Zhang Yiming: In a significant shift on the Hurun China Rich List, Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, has reclaimed the title of China’s richest individual with a staggering personal wealth of $49.3 billion. This rise to the top comes despite turbulent times for many in the Chinese economy, particularly in the real estate and renewable energy sectors.
Zhang’s wealth surge comes on the heels of ByteDance’s impressive global revenue growth, which soared 30% year-on-year to reach $110 billion, despite ongoing legal challenges regarding its U.S. assets. This remarkable performance helped him surpass Zhong Shanshan, the bottled water tycoon, who fell to second place as his fortune dipped 24% to $47.9 billion.
The list reveals that Zhang Yiming is the 18th individual to hold the title of China’s richest person since the inception of the Hurun China Rich List 26 years ago. Following him, Tencent’s founder Pony Ma ranks third, while Colin Huang of PDD Holdings dropped to fourth, even as his e-commerce platforms, Pinduoduo and Temu, continue to thrive in the competitive market.
This year has seen a marked decline in the number of billionaires in China, with the list shrinking by 142 to 753, more than a third from its 2021 peak. Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman of the Hurun Report, commented on the year’s economic difficulties, particularly highlighting the dramatic wealth losses in the real estate sector.
Conversely, the consumer electronics market appears to be flourishing, with Xiaomi’s Lei Jun witnessing a $5 billion increase in his wealth. However, challenges persist for solar panel and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, who have faced significant market pressures, including increased competition and potential tariffs, resulting in notable declines in their fortunes.
As Zhang Yiming steps into the spotlight as the leading figure on China’s wealth index, his journey reflects the dynamic landscape of the Chinese economy and the resilience of the tech sector, setting the stage for potential future developments in the industry.
