Zhang Yiming becomes China's richest person driven by AI growth

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming has reclaimed his position as China's wealthiest individual, according to the Hurun China Rich List 2026. His estimated net worth has risen by approximately 43 percent to 100 billion US dollars, fueled by the expansion of ByteDance's artificial intelligence business, including the popular AI assistant Doubao.

The report highlights a significant economic shift in China, where wealth is increasingly generated by AI, semiconductors, and robotics. This trend contrasts with the decline in traditional sectors, such as real estate and retail. For the first time, no mainland Chinese property developers appeared in the top 100 wealthiest individuals list.

Other notable shifts in the rankings include Zhong Shanshan, founder of Nongfu Spring, dropping to second place with a fortune of 61 billion US dollars. Zeng Yuqun, founder of battery manufacturer CATL, holds the third position with 57.7 billion US dollars. The list also noted a decrease in wealth for Tencent founder Pony Ma Huateng and Xiaomi founder Lei Jun.