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Chinese man who killed tech billionaire, 39, with poisoned 'probiotic pills' executed
He was reportedly executed on May 21.
May 27, 2026, 09:07 AM
Top photo by Zhang Zhi/Red Star News/VCG via Getty Images) and Sohu
The billionaire CEO of Chinese game developer Yoozoo, Lin Qi, died in 2020 as a result of poisoning.
He was estimated to have a net worth of 6.8 billion Yuan (S$1.28 billion) at the time of his death.
A man by the name of Xu Yao was reportedly arrested by Shanghai police over the poisoning on Dec. 24, 2020.
Lin died the next day.
According to Chinese media, other employees also fell sick from his plot.
The poisoning came about after Lin found a successor to replace Xu.
According to the BBC, Xu had been disgruntled after Lin sidelined him shortly after he helped land a Netflix deal for a Chinese science fiction trilogy, The 3 Body Problem.
According to the BBC, Xu then disguised "lethal substances as probiotic pills" and gave them to Lin.
Chinese media reported that Xu was sentenced to death in March 2024. He appealed the verdict, but that appeal was subsequently rejected in 2025.
He was reportedly executed on May 21.
