Vivian Tu
{{Short description|American Influencer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vivian Tu
| image = VivianTu BrendanWixtedPhotography.jpg
| other_names = Your Rich BFF
| birth_date =
| alma_mater = University of Chicago
| occupation = Business Woman, author, and media personality
| title = CEO & Founder of Your Rich BFF
| spouse = Greg Hunt (2024-present)
| awards = Awards & Recognition
| website = https://yourrichbff.com/
| module = {{Infobox TikTok personality
| embed = yes
| page_display_name = yourrichbff
| page = yourrichbff
| followers = 2.7 million
| likes = 32 million
| module = {{Infobox Instagram personality
| embed = yes
| page = your.richbff
| followers = 3.6 million
| language = English
| stats_update = May 11, 2025
}}
}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
Vivian Tu (also known as Your Rich BFF){{Cite web |last=Chan-Danisi |first=Angela |title=From Wall Street To TikTok: How Vivian Tu Became "Your Rich BFF" And Empowered A New Generation. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelachan/2024/09/27/from-wall-street-to-tiktok-how-vivian-tu-became-your-rich-bff-and-empowered-a-new-generation/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}} is an American businesswoman, author, and media personality.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Vox |date=2024-10-02 |title=Vivian Tu, New York Times Bestselling Author and Founder & CEO of Your Rich BFF, Joins Vox Media and PS in Podcast Partnership |url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2024/10/2/24260275/vivian-tu-your-rich-bff-joins-vox-media-and-ps-in-podcast-partnership |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Vox Media |language=en}} She is the founder and CEO of Your Rich BFF, a multi-media company that provides financial education.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Vivian Tu Wants You to Stop Feeling Guilty for Wanting to Get Rich |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a46180909/vivian-tu-rich-af-book-interview/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Tu was born in Baltimore, Maryland as the only child to Chinese immigrant parents.{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Lisa |date=January 11, 2024 |title="Your Rich BFF": Vivian Tu is demystifying personal finance to help young people build wealth - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/vivian-tu-author-podcast-personal-finance-young-people-wealth-changemakers/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=CBS |language=en-US}} Her mother worked in chemistry and consulting, and her father was a computer programmer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. From an early age, Tu was involved in her parents finances, acting as a translator during financial discussions for her Chinese speaking parents.{{Cite web |last=Ensor |first=Josie |date=2024-12-16 |title=Meet the 'girly' influencer who tells me how women can get rich |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/vivian-tu-worth-your-rich-bff-kf3lqgqkj |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}} She graduated valedictorian of Marriotts Ridge High School in 2012, and later moved to Chicago to pursue her bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Manning |first=Rudine |date=January 28, 2022 |title=How 'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu built a massive TikTok following: 'I actually showed people the math' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/28/how-your-rich-bff-vivian-tu-built-a-massive-tiktok-following.html |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}}
Career
= 2016-2021: ''JP Morgan, Buzzfeed'' =
Following her graduation from the University of Chicago in 2016, Tu started her career as a trader at J.P. Morgan.{{Cite web |title=How a 28-year-old is transforming the 'male, pale, and stale' personal finance industry to become everyone's 'Rich BFF' |url=https://fortune.com/2022/11/27/how-vivian-tu-rich-bff-tiktok-became-successful-personal-finance/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Fortune |language=en}} Tu traded stocks in the industrial, materials, and energy sectors. Finding the stock market world male-centric, and struggling with a new manager that thought she was “too girly to make it in finance,” Tu transitioned into a digital media sales role at BuzzFeed.{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Aria |title=I made around $100K at JPMorgan and $656K at BuzzFeed. Here's my full salary breakdown and why I recommend job-hopping. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jp-morgan-buzzfeed-salary-transparency-wall-street-career-journey-2023-7 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Tu became the top-earning salesperson at the news company. Knowing her background in finance, friends and colleagues began asking Tu for financial advice. Tu found success breaking down complicated financial jargon into digestible content and sharing it online.
