Zhang Xuefeng Cause of Death: Beloved Entrepreneur Dead After Running

Zhang Xuefeng was a beloved entrepreneur and social media influencer in the education field. His death at the age of 41 came unexpectedly, and he fell ill after running.

What was Zhang's cause of death? How did he die? Zhang died of cardiac arrest. His company Suzhou Fengxue Weilai Education Technology Co. confirmed his death, according to China Daily.His obituary, which was posted on his Weibo account, reported that he died from "sudden cardiac death in Suzhou at 3:50 pm on Tuesday, despite all-out rescue efforts."

Zhang Xuefeng's Cause of Death Raised Concern About 'Sudden Death' After Running Long Distances

According to a translation of JF Daily, at 12:26 p.m., Zhang Xuefeng "began feeling unwell after going for a run at his company premises. He was rushed to the hospital but ultimately succumbed to his condition, with the hospital officially diagnosing the cause of death as sudden cardiac death."

That news site noted that two days earlier, Zhang Xuefeng "had posted a running log on social media; on March 22, he completed a 7-kilometer run, bringing his cumulative running mileage for the month to 72 kilometers." That's more than 44 miles.

JF Daily noted, "In recent years, news reports regarding 'sudden death while running' among young and middle-aged individuals have frequently appeared in the media."

Zhang Xuefeng Was Known for His Short Videos on Social Media

A journal article by Ximei Zhao that explored the phenomenon of "Internet celebrities in China" mentions Xuefeng. "Zhang Xuefeng was a famous teacher specializing in tutoring students to pass Chinese postgraduate entrance exams," it says, noting that he gained "recognition on the Chinese internet by sharing knowledge in short video format."

He had more than 6 million followers on Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. He started his company in May 2021. "Relying on his witty and straightforward expression manners, Zhang "owns his reputation as a tutor of undergraduate examinations on social media," the article says.

"He attracts many young audiences who are pursuing Chinese master’s degrees, and thus earns money through selling academic products and holding public speeches," the article notes. "While he attracts a potential audience who is interested in undergraduate degrees in China, social media aids Zhang to accumulate his capital by providing him a platform to receive direct payment: he holds an online store on Weibo as a channel to buy his books and book his guidance courses, so his followers can buy products easily and quickly."

The article noted, "With increasing economic capital and followers, Zhang is then able to build his educational organization and set tutoring sessions targeted at his followers to earn more profits."

Zhang Xuefeng Had a Net Worth of More Than $100 Million

According to the South China Morning Post, he was "one of the most-watched figures among anxious parents navigating China’s most competitive college entrance exam." Also known as Zhang Zibiao, Zhang had more than 30 million social media followers overall and was worth over $100 million, the site reported.

"The 40-year-old from Heilongjiang province in northeastern China leverages the pressure to succeed in gaokao, widely considered the most important exam Chinese students will face in their lifetimes," that site reported.

“I currently own three companies. The first is about to go public, and I expect to make several hundred million yuan from the IPO. The second is valued at between 500 and 800 million yuan (US$70 million to US$110 million),” Zhang said in a 2019 lecture, according to the South China Morning Post.

"I make hundreds of thousands annually from book royalties and millions from lecturing but you might not see me lecturing in two years because I’ll have achieved financial freedom,” he added.

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