Zhang Yiming tops China’s billionaire list as AI drives wealth surge
ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming reclaimed the number-one spot on China’s rich list, with his fortune swelling to $100 billion largely thanks to the company’s AI initiatives.
According to the Hurun Research Institute, Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, surged back to the top of China’s billionaire rankings with a $100 billion fortune, up 43% from the previous year, largely on the back of the firm’s AI push. The report noted a record 1,529 people now own more than 5 billion yuan, and the total number of dollar-denominated billionaires rose to 1,176. AI has become the dominant wealth engine, with 160 of the listed individuals earning their fortunes from the sector.
Traditional industries such as consumer goods, real estate and manufacturing saw wealth shrink, and for the first time no mainland property developer appeared in the top 100. New entrants like DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng and Cambricon chair Chen Tianshi also featured, underscoring the rise of AI and semiconductor firms in China’s economy.
Why it matters
The shift toward AI-driven fortunes signals a major reorientation of China’s economy and wealth distribution.
In this story
