A Tencent project manager has been dismissed after details of his annual compensation package, reportedly worth 3.17 million yuan (around ₹4.4 crore), surfaced online and triggered widespread discussion on Chinese social media.
According to the South China Morning Post, the employee, identified only by his surname Ye, worked in Tencent's Weixin Group, the division behind WeChat. The company accused him of sharing confidential corporate information with people outside the organisation.
Salary screenshot sparked online discussion
The controversy began after a screenshot, reportedly taken from an internal Tencent platform, started circulating online.
According to the South China Morning Post, the image showed Ye's annual compensation package included:
- 3.17 million yuan (around ₹4.4 crore) in total annual compensation.
- A cash bonus of more than 820,000 yuan.
- Stock incentives worth more than 2.35 million yuan.
The figures quickly became a widely discussed topic on Chinese social media.
Tencent cites confidentiality breach
Tencent said the disciplinary action was linked to the disclosure of sensitive company information rather than the amount the employee earned.
According to an internal notice issued by the company's Anti-Corruption Investigation Department, the incident had a "severe negative impact both inside and outside the company".
The notice, seen by three Tencent employees and reported by the South China Morning Post, said the company would issue a separate formal circular detailing the disciplinary action taken against Ye for violating internal rules governing employee conduct.
In addition to terminating his employment, Tencent has reportedly permanently blacklisted Ye from future employment at the company.
Company emphasises internal compliance
Tencent maintains strict policies governing confidential corporate information. According to the South China Morning Post, these rules cover:
- Trade secrets.
- Internal communications.
- Unreleased source code.
- Employee records.
- Other sensitive company information.
The company did not describe the dismissal as punishment for the employee's salary level. Instead, it said the issue related to the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.
Part of a broader compliance drive
The latest incident comes as Tencent continues to tighten its internal compliance processes.
In its annual corporate report released in January, the company said its anti-corruption unit uncovered more than 70 compliance violations during 2025.
According to the report:
- More than 90 employees were dismissed.
- Over 20 individuals were referred to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution.
The latest disciplinary action reflects the company's continued focus on enforcing internal governance and confidentiality rules.
WeChat remains central to Tencent's business
Ye worked within Tencent's Weixin Group, the business unit responsible for WeChat, one of China's largest digital platforms.
According to the South China Morning Post, WeChat has around 1.3 billion users, making it one of Tencent's most significant products and a core part of its business.
The incident highlights how internal pay information can quickly become a public issue in the digital era. While the leaked compensation package attracted widespread attention online, Tencent has maintained the dismissal was driven by the alleged disclosure of confidential company information rather than the employee's level of pay.