The Emperor's Disease: How Panic Attacks Forced China's Richest Man into Exile

Imagine this: You have everything in the conventional sense—wealth, power, and fame. You've built a massive business empire with your own hands, becoming the richest person in your country, where your every move can shake an industry. Yet, on a seemingly ordinary afternoon while on a flight, your world suddenly shatters. Your heart begins to pound uncontrollably, cold sweat soaks your clothes, you can't breathe, and a terrifying fear of dying grips you.

This isn't a heart attack. It's a psychological condition known as a Panic Attack. If this were you, what would you do next? Would you seek treatment and continue to rule your empire? Or would you make a decision that stuns everyone: abandon the kingdom you built, disappear completely from public view, and go in search of an answer no one else could provide?

Chen Tianqiao didn't have to imagine. His choice transformed him from a formidable "Online Emperor" into a reclusive and mysterious seeker exploring the secrets of the human brain.

What you'll learn from Chen Tianqiao's story:

• The hidden psychological costs of immense success and pressure.
• Recognizing when the pursuit of an empire is destroying your personal well-being.
• The courage to walk away from the pinnacle of power for the sake of health and family.
• How a personal health crisis can become the catalyst for a profound new life mission.

The Shadow at the Summit

In 2004, Chen Tianqiao's life reached its zenith. Shanda's successful IPO made him the richest man in China. Immediately after, he launched the ambitious "Shanda Box" project, attempting to leap from gaming to the entire digital entertainment industry and build an unprecedented "Online Disney."

At that time, he was the undisputed "Emperor." He was assertive, focused, and worked over 15 hours a day, commanding every detail of his company. His mind was like a high-speed central processing unit, simultaneously handling countless strategies, data points, and personnel issues. Shanda employees described him as someone who "walked with a gust of wind," with sharp eyes and an intimidating presence.

However, a shadow was quietly creeping over this peak of power.

The immense, day-to-day pressure, the anxiety over the failure of the "Shanda Box," and the constant battles with regulators and competitors were slowly eroding his physical and mental health. He began to suffer from insomnia and became easily irritable, but he attributed it all to the normal stress of entrepreneurship.

Until that flight in 2009. At 30,000 feet, his first panic attack struck without warning. The visceral, physiological experience of feeling like he was about to die completely shattered his formidable psychological defenses. "It feels like you are going to die," he later recalled, "but all the medical check-ups tell you that you are fine."

From Emperor to Patient

This experience became a turning point. He was diagnosed with a nervous system disorder accompanied by severe panic attacks. His doctor's advice was simple: stop working and get away from the high-stress environment.

At first, he resisted. He couldn't imagine leaving the empire he had built. He tried various treatments, but the attacks became more frequent. Sometimes they would happen in meetings, sometimes at home; the uncontrollable sense of dread could engulf him at any moment.

He gradually realized that the all-powerful "Emperor" Chen Tianqiao of the business world was a helpless "patient" in the face of his own body. His billions in wealth couldn't buy him a single night of peaceful sleep; his vast empire couldn't prevent the next panic attack.

After a painful struggle, he made a difficult decision: to retreat.

He began to gradually reduce his involvement in Shanda's daily operations, delegating power to others. In 2010, he moved his family to Singapore, completely distancing himself from China's business epicenter. Eventually, he chose to sell Shanda's core asset, Shanda Games, officially bidding farewell to the battlefield where he had fought for over a decade.

The Search for the Ultimate Answer

To the outside world, Chen Tianqiao's departure was a great mystery. Why would a business titan in his prime choose to "disappear" at his peak? Speculation was rampant.

However, in the tranquility of his life in Singapore, Chen began a new journey of exploration. The illness that had caused him so much pain also led him to ponder an ultimate question: Where do fundamental human emotions like happiness, pain, fear, and desire truly come from? How does the brain work? Can we understand and cure mental suffering like his at its source?

He realized that everything he had pursued in the business world—wealth, entertainment, satisfying user desires—was merely an external stimulus for the brain's perceptions. The true "first principle" was to understand the brain itself.

This idea eventually evolved into his life's second act. He was no longer content with building a virtual "Online Disney"; he wanted to explore the "final frontier" of the human mind.

In 2016, Chen Tianqiao and his wife, Chrissy Luo, announced they would commit $1 billion to establish the Chen Tianqiao and Chrissy Luo Institute for Neuroscience, funding top-tier brain research around the world.

He transformed from a businessman who manufactured "happiness" for users into a benefactor trying to understand the nature of "happiness" itself. The disease that nearly destroyed him did not defeat him. Instead, it opened a door to a new world, leading him from a commercial "Emperor" to a more vast and profound domain.

Key Takeaways

• Success Has a Hidden Price: Extreme success often comes with unimaginable stress that can take a severe toll on mental and physical health. Chen's story is a powerful reminder that well-being is the foundation of all achievement.
• The Courage to Let Go: Walking away from the empire he built at the height of his power was an act of profound courage. He chose his health and family over continued fame and control, a decision few are strong enough to make.
• Turn Pain into Purpose: Chen transformed his personal suffering into a new, greater mission. His struggle with panic attacks directly inspired his dedication to neuroscience, giving him a purpose beyond business.
• From External to Internal: His journey represents a shift from mastering the external world (business, technology) to understanding the internal world (the mind, consciousness). He realized that the brain is the ultimate "market" and the final frontier of human exploration.