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Vivian Tu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vivian Tu (also known as Your Rich BFF)[1] is an American businesswoman, author, and media personality.[2] She is the founder and CEO of Your Rich BFF, a multi-media company that provides financial education.[3]

Early life and education

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Tu was born in Baltimore, Maryland as the only child to Chinese immigrant parents.[4] Her mother worked in chemistry and consulting, and her father was a computer programmer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.[5] From an early age, Tu was involved in her parents finances, acting as a translator during financial discussions for her Chinese speaking parents.[6] She graduated valedictorian of Marriotts Ridge High School in 2012,[6] and later moved to Chicago to pursue her bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago.[7]

Career

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2016-2021: JP Morgan, Buzzfeed

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Following her graduation from the University of Chicago in 2016,[7] Tu started her career as a trader at J.P. Morgan.[8] Tu traded stocks in the industrial, materials, and energy sectors.[7] Finding the stock market world male-centric, and struggling with a new manager that thought she was “too girly to make it in finance,”[6] Tu transitioned into a digital media sales role at BuzzFeed.[9] Tu became the top-earning salesperson at the news company.[6] Knowing her background in finance, friends and colleagues began asking Tu for financial advice.[5] Tu found success breaking down complicated financial jargon into digestible content and sharing it online.[5]

2021-present: Your Rich BFF, Networth & Chill, Rich AF

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Tu started making financial education videos on TikTok in 2021, and left her job at Buzzfeed to become a full-time influencer in 2022.[10] She often covers topics such as saving, investing,[11] and traveling on a budget.[12][13] Tu has gained a following of 8 million across her platforms, with her largest following on Instagram, as of December, 2024. Tu is represented by William Morris Endeavor since 2022.[14]

In 2023, Tu launched her podcast Networth & Chill,[15][16][5] in partnership with Audioboom, to expand upon the financial information she shares on her social platforms.[10] Tu partnered with Vox Media and PS, formerly known as PopSugar, for Season Two of Networth & Chill.[10] On December 26, 2023, Tu released her first book Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset that Will Change Your Life.[17] It became a New York Times bestseller under both the Business and the Advice, How To & Miscellaneous categories.[18][19]

Awards & recognition

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Since 2021, Tu has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 and Forbes Top Creators lists.[20] She has also been nominated for a Webby award,[21] and multiple Shorty Awards, including a finalist nomination for Branded Series.[22] In 2023, Tu was a Meta Visionary Voices[23] award winner. In 2024, Tu won Best Personal Finance Influencer presented by Bankrate,[24] and Networth & Chill was nominated for Best Business + Finance podcast at the 2024 iHeart Podcast Awards at SXSW.[25] That same year, she also won a Visionary Voices award from TikTok,[26] highlighting prominent and impactful AAPI content creators on the platform.[27] In December, 2024, Tu won the Digital Influencer of the Year Award at the Unforgettable Gala, which celebrates the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander celebrities, influencers and leaders.[28][29]

Her podcast has been nominated for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.[30]

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In December, 2023, Tu appeared on episode 1551 of The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes.[31] Tu was a guest on the January 9, 2024 episode of Not Alone with Valeria Lipovetsky.[32] In December, 2024, Tu was also featured on Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.[33]

Partnerships

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Since 2023, Tu has been a title partner of SoFi bank and helped the launch the Face of Finance campaign, correcting AI gender bias.[34][35][non-primary source needed]

Personal life

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In June, 2024, Tu married Greg Hunt, in Lake Como, Italy.[36]

