China leader Wen Jiabao’s family has amassed billions in assets since ’98

Ed Jones / AFP - Getty Images, file

China's Premier Wen Jiabao's mother, siblings and children have accumulated huge wealth since Wen was named vice premier in 1998, according to the New York Times.

By NBC News staff and wire reports

The family of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, a leader known for his humble roots and compassion for ordinary Chinese, has accumulated massive wealth during his time in power, the New York Times reported on Friday.

"A review of corporate and regulatory records indicates that the prime minister's relatives, some of whom have a knack for aggressive deal-making, including his wife, have controlled assets worth at least $2.7 billion," it said.

The Times' websites in English and Chinese were blocked in China on Friday morning, and searches for the New York Times as well as the names of Wen's children and wife were blocked on China's main Twitter-like microblog service.  More >>