'CEO Monk' Shi Yongxin Jailed for 24 Years Over Graft and Embezzlement

Shi Yongxin , the former abbot of China's famed Shaolin Temple and a key figure in popularising kung fu worldwide, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison on corruption-related charges, Chinese state media reported on Friday.

The 60-year-old monk, once regarded as one of China's most influential Buddhist leaders, was also fined 3.5 million yuan (approximately USD 516,000). According to the Intermediate People's Court in Xinxiang, Henan Province, Shi was convicted of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, accepting bribes, and offering bribes involving exceptionally large sums of money.

Court findings showed that between 2003 and 2025, Shi used his positions as abbot of the Shaolin Temple and head of its charitable foundation to embezzle more than 131 million yuan . He was also found to have misappropriated 151 million yuan and accepted bribes worth 11.63 million yuan , while paying over 5.67 million yuan to officials to secure benefits and approvals.

Shi was removed from his post and detained last year after authorities accused him of violating Buddhist monastic rules, including maintaining improper relationships with multiple women and fathering children.

Known as the " CEO monk ," Shi transformed the centuries-old Shaolin Temple into a globally recognised cultural and tourism brand. Founded in 495 AD in Henan Province, the temple is revered as a centre of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Chinese martial arts.

The court noted that Shi confessed to his crimes, expressed remorse, and chose not to appeal. The case has drawn widespread attention in China and abroad, highlighting the importance of accountability and financial transparency within powerful religious institutions , regardless of their cultural stature or global influence.