Heshen Stole A Dynasty's Fortune

A Qing dynasty official named Heshen became so powerful under the Qianlong Emperor that later accounts described him as the most corrupt official in Chinese history. He controlled major state offices, stole public funds and tax revenue, placed his own allies in government posts, and amassed an estimated 1.1 billion taels of silver, roughly US$270 billion. After the Qianlong Emperor died in 1799, the Jiaqing Emperor arrested Heshen, confiscated his property, charged him with 20 crimes, and ordered him to commit suicide by hanging. His fortune was reputedly equal to about 12 years of Qing imperial revenue.

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