Netflix's newest reality show is Bling Empire and it focuses on rich and famous Asian and Asian-American Angelinos. In the very first episode, a cast member references Crazy Rich Asians, which has many similarities to the show. The two main characters of this reality series are Gabriel and Christine Chiu, a husband and wife power couple with a lucrative plastic surgery business... and royal roots.
While Christine Chiu is in the spotlight more than her husband Gabriel Chiu, Gabriel has made an impression on Bling Empire. In the second episode of the season, his desire to give his son "Baby G" a sibling is a major plot point. His wife Christine Chiu doesn't want to go through the trauma of pregnancy and labor again and doesn't feel comfortable using a surrogate. Later, we find out that Gabriel was the one who had issues conceiving a child, and had to have "a few surgeries" so that they could have their son. In the series, Gabriel and Christine often speak about Gabriel's parents, who expected a male grandchild. It turns out that Dr. Gabriel Chiu is a direct descendant of the Song dynasty, and his parents expected a grandson in order to continue the family name.
Gabriel Chiu may be a descendant of dynastic royalty, but he still works for his money. Gabriel became a plastic surgeon after he graduated from Pacific-Western University of Health Sciences. It's reported that Gabriel Chiu met his wife Christine at work, where he was her employee. Christine was the director of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, Inc., where Gabriel was hired. Christine told Women, "I was making more money than Dr. Chiu when we met!" Together, the couple has grown Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery into a reputable medispa. Besides providing plastic surgery to celebrities, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery also runs The Spa at BHPS, Inc., where skin products are sold and non-invasive treatments are performed on patients. In addition, Gabriel and Christine own the Anti-Aging Institute of Regenerative Medicine, also in Beverly Hills.
With a booming business, plus dynastic blood, Dr. Chiu has a large net worth. The Daily Mail estimates that his net worth is about $80 million. The Chiu's don't just hoard their earnings, though, because they are major philanthropists. Christine told The Hollywood Reporter that she and Gabriel invest "50% of every net dollar that comes into Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery" back into the Los Angeles community. In 2019, Gabriel and Christine worked with Prince Charles to establish The Prince's Foundation Chiu Integrated Health Programme. The foundation provides holistic and homeopathic medicines and therapies to the local community of Ayrshire, Scotland. Gabriel Chiu is a proponent of natural medicine and reportedly suggests homeopathic remedies to his patients post-surgery. See Gabriel and his family below:
With a sizeable net worth and lucrative business, it's easy to see why Gabriel and Christine Chiu were added to the Bling Empire cast. Christine and Gabriel's charitable parties are events where cast members meet to turn up the drama, and fans can't wait to see the next lavish ball the couple will host in Bling Empire season two (if another season of the show does get the green light).
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Women.com, The Daily Mail, Christine Chiu/Instagram