Zhang Yiming becomes Asia's richest person via ByteDance growth

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming has risen to become Asia’s richest person, with an estimated fortune of $105.5 billion as of September 16. This wealth, driven by the growth of TikTok and Douyin alongside advancements in artificial intelligence, is approximately 3.2 times that of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, whose wealth is estimated at $32.7 billion.

Zhang’s ascent marks a shift in Asia’s wealth landscape, moving from traditional sectors like energy, manufacturing, and distribution toward software, AI, and global digital platforms. Zhang’s assets have grown more than eightfold since 2019, when they were valued at $13 billion.