= 2021-present: ''Your Rich BFF, Networth & Chill, Rich AF'' =
Tu started making financial education videos on TikTok in 2021, and left her job at Buzzfeed to become a full-time influencer in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharya |first=Shriya |title='Your Rich BFF' creator has struck a new deal with Vox Media as the influencer podcasting space heats up |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/finance-creator-podcast-video-vox-media-partnership-influencer-deal-2024-10 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} She often covers topics such as saving, investing,{{Cite news |last1=Seshagiri |first1=Ashwin |last2=Dang |first2=Mike |last3=Hartocollis |first3=Anemona |last4=Hill |first4=Kashmir |last5=Hughes |first5=Becky |last6=Nerkar |first6=Santul |last7=Holman |first7=Jordyn |last8=Grynbaum |first8=Michael M. |last9=Barry |first9=Ellen |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Love, Hate or Fear It: TikTok Has Changed America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/04/18/business/media/tiktok-ban-american-culture.html |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and traveling on a budget.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Lucy |date=July 8, 2024 |title='Rich' Wall Street worker shares how to get money back if flight is delayed |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/news/rich-wall-street-worker-shows-33162834 |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2024 |title='Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu: How Rich People Get Hidden Travel Perks by Investing |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rich-bff-vivian-tu-rich-160007025.html |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=J. Clara |date=June 10, 2022 |title='Your Rich BFF' Creator Vivian Tu Signs With WME |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/your-rich-bff-vivian-tu-tiktok-wme-1235162704/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Tu launched her podcast Networth & Chill,{{Citation |title=Networth and Chill |date=2023-03-22 |type=Talk-Show |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27730556/ |access-date=2024-08-26}}{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2024 |title=Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/networth-and-chill-with-your-rich-bff/id1676999261 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Smialek |first=Jeanna |date=2024-11-09 |title=Vivian Tu, the 'Wall Street Girly,' Wants to Make Wealth More Accessible |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/business/vivian-tu-rich-af-personal-finance-tiktok-influencer.html |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=The New York Times}} in partnership with Audioboom, to expand upon the financial information she shares on her social platforms. Tu partnered with Vox Media and PS, formerly known as PopSugar, for Season Two of Networth & Chill. On December 26, 2023, Tu released her first book Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset that Will Change Your Life.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a46097019/vivian-tu-rich-af-exclusive-excerpt/ |title=Exclusive: Vivian Tu (Aka Your Rich BFF) Explains How to Bank Like a Rich Person in This Excerpt of 'Rich AF' |date=December 15, 2023 |website=Cosmopolitan |access-date=July 12, 2024 |language=en-US}} It became a New York Times bestseller under both the Business and the Advice, How To & Miscellaneous categories.{{Cite news |title=Business Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 31, 2023 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2023/12/31/business-books/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |title=Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Jan. 14, 2024 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2024/01/14/advice-how-to-and-miscellaneous/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Awards & recognition
Since 2021, Tu has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 and Forbes Top Creators lists.{{Cite web |last=Bertoni |first=Steven |title=Top Creators 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2023/09/26/top-creators-2023/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}} She has also been nominated for a Webby award,{{Cite web |title=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/social/social-content-series/education-discovery |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |language=en}} and multiple Shorty Awards, including a finalist nomination for Branded Series.{{Cite web |title=Richer Lives - The Shorty Awards |url=http://shortyawards.com/16th/richer-lives-2 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Shorty Awards}} In 2023, Tu was a Meta Visionary Voices{{Cite web |last=Stephan |first=Katcy |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Meta Unveils Inaugural Class of 'Creators of Tomorrow' with Drew Afualo, Sydney Bell and More |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/meta-creators-of-tomorrow-drew-afualo-sydney-bell-1235417466/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} award winner. In 2024, Tu won Best Personal Finance Influencer presented by Bankrate,{{Cite web |title=The 2024 Bankrate Visionaries {{!