After female billionaire Tran Le Hoa passed away in April 2026, the life of "Duong Tang" Tri Trong Thuy quickly became the focus of attention.
What surprised many people was that instead of taking over the business empire that his wife had built, the actor was said to have proactively refused the right to inherit most of the commercial assets.
According to information being published by Chinese media, Tri Trong Thuy was once arranged to enjoy a large part of his assets according to a will, but then signed a document refusing inheritance rights.
His name is also said to no longer appear in the list of shareholders of some businesses belonging to the Phu Hoa system. The business operations are transferred to Tran Le Hoa's children.
Instead of entering the business world, at the age of over 70, Tri Trong Thuy continues to be associated with the Chinese Zitong Wood Museum - a place he and his wife have spent many years building.
Some sources said that he currently holds a management role at the museum and receives a salary of about 20,000 CNY/month, equivalent to more than 77 million VND.
This partly shows that Tri Trong Thuy's current life is far from what many people imagine. After 36 years of living with a female businesswoman who owns a huge fortune, he did not choose to become the successor to his wife's business empire.
He seemed to want to keep what was closest to his life after marriage: the cultural work that the two had cultivated together.
Tran Le Hoa passed away on April 5, 2026, at the age of 85. She was once a famous businesswoman, who built the Phu Hoa system and devoted herself to the zither art. According to the Hurun 2026 ranking, her assets are estimated at about 47 billion yuan.
As for Tri Trong Thuy, after his wife passed away, he did not return to the screen and did not pursue the wealthy life that many people imagined.
He was once one of the most famous actors in China thanks to his role as Tang Sanzang in "Journey to the West" 1986. When his career was at its peak, he married Chen Lihua and gradually withdrew from the entertainment industry.
For 36 years, he stood behind his strong wife, while spending a lot of time on work related to zither and museum art.
Now, when the woman who has accompanied him for more than three decades is gone, Tri Trong Thuy still chooses a peaceful life.
He did not take over the business or chase after assets worth tens of billions of yuan but continued to stick with the Chinese Zitong Wood Museum - a place he had dedicated many years with his wife to build.
Having played the role of Tang Sanzang seeking the true scriptures, Tri Trong Thuy in real life seems to be also entering another stage: slowing down, preserving what remains after 36 years of marriage and quietly continuing the life he has chosen.
