Zhang Yiming’s $100 Billion AI Fortune Tops China’s Richest List

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming reclaimed the top spot on China’s richest‑people list, with a net worth of $100 billion, according to the Hurun Research Institute report cited by Fortune. The surge, a 43 % increase from the prior year, was driven “almost all of it on the back of AI,” Hurun chairman Rupert Hoogewerf said.

The Hurun list, published annually since 1999, recorded a historic 1,529 individuals holding more than 5 billion yuan (about $750 million). In U.S. dollar terms, China’s billionaire count rose to 1,176 – up 155 people and 176 more than the United States – though that figure fell short of the 1,185 counted in 2021.

Zhang’s wealth leap was matched by other AI‑linked entrants. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng appeared seventh, while AI‑chip maker Cambricon chair Chen Tianshi ranked tenth. Newcomers reflect a broader trend: “AI is the biggest single wealth engine on this list,” Hoogewerf noted, with 160 Hurun listers now earning their fortunes from artificial intelligence.

Traditional sectors lagged. Bottled‑water magnate Zhong Shanshan slipped to second place with $61 billion, down 23 %, and Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun saw his fortune halve to $25.1 billion. For the first time, no mainland property developer made the top 100, underscoring pressure on the real‑estate market.

China’s macro backdrop showed mixed signals. The economy grew 4.5 % in the July‑September quarter, nudging the nation toward its 4.5‑5 % annual growth target, helped by strong export performance. Yet domestic demand remained weak, with small‑business owners feeling the pinch as consumers cut back spending and the property slump persisted.

Why it matters: Zhang’s AI‑driven fortune highlights a rapid shift toward technology‑centric wealth in China, while the surge in billionaire count now outpaces the United States, signaling a changing global economic balance.

Source: China’s rich list topped by $100 billion TikTok AI fortune: ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming — Fortune