The Most Generous Gala Evening of the Year

A company boss in China handed out tens of millions of dollars to employees — and became a social media hero.

The head of the Chinese company Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd., Cui Peijun, organized a corporate event that employees are unlikely to ever forget. At the end of the year, the company allocated about 70% of its net profit — more than 180 million yuan (approximately $26 million) — to staff bonuses.

To understand the scale: the company’s annual profit amounted to 270 million yuan, and the lion’s share of it was distributed among approximately 7,000 employees.

The festive event took place on February 13. Around 800 banquet tables were set up in a huge hall to accommodate all workers. But the main element of the evening was not performances or a show program, but cash money.

Tables with bundles of banknotes were placed on stage and in the hall. As part of the interactive segment, employees went up on stage and literally counted the money by hand: whatever amount you managed to count within the allotted time — you could take home.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media show people gathering bundles of cash in their arms, with some barely able to hold it all. More than 60 million yuan (approximately $8.7 million) was distributed in cash on site alone.

During the gala evening, Cui Peijun publicly addressed the finance department with an unexpected remark. Upon learning that household appliances had been prepared as gifts, he said from the stage: “Why are we giving out washing machines? Do you think gold prices have risen? In previous years, we gave necklaces and rings — bring the cash and give everyone another 20,000 yuan.” As a result, including online payouts, the total volume of annual bonuses exceeded 180 million yuan.

Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd. was founded in September 2002. The company specializes in the manufacturing of cranes and material handling equipment and also provides service support. Its products are supplied to more than 130 countries worldwide.

Cui Peijun owns approximately 98.88% of the company’s shares, effectively being the main beneficiary of the business. In 2024, the company’s net profit amounted to about 260 million yuan, of which 170 million yuan was also distributed among employees. Thus, generous bonuses are not a one-time action, but a consistent practice in recent years.

The Company’s Social Policy

In March last year, on International Women’s Day, the company paid nearly 1.6 million yuan in bonuses to 2,000 female employees. Regular cash rewards and social payments have become part of the company’s corporate culture.

On Chinese social media, Cui has already been nicknamed “the boss who loves giving away money the most.” He responds simply: “It’s not that I love giving away money. Young people are burdened with car loans and mortgages. Any support we can offer helps ease their lives.”

The story sparked a wave of discussion and envy across the Chinese internet. One user wrote: “This is the real God of Wealth among people. I wish there were more entrepreneurs like him.”

Another commented: “Isn’t this more effective than any advertising? Treat employees well and they work better, and quality only improves. A boss like this deserves to be a national role model.”

A third summarized: “This is a dream job. With bonuses like that, who wouldn’t want to work there?”

Economic calculation or altruism?

On the one hand, distributing nearly 70% of profits looks like unprecedented generosity. On the other, it is a powerful tool for motivation and building employee loyalty.

Such a model increases engagement, reduces staff turnover, and shapes the company’s reputation as a socially responsible employer. In conditions of high competition for qualified personnel, this approach may prove strategically justified.

For many employees, such payments can truly become a turning point — covering part of a mortgage, repaying a car loan, or creating a financial safety cushion.

And although not every executive is ready to share profits on such a scale, Cui Peijun’s story shows that sometimes the strongest PR is not advertising, but real money in employees’ hands.

A video fragment of the event can be viewed on our Telegram channel.