}} Bankrate Awards |url=https://www.bankrate.com/awards/2024/visionaries/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Bankrate |language=en-US}} and Networth & Chill was nominated for Best Business + Finance podcast at the 2024 iHeart Podcast Awards at SXSW.{{Cite web |title=iHeartRadio Podcast Awards {{!}} iHeartRadio |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast-awards/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=iHeartRadio Podcast Awards |language=en}} That same year, she also won a Visionary Voices award from TikTok,{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month |url=https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/visionary-voices-celebrating-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Newsroom {{!}} TikTok |language=en-us}} highlighting prominent and impactful AAPI content creators on the platform.{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Visionary Voices: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month |url=https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/visionary-voices-celebrating-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Newsroom {{!}} TikTok |language=en-us}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Fell |first=Nicole |date=2024-12-17 |title=Hiroyuki Sanada, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and More Honored at 2024 Unforgettable Gala |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/local-news/unforgettable-gala-2024-awards-ceremony-1236087770/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Nicholas |date=2024-12-16 |title='Shogun' Star Hiroyuki Sanada, Stephanie Hsu and Joan Chen on Asian Representation in Hollywood: 'Step by Step, They Are Understanding Our Culture' |url=https://variety.com/2024/scene/news/shogun-hiroyuki-sanada-stephanie-hsu-joan-chen-asian-representation-hollywood-1236249579/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Her podcast has been nominated for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.{{Cite web |title=iHeartRadio Podcast Awards {{!}} iHeartRadio |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast-awards/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=iHeartRadio |language=en}} In January, 2025, Networth & Chill was nominated for the iHeartPodcast Best Business & Finance Award.{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=2025-01-07 |title=iHeartPodcast Awards Unveil 2025 Nominees (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/iheartpodcast-awards-2025-nominees-1236098656/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
Featured in
In December, 2023, Tu appeared on episode 1551 of The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes.{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Jeremiah |date=2023-12-27 |title=The Investing Expert: How I Went From $0-$1M By 30 (Anyone Can Do THIS!) {{!}} Vivian Tu |url=https://lewishowes.com/podcast/the-investing-expert-how-i-went-from-0-1m-by-30-anyone-can-do-this-vivian-tu/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Lewis Howes |language=en-US}} Tu was a guest on the January 9, 2024 episode of Not Alone with Valeria Lipovetsky.{{Cite web |title=Unlock Your Financial Freedom: Getting Rich with Vivian Tu {{!}} Not Alone Podcast |url=https://www.notalonepod.com/episodes/unlock-your-financial-freedom-getting-rich-with-vivian-tu |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.notalonepod.com}} In December, 2024, Tu was also featured on Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.{{Cite web |title="Pivot" TikTok Ban Looms, Trump's AI & Crypto Czar, and Guest Vivian Tu (Podcast Episode 2024) - Plot |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34960279/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
Partnerships
Since 2023, Tu has been a title partner of SoFi bank and helped the launch the Face of Finance campaign, correcting AI gender bias.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=SoFi Says It's Time To Change The Face Of Finance And Highlight {{as written|Women|s' [sic]}} Financial Success |url=https://www.sofi.com/press/face-of-finance/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=SoFi |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Blount |first=Leslie |date=June 28, 2023 |title=SoFi's Campaign Corrects AI's Gender Bias |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/sofi-corrects-ais-gender-bias-in-face-of-finance-campaign/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=www.adweek.com |language=en-US}}{{Primary source inline|date=July 2024}}
Personal life
In June, 2024, Tu married Greg Hunt, in Lake Como, Italy.{{Cite web |title=Vivian Tu of Your Rich BFF Is Married! See Every Photo From Her Wedding Weekend on Lake Como, Which Honored Her Chinese Heritage |url=https://www.brides.com/your-rich-bff-vivian-tu-exclusive-wedding-photos-oliver-fly-8692838 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Brides |language=en}}
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American businesswomen
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:American women bloggers