China is home to hundreds of ultra wealthy individuals, with the majority of them residing in the country’s major cities. Industries such as Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Automotive, and Batteries have allowed these billionaires to become rich.
How many billionaires are in China?
China is home to 537 billionaires as of early 2025, with the majority of them residing in the country’s major cities. Beijing continues to have the highest number of billionaires, now with 70, followed by Shanghai with 66, Shenzhen with 56, Hangzhou with 35, and Guangzhou with 30. Other cities with notable numbers of billionaires include Ningbo with 21, Chengdu with 16, Changsha with 15, Xiamen with 12, and Ningde with 10.
Top 5 Billionaires in China 2025
Who has the highest net worth in China?
1. Zhong Shanshan
Zhong Shanshan is a self-made male billionaire born in 1954. In 2025, he is ranked 14th globally with a net worth of approximately 70 billion U.S. dollars. His business interests continue to span the Food & Beverage and Pharmaceuticals industries, with his beverage company maintaining a dominant market share in China. Recently, Zhong has also increased investments in environmental technology startups, signaling diversification in his portfolio.
2. Zhang Yiming
Zhang Yiming, born in 1984, remains a self-made male billionaire with a net worth of around 48 billion dollars as of 2025, ranking him 24th worldwide. His primary source of wealth remains TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, which has expanded aggressively into AI-driven content platforms. Zhang has also taken a more active role in philanthropy focused on digital education in rural China.
3. Ma Huateng
Ma Huateng, born in 1971, is a male self-made billionaire with a net worth estimated at 38 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, ranking 30th globally. His wealth is primarily derived from Tencent, a leading internet media and technology company. Ma has recently overseen Tencent’s strategic expansion into cloud computing and gaming sectors, solidifying its presence as a global tech giant.
4. Robin Zeng
Robin Zeng, born in 1969, is a male self-made billionaire with a net worth of approximately 35 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, ranking him 35th worldwide. He made his fortune in the automotive and batteries industries, primarily through his company CATL, which remains the world’s largest supplier of electric vehicle batteries. Zeng has also been instrumental in pushing advancements in battery recycling technologies.
5. Colin Zheng Huang
Colin Zheng Huang, born in 1980, is a male self-made billionaire with a net worth of about 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, ranking him 42nd globally. His wealth is primarily sourced from e-commerce through Pinduoduo, which has grown to become one of China’s largest online shopping platforms. Huang has recently focused on agricultural technology investments, aiming to modernize rural supply chains.
Sources:
Forbes Billionaires List 2025
Statista – Number of Billionaires in China 2025
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