China's obsession with live-streaming makes ex-journalist a billionaire

I rarely sell my shares, so YY's share price won't have too much impact on me: Li Xueling

Every night, millions of Chinese millennials swipe their smartphone screens and spend money to lavish virtual gifts on their favorite real-time entertainers.

It has become a daily habit for 73 million users of live-streaming platform YY Inc. as they seek out everything from singing and dancing performances, makeup tutorials, trivia games and extreme sports. On the other side of the screen, the biggest talents earn more than 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) a year, even from the comfort of their bedrooms.

China has become the largest market for live streaming, with 2018 revenue expected to reach $4.4 billion, according to a December