VOA), and the BBC.
April 2017: Lawsuit by Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund
In April 2017, Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund filed a lawsuit against Guo Wengui in New York, alleging he owed $88 million in principal and interest on a loan related to the Pangu Plaza project in Beijing.
April 2017: Interpol Notice for Guo Wengui's Arrest
In April 2017, a significant development occurred as an Interpol notice was issued for the arrest of Guo Wengui. This action was taken at the request of the Chinese government, which continued to pursue Guo Wengui on the basis of the earlier allegations.
June 2017: China Requests Guo Wengui's Deportation
The Chinese government, in a letter delivered to then-U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2017, made a formal request for Guo Wengui's deportation to China. This letter, delivered via casino magnate Steve Wynn, highlighted the escalating tensions surrounding Guo Wengui's presence in the U.S. While unnamed sources suggested that Trump was initially open to the idea of deporting Guo Wengui, who was a member of his Mar-a-Lago resort, his advisors reportedly cautioned against such a move, arguing that Guo Wengui's situation could be leveraged as a political tool in dealings with China.
June 2017: HNA Group Sues Guo Wengui for Defamation
HNA Group, a target of Guo Wengui's accusations, filed a lawsuit against him in June 2017, alleging defamation.
June 2017: Charges Against Pangu Investment Staff
June 2017 marked another challenging turn of events for Guo Wengui as staff members of Pangu Investment, one of his investment ventures, faced legal charges. The accusations centered around allegations that these staff members had engaged in fraudulent activities by deceiving banks to secure loans. Those accused maintained that they had acted under the direct instructions of Guo Wengui.
August 2017: Defamation Lawsuit by HNA Group
In August 2017, HNA Group, a Chinese conglomerate, sued Guo Wengui for defamation in New York, claiming his allegations about their ownership structure caused them financial damage. Guo refuted the claims, welcoming the legal battle.
October 5, 2017: Guo Wengui Releases Alleged "Confidential Document"
In Washington, D.C., Guo Wengui made public what he described as a "confidential document" originating from the Chinese government. This document, dated October 5, 2017, purported to outline China's "working plan" for covertly deploying 27 police officers to the United States in 2017. Guo Wengui asserted that this document had been verified by the U.S. government, a claim that has not been independently confirmed.
2017: Guo Wengui's Public Accusations Begin
Guo Wengui created a Twitter account in early 2017, which he used to publicly criticize members of the Chinese establishment. He was particularly critical of He Jintao, the son of former Central Commission for Discipline Inspection secretary He Guoqiang.
2017: Guo Wengui's Self-Imposed Exile in New York City
Beginning in 2017, Guo Wengui entered a period of self-imposed exile in New York City. There, he resided in a lavish US$82 million apartment located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, overlooking Central Park. From this location, he persisted in his political activities, aiming to raise awareness about corruption within the Chinese political system.
August 2018: Collaboration with Steve Bannon and G News
Starting in August 2018, Guo Wengui's media company, Guo Media, entered a collaboration with Steve Bannon, involving a $1 million consulting agreement. This collaboration led to the establishment of G News, a website known for its critical stance against the Chinese government, featuring both Guo and Bannon prominently.
August 2018: Freezing of Guo Family Assets
In August 2018, reports from several Hong Kong media outlets, including Ming Pao and the South China Morning Post, revealed that the Hong Kong Police had taken the step of freezing assets belonging to the Guo family. This action was taken based on allegations of money laundering that were linked to Guo's daughter, Guo Mei.
October 2018: Zenith Holdings Fined CNY 60 Billion
In a significant legal development in October 2018, Zenith Holdings was handed a substantial fine of CNY 60 billion. The penalty was levied due to irregularities discovered in the company's acquisition of a securities company. A court in Dalian ruled that Beijing Zenith had accrued illicit profits amounting to RMB 11.9 billion through these unlawful activities.
November 2018: Guo Wengui Attempts to Sell Apartment
In November 2018, Guo Wengui listed his luxurious New York City apartment for sale, with an asking price of US$67 million. This apartment, valued at US$82 million, was situated on Manhattan's Upper East Side, offering a view of Central Park.
November 20, 2018: Establishment of "Rule of Law" Foundation
On November 20, 2018, Guo Wengui, alongside Steve Bannon, announced the "Rule of Law" foundation in New York. The organization, split into 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities, aimed to investigate the Chinese government's financial activities and support individuals persecuted by the CCP.
December 2018: Settlement with Roger Stone
In December 2018, Guo Wengui reached a settlement with Roger Stone, who retracted a false claim made between 2015 and 2016 alleging Guo had donated to Hillary Clinton's campaign.
2018: Launch of G News
Guo Wengui, in collaboration with Steve Bannon, launched the media project "G News" in 2018.
March 2019: Death of Guo Wengui's Mother
In March 2019, Guo Wengui experienced the loss of his mother, who passed away in China.
March 2019: HNA Group Drops Lawsuit, Guo Continues
In March 2019, HNA Group announced their intention to drop the defamation lawsuit against Guo, stating his statements no longer held public attention. However, Guo refused to withdraw from the case, vowing to continue his accusations.
