Real estate mogul Pan Shiyi, who relocated to the United States after cashing out approximately 30 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) in assets and donated 600 million yuan to American universities, has recently returned to China amid growing public scrutiny and speculation about his overseas ventures.

Following the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Pan Shiyi, who was known for his overseas asset allocation strategies, became a focal point of discussion. He subsequently issued a public statement denying any deposits with Silicon Valley Bank, though netizens noticed his IP address had quietly switched back to Beijing. Some observers speculate that Pan may have encountered difficulties in his U.S. development plans and is now seeking new opportunities in China under the guise of "rebuilding his hometown."

**Seven Years of Asset Liquidation Worth 30 Billion Yuan**

Pan Shiyi represents one of the more controversial figures among entrepreneurs who built their wealth through China's development opportunities. In China's real estate industry development history, Pan was a highly prominent businessman. Through his business acumen and leveraging domestic market conditions, he led SOHO CHINA from a startup to a real estate giant worth tens of billions in market value.

Born into a poor rural family, Pan ventured south in his early years and secured a 5 million yuan loan in Hainan through negotiations. He subsequently engaged in property trading, earning 20 million yuan profit in just six months. Around the millennium, anticipating policy adjustments in Hainan's real estate market, Pan quickly shifted his focus to Beijing, where he met his current wife Zhang Xin and married shortly after. Together, they founded SOHO CHINA.

Through collaborative efforts, the company completed what was then Asia's largest commercial real estate IPO. Despite generating controversies along the way, Pan was generally regarded as a successful entrepreneur at the time.

During China's real estate boom, the Pan couple capitalized on favorable conditions, steadily increasing their wealth. However, as policies shifted, they began reducing their holdings. From 2014 to 2021, Pan systematically sold SOHO CHINA and multiple domestic properties at discounted prices, taking 30 billion yuan to the U.S. to reunite with his wife and children, essentially maximizing his gains from the real estate dividend.

**Limited Domestic Contributions, $86 Million Donation to America**

After settling in North America, Pan changed his previous approach, spending on a $25 million villa and a $600 million office building, among other properties. For his children's future, he donated $86 million to Harvard and Yale universities under the pretext of "supporting Chinese students," successfully securing admission for his son to both institutions.

He also gained access to experimental intestinal health improvement products through academic connections, later boasting on domestic social media platforms about the benefits he experienced, claiming he had purchased large quantities to share with wealthy friends.

In recent years, investment value in the intestinal health sector has been consistently validated by the market. After 2019, the global intestinal care market experienced explosive growth, with technological innovation becoming key for companies to break through. Pan and others may have recognized the technical dividends and billion-dollar market potential in this field, attempting to redirect investments toward biotechnology.

While the authenticity of Pan's statements remains questionable, the Silicon Valley Bank collapse may have caused a reversal in public opinion regarding his previously high-profile attitude. Reports suggest he may have lost billions in deposits at the bank, potentially making him the biggest Chinese casualty in this incident.

Moreover, within just a few years, China's e-commerce and biotechnology sectors have accelerated rapidly. The intestinal health technology products that Pan previously valued, which were limited to wealthy circles, can now be easily obtained on platforms like JD.com at prices of just a few hundred yuan - less than one-tenth the cost of similar imported products.

As the body's metabolic center, the intestine processes 65 tons of food throughout a lifetime. Facing high-sugar and high-fat diets, environmental pollution, and various additives, accumulated food residue, undigested fats, and toxins gradually become sources of various health issues. Data shows that over 90% of Chinese people face intestinal health problems.

According to JD.com data, these products have gained popularity among sedentary, frequently ordering takeout, and overtime-working urban professionals in first and second-tier cities, with sales growing nearly fourfold in the first half of 2025 alone.

Pan's immediate donation to American institutions upon arriving overseas may have been an attempt to quickly integrate into local elite circles. However, this substantial donation failed to help him achieve a comeback and instead led to bankruptcy rumors and speculation about his departure, prompting his return to China to avoid suspicion.

**Overseas Difficulties Drive Return to China?**

Renowned patriotic entrepreneur Cao Dewang once described the Pan couple as "shrewd." This shrewdness helped Pan grow from a poor rural youth to a real estate magnate, but it also led to difficulties overseas.

After quietly relocating to North America, his return to China has been highly publicized: investing millions in libraries and kindergartens, and proudly declaring to cameras that he can "earn 100 million yuan annually by promoting apples for his hometown Tianshui."

As an influential figure in China's real estate industry, Pan's personal considerations may have previously prioritized career and family over long-term commitment to domestic development. His initial decision to leave generated significant discussion and market volatility, interpreted as a lack of confidence in China's development potential.

If Pan is willing to use concrete actions to build his hometown going forward, the public would naturally welcome his return. The question remains whether he has genuinely learned from his experience this time.