China’s ex-Premier, Li Keqiang has been confirmed dead aged 68 just months after retiring from office. How he died, career, and fortune explored.
Li Keqiang was a prominent figure in China and served a reputable role in the political space in the country.
Ranked by Forbes as China’s second-most powerful man, he was a politician and an economist.
He often travels or hosts leaders to secure economic and security partnerships for his 1.4 billion constituents, per the publication.
Sadly, the world learned about his passing in October 2023, and following that, many want to know what his cause of death was and how much he was worth. Keep reading for more.
What was Li Keqiang’s cause of death?
Communist Party of China’s Li Keqiang died on October 27, 2023.
He died at 12:10 am on Friday while resting in Shanghai, China, according to Chinese state news outlet CCTV.
He was 68 years old at the time he died.
His unexpected death comes months after retiring from office in March.
According to state media reports, his cause of death is believed to be from a heart attack.
Who was Li Keqiang?
Born on July 1, 1955, in Hefei, China, Li Keqiang was China’s former premier of the People’s Republic.
He was also the second-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party from 2012 to 2022.
Li served as China’s top economic official for a decade, The Associated Press reported.
Li was known as an economic reformer and advocate for private business, which put him at odds with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The former premiere was left with little power after Xi tightened his control over the Chinese economy.
After Li’s term ended, Xi stayed on for an unprecedented third term and installed loyalist Li Qiang as the new premiere.
The replacement later told reporters it was his job to do whatever Xi said.
When Li began his term in 2013, many believed he would succeed former Communist Party leader Hu Jintao.
But he was passed over for Xi, who rolled back Hu’s consensus-based leadership style and consolidated power.
Li was axed from the party’s Standing Committee in October, two years before the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Xi awarded himself an third five-year term on the same day.
This was unprecedented, as all past Chinese presidents have stepped down after a decade.
What was Li Keqiang’s net worth?
Li Keqiang reportedly died a multimillionaire. At the time of his passing, he had an estimated net worth of approximately $5 million.
He accrued his fortune from his primary profession as a politician and an economist. This substantial wealth, which ranked him on the list of millionaire politicians in China, reflects not only his political influence but also his contributions to China’s economic development and his academic achievements.
He was also on Forbes List of Powerful People in 2018.