Earned $4 million in half a year by imitating a Chinese actor

Da Le Lang (郎达乐) became well-known for impersonating Lu Han (鹿晗) to livestream and sell products. Imitating celebrities has brought Da Le Lang a fortune, earning him tens of millions of USD annually.

The marriage proposal event of “Lu Ha” Da Le Lang on January 15 was decorated in a pink theme, featuring flowers, pink rabbits, castles, and smoke to create a grand and dazzling atmosphere. Additionally, Da Le Lang invited friends and family to witness this special moment. In shared photos, the couple held hands and exchanged kisses.

“I thought Lu Han was proposing again—gave me a scare,” “I admit my eyes have a problem… I mistook him for Lu Han,” “At this point, even Lu Han would be startled seeing the trending news.”

However, many netizens criticized him: “Doesn’t he have his own name?” “This method of clout-chasing… and even making it to the trending list,” “Profiting by imitating celebrities is shameless.”

In reality, Da Le Lang gained fame by impersonating Lu Han to livestream and sell products. Within just half a year, his GMV (gross merchandise value) exceeded 100 million CNY ($13.6 million). Based on the industry standard profit margin of 30%, Da Le Lang pocketed over 30 million CNY ($4 million) in just six months.

Earning Tens of Millions USD by Imitating Lu Han

At 24, Da Le Lang is a Douyin influencer, known for his resemblance to Lu Han, attracting 7.7 million followers through performances mimicking the singer’s voice and dance moves.

Born in a rural area of Hunan province, southern China, Da Le Lang once worked in a barbershop and a bubble tea shop.

In 2022, he joined the group ESO, which comprised internet stars resembling EXO members, adopting the stage name “Lu Ha,” a play on Lu Han’s name. The group gained popularity for recreating famous stage performances but eventually disbanded due to copyright disputes.

After leaving ESO, Da Le Lang transitioned to livestreaming and selling snacks, earning a monthly income of up to 5 million CNY ($680,000). By 2024, he established his own company, achieving remarkable livestream sales of 138 million CNY ($18.8 million) in one year.

In comparison, the “original” Lu Han earned 210 million CNY ($28.6 million) in 2017, mainly from endorsements and music.

During a November 2024 livestream, Lu Han appeared slightly intoxicated and incoherent, raising concerns about his health and sparking doubts about whether it was truly him on-screen. Frustrated by the skepticism, Lu Han challenged his impersonator to join the livestream and prove their identity.

Soon after, the impersonator, Da Le Lang, joined the livestream, gifting 22 extravagant items worth 3,000 CNY ($409) each and quickly becoming the top fan on the livestream leaderboard.

Following his lavish gesture, Lu Han’s fans humorously called Da Le Lang “thoughtful,” suggesting he was paying “imitation tax.”

Da Le Lang later uploaded a video calling Lu Han his “benefactor,” stating, “If not for Lu, no one would know who I am.” He expressed his desire to continue gifting Lu Han as a token of gratitude.

The legal implications of profiting from impersonating Lu Han have sparked heated debates on Chinese social media platforms.

One person commented, “Lu Han has 11 million followers on Douyin, while Da Le Lang has over 7 million. Their fame is almost comparable. Da Le Lang has earned so much from Lu Han’s popularity, but he hasn’t been sued for copyright. Is that fair?”

Another added, “Lu Han is so famous that many people imitate him. As long as they don’t do anything illegal in his name, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

The Star Being Imitated

Lu Han was a standout member of the renowned K-pop group EXO, known for his role as a lead dancer and vocalist. After leaving the group in late 2014, he successfully transitioned to a solo artist in China.

The 34-year-old singer and actor boasts an incredible following of 63 million on Weibo. He has starred in several films, including 20 Once Again and The Witness, as well as the reality TV show Running Man China.

Born in Beijing, Lu Han is celebrated as one of the leading faces of Chinese pop music. He ranked second on Forbes China Celebrity 100 in 2017.

Some believe Lu Han’s fame dimmed after he publicly announced his relationship with actress Guan Xiaotong in 2017, which continues to this day.