References

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  1. ^ Chan-Danisi, Angela. "From Wall Street To TikTok: How Vivian Tu Became "Your Rich BFF" And Empowered A New Generation". Forbes. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Media, Vox (October 2, 2024). "Vivian Tu, New York Times Bestselling Author and Founder & CEO of Your Rich BFF, Joins Vox Media and PS in Podcast Partnership". Vox Media. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "Vivian Tu Wants You to Stop Feeling Guilty for Wanting to Get Rich". Cosmopolitan. January 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Hughes, Lisa (January 11, 2024). ""Your Rich BFF": Vivian Tu is demystifying personal finance to help young people build wealth - CBS Boston". CBS. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Smialek, Jeanna (November 9, 2024). "Vivian Tu, the 'Wall Street Girly,' Wants to Make Wealth More Accessible". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Ensor, Josie (December 16, 2024). "Meet the 'girly' influencer who tells me how women can get rich". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Manning, Rudine (January 28, 2022). "How 'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu built a massive TikTok following: 'I actually showed people the math'". CNBC. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "How a 28-year-old is transforming the 'male, pale, and stale' personal finance industry to become everyone's 'Rich BFF'". Fortune. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Yang, Aria. "I made around $100K at JPMorgan and $656K at BuzzFeed. Here's my full salary breakdown and why I recommend job-hopping". Business Insider. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Bhattacharya, Shriya. "'Your Rich BFF' creator has struck a new deal with Vox Media as the influencer podcasting space heats up". Business Insider. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Seshagiri, Ashwin; Dang, Mike; Hartocollis, Anemona; Hill, Kashmir; Hughes, Becky; Nerkar, Santul; Holman, Jordyn; Grynbaum, Michael M.; Barry, Ellen (April 19, 2024). "Love, Hate or Fear It: TikTok Has Changed America". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Marshall, Lucy (July 8, 2024). "'Rich' Wall Street worker shares how to get money back if flight is delayed". The Mirror. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu: How Rich People Get Hidden Travel Perks by Investing". Yahoo Finance. January 24, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Chan, J. Clara (June 10, 2022). "'Your Rich BFF' Creator Vivian Tu Signs With WME". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Networth and Chill (Talk-Show), March 22, 2023, retrieved August 26, 2024
  16. ^ "Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. January 24, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "Exclusive: Vivian Tu (Aka Your Rich BFF) Explains How to Bank Like a Rich Person in This Excerpt of 'Rich AF'". Cosmopolitan. December 15, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Business Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 31, 2023 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Jan. 14, 2024 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Bertoni, Steven. "Top Creators 2023". Forbes. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Richer Lives - The Shorty Awards". Shorty Awards. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Stephan, Katcy (October 31, 2022). "Meta Unveils Inaugural Class of 'Creators of Tomorrow' with Drew Afualo, Sydney Bell and More". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "The 2024 Bankrate Visionaries | Bankrate Awards". Bankrate. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  25. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  26. ^ "Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month". Newsroom | TikTok. August 16, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  27. ^ "Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month". Newsroom | TikTok. August 16, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  28. ^ Fell, Nicole (December 17, 2024). "Hiroyuki Sanada, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and More Honored at 2024 Unforgettable Gala". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  29. ^ White, Nicholas (December 16, 2024). "'Shogun' Star Hiroyuki Sanada, Stephanie Hsu and Joan Chen on Asian Representation in Hollywood: 'Step by Step, They Are Understanding Our Culture'". Variety. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Schultz, Jeremiah (December 27, 2023). "The Investing Expert: How I Went From $0-$1M By 30 (Anyone Can Do THIS!) | Vivian Tu". Lewis Howes. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  32. ^ "Unlock Your Financial Freedom: Getting Rich with Vivian Tu | Not Alone Podcast". www.notalonepod.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  33. ^ ""Pivot" TikTok Ban Looms, Trump's AI & Crypto Czar, and Guest Vivian Tu (Podcast Episode 2024) - Plot". IMDb. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  34. ^ "SoFi Says It's Time To Change The Face Of Finance And Highlight Womens' [sic] Financial Success". SoFi. June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  35. ^ Blount, Leslie (June 28, 2023). "SoFi's Campaign Corrects AI's Gender Bias". www.adweek.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  36. ^ "Vivian Tu of Your Rich BFF Is Married! See Every Photo From Her Wedding Weekend on Lake Como, Which Honored Her Chinese Heritage". Brides. Retrieved December 23, 2024.