July 23, 2019: Espionage Accusation and Defamation Lawsuit
On July 23, 2019, Strategic Vision US LLC, amidst a commercial dispute with Guo, accused him of being a Chinese spy in a US federal court. The lawsuit was dismissed, leading Guo to file a $50 million defamation suit against Strategic Vision US and CNN host Erin Burnett for labeling him a spy.
August 2019: Freezing of Bank Accounts
In August 2019, it was revealed that Hong Kong police froze bank accounts belonging to Guo Wengui and his family in 2017 as part of a money laundering investigation. The accounts, linked to Guo, his family, and their companies, reportedly held at least HK$1.56 billion, with HK$730 million allegedly originating from an Abu Dhabi sovereign fund.
2019: Targeted by Chinese Government Bots
In 2019, an Australian Strategic Policy Institute study revealed that Guo Wengui was the primary target of Chinese government-controlled Twitter accounts spreading disinformation during the Hong Kong protests. These accounts, later banned by Twitter, focused on discrediting Guo more than any other individual or group, including the protesters themselves.
January 25, 2020: Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation
On January 25, 2020, G News, associated with Guo Wengui, published a false claim about the origin of COVID-19, alleging a leak from a Wuhan lab connected to biological weapon programs. Fact-checkers debunked this claim, highlighting its role in spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
June 3, 2020: Declaration of the "New Federal State of China"
On June 3, 2020, Guo Wengui, while on his yacht in the waterways of New York City, alongside Steve Bannon, participated in an event where they proclaimed the establishment of a "New Federal State of China". The stated goal of this new entity was to bring about the downfall of the existing Chinese government. This event drew further attention as planes were observed flying over New York City with banners displaying the message "Congratulations to Federal State of New China!".
August 2020: Arrest of Steve Bannon
In August 2020, Steve Bannon, a close associate of Guo Wengui, was apprehended by federal authorities. The arrest occurred during an early morning raid on Guo's opulent $35 million yacht, which was docked in Connecticut. Bannon faced accusations of misappropriating millions of dollars from the "We Build the Wall" non-profit organization.
December 2020: Accusations of Targeting Dissidents
In December 2020, Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer, accused Guo Wengui of orchestrating the harassment of dissidents, including himself, alleging Guo accused them of colluding with the Chinese government. These actions fueled speculation about Guo's true motives and objectives.
December 2020: Dissemination of Election Misinformation and Twitter Suspension
Guo Wengui's media ventures, particularly G News, were identified as sources of misinformation during the 2020 US presidential election, including false narratives about Hunter Biden. By December 2020, Guo's Twitter account, with over half a million followers, was suspended due to the spread of unverified information.
2020: Launch of GTV Media Group
In 2020, Guo Wengui, again in partnership with Steve Bannon, initiated another media venture, "GTV Media Group".
2020: Investigation into Illegal Fundraising
In 2020, federal and state authorities launched investigations into GTV companies, co-founded by Guo Wengui, for alleged illegal fundraising activities.
2020: Seizure of Guo's Apartment
In 2020, a $55 million apartment purchased for Guo Wengui's use was seized as part of bankruptcy proceedings related to the lawsuit filed by Pacific Alliance.
2020: Promotion of Li-Meng Yan and Unsubstantiated COVID-19 Claims
In 2020, Guo Wengui and Steve Bannon supported Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan, providing her platform and resources to spread unsubstantiated claims about the artificial origin of COVID-19. The scientific community widely rejected these claims as misinformation.
2020: Co-founding of GTV Media Group
In 2020, Guo Wengui and Steve Bannon co-founded GTV Media Group, further expanding their media presence with the Chinese video website GTV.
July 2021: BBC Exposé on Misinformation Network
In July 2021, a BBC News report exposed the collaboration between Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui in spreading misinformation across social media platforms, encompassing election fraud narratives, coronavirus vaccine disinformation, and QAnon conspiracy theories.
2021: Settlement with SEC
In 2021, Guo Wengui reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This involved him paying a substantial sum of $539 million in refunds and fines. This was related to illegal fundraising activities connected to his companies.
February 2022: Guo Wengui Files for Bankruptcy
In February 2022, Guo Wengui made a significant move by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In documents submitted for the bankruptcy proceedings, Guo declared that his total assets were estimated to be within the range of $50,001 to $100,000. Conversely, his liabilities were reported to be considerably higher, ranging from $100 million to $500 million.
March 2023: Arrest of Guo Wengui
In a significant turn of events, Guo Wengui was arrested in March 2023 by U.S. federal authorities. The charges against him were related to fraud.
March 15, 2023: Arrest for Fraud and Money Laundering
On March 15, 2023, Guo Wengui was arrested in New York by Federal authorities on charges of conspiracy to defraud his online followers of over $1 billion. The charges include unregistered offerings, fraudulent loans for GTV, and illicit funds raised through membership programs and the Himalaya Exchange cryptocurrency project.
May 22, 2024: Trial Date Set
Guo Wengui's trial is scheduled for May 22, 2024, where he will face 11 charges related to securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty.