Luxury lifestyles and reality TV make an irresistible combination, and The Kardashians‘ historic success is proof of that. Satisfying audiences’ curiosity, reality shows like Super Rich in Korea provide a rare peek into the lives of the rich and their extravagant lifestyles. While there is no dearth of such content across streaming platforms, we pit Netflix’s Super Rich in Korea vs Bling Empire and compare how the two shows score on the binge-worthy quotient and their similarities and differences.
From the cast’s luxury indulgences to how impulsively they splurge their money, there are a lot of moments to gawk at in these addictive shows. While they have sparked debates on highlighting the massive wealth gap and also for highlighting eccentric personalities who aren’t hesitant to flaunt their wealth in almost condescending ways, audiences have lapped up these reality shows for entertainment purposes and the success of past projects like Bling Empire (2021-2023) have paved way for shows like Super Rich in Korea (2024).
After the inaugural season of Bling Empire received a thumbs-up from the audience, the reality show released two more instalments featuring recurring cast members, and also propelled spin-off shows like Bling Empire: New York (2023) and Dubai Bling (2022). As for Super Rich in Korea, it’s still unclear if Netflix has greenlit a season 2.
Amid the ongoing buzz about the Korean reality show, here’s a comparison of Super Rich in Korea vs Bling Empire in terms of their ostentatious displays of wealth and more.
Super Rich in Korea vs Bling Empire: Opulence decoded
Different formats, similar language
Right off the bat, a major difference between Super Rich in Korea and its predecessor Bling Empire is how they have distinct formats. They vary in terms of the number of episodes as well as the way the cast members are introduced. While meeting Seoul’s richest individuals in the Korean reality show, an added dash of glamour is introduced by the three hosts who, much like the audience, comment on the lavish lifestyles of these billionaires.
Assigned for the job are famed Thai rapper and GOT7 member BamBam alongside fashionista Mimi of the popular girl group Oh My Girl and the Korean variety show veteran Cho Saeho. Over six episodes, the trio monitor each cast member and their over-the-top indulgences coupled with some hilarious banter. From Cho Saeho joking about having a “private debt” instead of a private jet to neat freak BamBam questioning the challenges of cleaning a luxurious but impractical velvet ceiling, the hosts don’t hold back with their reactions.
On the contrary, Bling Empire finds itself in a similar space to Keeping Up With the Kardashians where each cast member has their own separately filmed interviews while the rest of the show sees them interacting in soirées. Revolving around Asian American socialites from Los Angeles, the show suggests a deeper connection between the cast as opposed to being assembled together in a show. With each season spread across eight to 10 episodes, Bling Empire focuses not only on the lavish lifestyles of its cast but also their interpersonal relationships, adding to the drama.
Despite the varying formats of the two shows, their language in terms of defining super-rich lifestyles remains the same. With Birkin bags and designer wear flaunted with an envious nonchalance, both these reality shows are the excess versions of Crazy Rich Asians.
Super Rich in Korea vs Bling Empire: Richest cast members
The elites of Super Rich in Korea include David Yong (who describes himself as among “Singapore’s Top 1% Super-rich”, Korea’s Paris Hilton-esque Hee-ra aka Aren Yoo, Pakistani royal Anna Kim, Italian businessman Teodoro; and Noor Naim, a global fashion influencer with 50 million followers.
Among these five cast members, Yong, who’s the CEO of Singapore-based Evergreen Group Holdings, boasts the highest net worth amounting to a staggering USD 90 million (as reported by Korea Times in 2023). As for fashion influencer Aren Yoo, the high-end client ambassador who works with brands like Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana reportedly has an estimated net worth of USD 5 million.
Arab YouTuber Noor Naim is not far behind Yoo and has amassed a staggering fortune of USD 3.76 million by working with major brands such as KitKat, Pantene, and Bellami among others. For the remaining members of Super Rich in Korea, while the exact net worth of Pakistani-Korean entrepreneur Anna Kim is unclear, it is expected to be over a million — considering her business endeavours. As for Teodoro Marani, whose father is the CEO of Italian luxury label Henry Beguelin and has turned out to be a fan-favourite cast member of the show thanks to his good looks and charismatic personality, reportedly earns a whopping USD 5 million from his multiple ventures.
Compared to the Super Rich in Korea, the net worths of the cast members of Bling Empire are significantly higher. As of 2022, Mimi Morris with an estimated fortune of whopping USD 800 million has been the richest member of Bling Empire. One of the show’s most famous members, late socialite Anna Shay who passed away in June last year, also boasted a massive net worth of USD 600 million.
The net worths of other members of Bling Empire include:
- Cherie Chan and Jessey Lee — USD 200 million
- Gabriel and Christine Chiu — USD 80 million
- Jaime Xie — USD 50 million
- Kane Lim — USD 20 million
- Dorothy Wang — USD 10 million
- Kim Lee — USD 10 million
- Kevin Kreider — USD 10 million
- Kelly Mi Li — USD 5 million
- Andrew Gray — 2 million
Watch Bling Empire Season 1-3 Here
Wealth flex moments from Super Rich in Korea and Bling Empire
Whether it’s David Yong proudly declaring the prices of his exorbitantly wild purchases, or Christine Chiu throwing a USD 1 million worth party for her son Baby G’s first birthday, both these reality shows have eye-popping moments that scream excess wealth.
