Will is a senior art history major at Harvard University who fears he lacks the talent to create the art he so deeply admires. He views his appreciation for aesthetics as both a passion and a burden, acutely feeling the weight of his parents' expectations. As the designated leader of the heist crew, he relies on his extensive knowledge of art and historical colonization to plan their operations.

Irene is a junior public policy major at Duke University with plans to attend law school. She maintains a reputation for perfection and competence, projecting an image that she can handle any situation effortlessly. Acting as the crew's con artist, she uses her ability to read people and shape conversations to secure alibis and gather intelligence.

Daniel is a pre-med senior at UCLA preparing for medical school interviews. Born in Beijing, he moved to the United States a decade ago hoping to find experimental treatments for his late mother. He serves as the crew's thief, utilizing his steady surgeon's hands to pick locks and bypass physical security measures.

Lily is a mechanical engineering junior at Duke University who originally hails from Galveston, Texas. She chases adrenaline through illegal street racing as a way to escape her feelings of cultural detachment. She operates as the crew's getaway driver, bringing her extensive knowledge of cars and fearless driving skills to the operation.

Alex is a talented software engineer who grew up helping her family run a restaurant in New York City's Chinatown. She feels stifled by her corporate job and the financial burdens of supporting her parents and grandparents. Acting as the crew's hacker, she uses her elite coding skills to manipulate security cameras, bypass alarms, and monitor law enforcement databases.

Wang Yuling is the chief executive officer of China Poly, described as China's most secretive company. She possesses immense wealth and operates with distinct authority. She recruits the five college students, offering them $50 million to steal back five looted bronze fountainheads from Western museums.

Yaoxian is an investigator for the FBI's Art Crime Team and the foremost Western expert on Asian art theft. He relocated his family from Beijing to California a decade ago to seek medical treatment for his late wife. His career directly positions him against the crew's illegal activities.

Zhao Min is a wealthy street racer and member of China's social elite. He drives high-end sports cars and operates with a rival crew targeting the same Old Summer Palace artifacts as Will's team. He utilizes his immense privilege and connections to avoid suspicion.

Liu Siqi is a member of China's social elite who uses her position as a museum tour guide to case targets. She speaks flawless Chinese and acts as an accomplice to Zhao Min, targeting the same stolen artifacts as the American college students.