Connect with us

Net Worth Analyses

Zhang Yiming: How TikTok Owner Became China’s Richest Person

Published

on

Zhang Yiming may not be a household name like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, but in the world of tech billionaires, he’s quietly become one of the biggest players – especially in China. Zhang holds a staggering net worth of $65.5 billion as of March 2025, making him the richest individual in China. Yes, even wealthier than Zhong Shanshan, the bottled water mogul. But Zhang’s story isn’t just about the money. It’s the kind of underdog-to-icon tale that feels almost cinematic.
China's Richest Person

Zhang Yiming Credit: Chinatopix Via AP/Canva

Born in 1983 in China’s Fujian province, Zhang’s journey began with an ordinary start. He studied software engineering at Nankai University and took up jobs at companies like Kuxun and Microsoft. Nothing too flashy – just a guy with a solid tech background trying to find his footing. Then came 2012. Armed with ambition and a four-bedroom apartment in Beijing, Zhang co-founded ByteDance. At the time, few could’ve predicted that this modest startup would one day shake up the global tech landscape. But shake it did – especially with one app in particular. Enter TikTok. If you’ve ever spent more than five minutes scrolling through dance trends, food hacks, or comedy skits on your phone, it’s likely that you’ve become engrossed in the world of TikTok. The app became a global phenomenon, turning everyday people into viral stars overnight. With over a billion users worldwide, TikTok didn’t just change how we consume content – it changed Zhang’s life. Even though he stepped down as CEO of ByteDance in 2021, Zhang didn’t exactly walk away. He chose to move into more of a behind-the-scenes role, focusing on long-term goals and innovation. Zhang maintains a substantial 21% stake in the company, ensuring he remains actively involved and consistently tops the earnings chart. Lately, Zhang’s been pouring his energy (and money) into artificial intelligence. ByteDance has been scooping up top-tier AI talent and building cutting-edge infrastructure to support it. Their homegrown chatbot, Doubao, has been killing it in China – beating out competitors and showing just how serious ByteDance is about dominating the next frontier of tech.
China's Richest Person

TikTok’s explosive rise turned ByteDance into a global tech giant. The short-video app didn’t just rack up downloads—it reshaped pop culture and raked in billions, winning over users from the U.S. to Europe and across Asia. Photo Credit: Bloomberg

Of course, there have been challenges along the way. TikTok has been under intense scrutiny, particularly in the U.S., where lawmakers are raising concerns about its connections to the Chinese government. Although ByteDance has consistently refuted these allegations, the pressure is mounting. The U.S. has even imposed a deadline: by January 2026, TikTok’s Chinese owners must sell it or risk a ban. Despite the looming threat, Zhang’s ascent continues to be remarkable. He’s proof that you don’t need to be loud to be powerful. His genius lies in building platforms that speak for themselves – apps that reshape culture, redefine social media, and set new standards for what’s possible. From humble beginnings to global impact, Zhang Yiming is orchestrating one of the most fascinating success stories in tech today. And by the look of things, his performance is far from over.

Discover more from Jojo Naija

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.