It was the most expensive matchmaking party ever held in Beijing. There were 21 single billionaires, 22 single women and an admission fee of 100,000 yuan (S$20,570).

Love has a price. But this much? That is the central question of a heated debate taking place among Chinese netizens on whether these moneyed romantics have gone too far.

The 22 single women were selected in several ways. Some were registered members of a matchmaking website called Golden Bachelor, which organized the party. Others won a beauty pageant sponsored by Golden Bachelor. The remainder were scouted by Golden Bachelor employees, known as “love hunters,” from Chinese cities. For the last two categories, tickets were free.

More than a thousand comments have been posted on Chinese web portal Sohu.com. The majority are critical. This is one negative letter blaming the mothers of these billionaires.