Notably, some stand out more than others and Yong casually flaunting a cash counting machine in the living room of his Seoul apartment is an image that’s hard to forget. It’s unfathomable even for Yong’s fellow cast member, Teodoro, who himself is wealthy. Although this is not the only time the Singaporean billionaire shows off his “Top 1%” wealth, on another occasion, he pulls out his black card, (the extremely exclusive American Express Centurion Black Card) to casually buy an apartment in Seoul worth 16 billion Won. Interestingly, the apartment’s estimated cost is upwards of USD 12 million, which is as much as Espresso singer Sabrina Carpenter’s net worth.
In the meantime, for fashion enthusiasts, the enviable collection of designer bags and dresses from Aren Yoo’s dreamy closet is equally fascinating. In her room stacked with Hermès and Fendi boxes, Yoo proudly announces she never repeats her dresses and hopes to create a museum featuring her past ensembles. At another point, she says “Beauty is pain” while showcasing an embellished designer dress that left her with bruises because of its crystals. Is there even a bigger wealth flex than that?
Furthermore, Bling Empire has not been far behind in its displays of excess and one memorable moment even had two cast members indulging in a high-jewellery feud. To spill the tea, the centre of it was a Louis Vuitton diamond-and-pink-sapphire necklace that caused a rather dramatic exchange between Anna Shay and Christine Chiu during a dinner party. With both trying to claim exclusivity over their unique pieces, this high-jewellery one-upmanship is a classic ultra-wealthy circle problem.
Besides the high-brand jewellery and dresses featured on the show, there was also Kane Lim‘s Carrie Bradshaw-esque obsession with shoes that caught everyone’s attention. Boasting an LED-lit shoe wall stacked with sneakers worth USD 300K, right in his living room, it’s the modern art meets luxury shoe store design of the wardrobe that makes it wildly impressive.
Let’s also not forget Christine Chiu’s unbelievably elite solution for surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. In the first episode itself, Chiu after watching films about catastrophic world-ending situations stops at a Ducati dealership in the hopes of buying a motorbike. Why? It could help her cut through interstate traffic and get her a faster commute to board her private jet while the world’s coming to an end.
Relationships and drama
With barely six episodes to offer, Super Rich in Korea never truly scratches below the surface when it comes to the dynamics of its cast members or even their personalities beyond their wealthy personas. The additions of some interactions like David Yong and Teodoro’s blind date episode where the latter displays his gentlemanly Italian charm to win over a date, is nearly not enough drama for a reality show. Despite Teo courting the same girl that Yong initially set eyes on, the two never have an exchange over the complicated situation.
Additionally, with cast members apart from Aren Yoo being non-Koreans who have made their way to the booming country to multiply their fortunes, the representation of their cultural identities isn’t explored in depth. Whereas, in the case of Bling Empire, one of its biggest appeals was probably how the show captured the Asian American experience while also focussing on the “Bling” aspects of their lives.
In terms of reality TV fodder as well, it’s clear why Bling Empire went on to have multiple seasons considering its format of creating tension between the cast members. It also cleverly explored their romantic quests, and family life, adding some emotional undertones through issues of Christine Chiu’s IVF struggles and more. On lighter notes, scenes such as Kim Lee’s therapy session turning into a laugh riot thanks to her somatic healer’s strange techniques involving loud noises, also breathed more life into the show beyond its exploration of excess wealth.
Celebrity cameos in Super Rich in Korea and Bling Empire
Before the show got cancelled, Bling Empire Season 3 went out with a bang and its celebrity cameos attest to that. Beloved That 70s Show star Mila Kunis made a surprise appearance in the third season where she chatted with friend Christine Chiu during an outing. Chiu later revealed in an interview that Kunis and she were neighbourhood friends and dog-walking buddies and still share a close bond.
Another celebrity spotted on the reality show is also Mortal Combat actor and martial artist Lewis Tan. A close friend of cast member Kim Lee, he appeared on the show as her date although whether the two dated in real life has been a mystery. Another flex moment for Bling Empire was also how it managed to create a great crossover moment with Selling Sunset. Popular star from the show Chrishell Stause arrived as a guest at Kane Lim’s hotpot dinner with the group for one of the episodes. Strause during the exciting cameo also dropped a shocking revelation that she is one-quarter Japanese.
In comparison to Bling Empire, while Super Rich in Korea already won high points by appointing K-pop idols BamBam and Mimi as hosts, the show also has some fun guest appearances. At one of her fashion show appearances, Aren Yoo runs into K-pop group, The Boyz’s member Younghoon and the duo share a sweet exchange. Another key guest appearance in the show that is noteworthy is that of model and actress Sa-bi. Her cameo makes up for some exciting moments as she plays the matchmaker for both David Yong and Teo on their blind dates. All the BLINKs will also notice how BLACKPINK’s Jennie gets namedropped twice on the show; once when a real estate reveals the neighbourhood where the K-pop star owns a luxury apartment and later again as famed Korean YouTuber Risabae makes a cameo to help Noor Naim achieve a Jennie-inspired makeup look.
Watch Super Rich in Korea Here
(Main and featured images: NetflixKcontent/Instagram; Kevin Kreider/Instagram)
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
– What is Super Rich in Korea on Netflix?
Super Rich in Korea is Netflix’s new reality show revolving around five elite, wealthy individuals based in South Korea.
– Who are the hosts of Super Rich in Korea?
Thai rapper BamBam along with Oh My Girl’s Mimi and variety show comedian and actor Cho Saeho are the hosts of Super Rich in Korea.
– Why did Bling Empire get cancelled?
After three seasons, Bling Empire was cancelled on Netflix. According to cast member, DJ Kim Lee a lot of behind-the-scenes drama led to its cancellation.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
