Jet Li says wife prepared inheritance for stepdaughters, enough to last 'until they're 100 years old'

In a rare look into his private life, martial arts icon Jet Li, 63, opened up about his blended family.

He did so in a Jun. 25 podcast episode with his younger daughter, Jada, on his YouTube channel.

In the video, Jet addressed long-standing public misconceptions and revealed that his wife, Nina Li Chi, has provided extensively for his elder daughters from his first marriage.

Jet has four daughters: Li Si and Li Taimi with his ex-wife Huang Qiuyan, and Jane and Jada with Nina.

Nina's care for her stepdaughters

During the episode, Jada said that she and her elder half-sisters had "very different upbringings", and asked her father how he maintained fairness between his daughters.

Jet explained that despite Chinese netizens criticising him over the years for treating the older sisters "not nice", he has never felt the need to explain himself.

He revealed that even before Jane and Jada were born, Nina had taken the initiative to care for his daughters from his previous marriage.

Nina had told him: "I'll take care of the two girls. I will pay the money [for them] to go to school. I will take care of everything. You don't need to worry."

He agreed to the arrangement, adding that he felt it would help his daughters bond with their stepmother.

And it worked. "They're very close," he said.

An inheritance

Her care for her stepdaughters extended into looking after their practical needs, Jet said.

In addition to funding their education, Nina had set aside money to provide for the girls "until [they're] 100 years old", even if they do not work.

As both elder daughters are now employed, Nina has also assured them that they only need to focus on taking care of their biological mother, rather than worrying about her or Jet.

Today, the family remains close, with the elder daughters meeting up with them annually either in Singapore or the United States.

Jada added that her elder half-sisters continue to take care of her whenever they can.

From financial provider to "real father"

Jada also asked her father how his views had changed about parenthood, during the 10-year gap between his two sets of daughters.

Jet said that the time coincided with the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, which gave him "more time to think about life".

In his early years of fatherhood, he focused on working hard, while letting his mum look after his daughters.

It got to the point that his younger daughters even showed signs of fear while talking to him, he said.

"I thought [giving] enough money, [giving] a good education in the future, [taking] care of their future was good enough."

"I really didn't know how to communicate with [my daughters]."

The biggest turning point, however, was when Jada fell mentally ill. He realised that he had to do more as a father than "just only [paying] money".

"That was the night that my life changed."

After the incident, he decided to focus on becoming a more present father.

Jet thanked Jada jokingly: "You changed my life. Become real father. Before that, I'm just half a father only."