Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming tops China rich list as AI wealth surges
ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is once again China’s richest person, according to the Hurun Research Institute’s annual list.
His estimated wealth reached $100 billion, up 43%, with the institute’s chairman saying almost all the increase came from artificial intelligence.
ByteDance owns Douyin and TikTok, and its AI assistant Doubao is China’s most used, according to the institute’s chairman.
AI now accounts for the wealth of 160 people on the list, or about one in 10.
The figures show a divide in China’s economy: fortunes in AI, semiconductors and robotics grew, while many in consumer businesses, real estate and traditional manufacturing fell.
No mainland property developer made the top 100 for the first time, as a prolonged property downturn continues to weigh on domestic demand.
ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming reclaimed the top spot on China’s rich list with an estimated $100 billion in wealth.
The Hurun Research Institute attributed almost all of Zhang’s 43% wealth increase to artificial intelligence.
The list counted a record 1,529 people with more than 5 billion yuan, up 6.6% from the previous year.
AI, semiconductor and robotics entrepreneurs gained wealth, while fortunes in consumer, real estate and traditional manufacturing sectors came under pressure.
Bottled water magnate Zhong Shanshan ranked second with $61 billion, and CATL chairman Robin Zeng ranked third.
- Who
- Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance.
- What
- He reclaimed the top spot on China’s rich list with wealth estimated at $100 billion.
- When
- The Hurun rankings were released on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Where
- China.
- Why
- The Hurun chairman said Zhang’s wealth increase was almost all driven by ByteDance’s push into artificial intelligence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China reported that its economy grew 4.5% in the July-September quarter from a year earlier.
The Hurun Research Institute released its latest rich list, placing Zhang Yiming first.
- Zhang Yiming’s wealth
- $100 billion, up 43%
- People with more than 5 billion yuan
- 1,529, up 6.6% from the previous year
- AI wealth earners on the list
- 160 people, or one in 10
- Second place
- Zhong Shanshan, with $61 billion
- Third place
- Robin Zeng, chairman of CATL
3 sources
What people are saying
almost all of it on the back of AI
AI is the biggest single wealth engine on this list: 160 Hurun rich listers — 1 in 10 — now make their money from AI
This year’s gains were polarised — entrepreneurs in AI, semiconductors and robotics surged ahead, whilst those in consumer, real estate and traditional manufacturing saw their wealth shrink — a two-speed economy
Today, for the first time ever, not a single mainland property developer remains in the Top 100 — the only property names left at the top are the Hong Kong landlord families