Gu Kailai was born on November 15, 1958, in Linyi, Shanxi, China. She was the youngest of five daughters in her family. Her father, General Gu Jingsheng, was a notable revolutionary before the Chinese Communist Party gained power. General Gu held many government positions during the early years of the Communist regime but was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution.

Gu Kailai faced difficulties in her early life because of her family's situation. She was punished during the Cultural Revolution and had to work in a butcher shop and a textile factory. This period was tough for her family, but they remained strong throughout the turmoil.

After the gaokao, China’s national college entrance examination, was reinstated, Gu Kailai studied hard and earned a degree in law. She then pursued a master's degree in international politics from Peking University. While attending Peking University, she became schoolmates with Bo Xilai, a prominent political figure. Some sources suggest they had a relationship that affected Bo's first marriage. However, Gu claimed she met Bo for the first time in 1984 during a field trip focused on environmental art.

Gu Kailai and Bo Xilai got married in 1986. They had a son named Bo Kuangyi, who is better known as Guagua. After her marriage, Gu established the Kailai law firm in Dalian, becoming a significant figure in the legal field. She later moved her firm to Beijing and changed its name to Angdao.

Throughout her career, Gu was involved in several high-profile legal cases. She is believed to have been one of the first Chinese lawyers to win a civil lawsuit in the United States. In 1998, she wrote a book detailing her experiences and views on the U.S. legal system.

In March 2012, Gu Kailai became involved in a scandal concerning the death of British businessman Neil Heywood. Her husband’s deputy, Wang Lijun, sought help from the U.S. consulate and claimed that Gu was involved in Heywood's murder. This allegation led to Gu being investigated for the crime. On April 10, 2012, she was detained by authorities.

Gu was formally charged with murder on July 26, 2012. During a one-day trial on August 9, 2012, she admitted to killing Heywood. Gu explained that she felt threatened when Heywood demanded money and made threats against her son.

On August 20, 2012, Gu received a suspended death sentence, which means she would likely serve a life sentence after two years. There was speculation about whether the woman in court was actually Gu, with discussions about the potential use of a body double.

Neil Heywood's death was officially linked to a financial disagreement. He was said to have been intoxicated by whiskey and tea before Gu allegedly forced poison into his mouth to make it appear as an overdose.

On December 14, 2015, Gu’s sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. The authorities noted that she showed remorse and had no intentional offenses during her time in custody.