Top 10 Richest Men In China According To Forbes (2025)

If there’s one thing that remains consistent in the fast-paced world of commerce, it’s the undeniable dominance of China in global economics. As of 2025, China isn’t just the world’s manufacturing hub—it’s a massive incubator of billionaires. From cutting-edge tech giants to real estate moguls and e-commerce kings, the Chinese business landscape is a jungle where only the smartest and boldest survive and thrive.

So today, let’s explore the Top 10 richest men in China according to Forbes 2025, with a bit of flair, business insights, and that special Naija flavor you love. You’ll see how these business titans made their money, what industries they dominate, and what sets them apart in a fiercely competitive environment.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. Zhong Shanshan – The “Lone Wolf” of Wealth

• Net Worth: $62.3 billion

• Company: Nongfu Spring (Bottled Water), Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy

• Industry: Beverages & Pharmaceuticals

Zhong Shanshan is literally what we’ll call a one-man battalion. Nicknamed the “Lone Wolf,” he didn’t inherit his billions—he earned them from scratch. This man is the founder of Nongfu Spring, one of the biggest bottled water brands in China. But that’s not all. He also controls Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy, a key player in vaccine production.

What’s wild is that he was once a construction worker and journalist before venturing into business. Today, Zhong has become China’s richest person multiple times in the past few years, proving that sometimes, staying out of politics and just focusing on business pays off big time.

2. Ma Huateng (a.k.a. Pony Ma) – The Silent Tech Commander

• Net Worth: $34.2 billion

• Company: Tencent Holdings

• Industry: Tech (Social Media, Gaming, AI, FinTech)

Pony Ma is the low-key, camera-shy billionaire behind Tencent, the tech conglomerate that gave us WeChat—China’s “everything app.” If you think WhatsApp is powerful, WeChat lets you chat, shop, book flights, pay bills, and even get loans.

Pony Ma’s wealth dipped a bit due to tech regulations from the Chinese government, but Tencent is too deeply rooted in China's digital economy to disappear. And let’s not forget: Tencent also owns big stakes in Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends, and has investments in music, AI, and cloud computing.

3. Zhang Yiming – The TikTok Tycoon

• Net Worth: $33.6 billion

• Company: ByteDance (Owner of TikTok)

• Industry: Technology, AI, Social Media

Zhang Yiming may not be on TikTok himself, but he sure changed the global digital scene with it. He founded ByteDance, the company behind TikTok (Douyin in China) and Toutiao, a leading news app.

Zhang quietly stepped down from the CEO role in 2021 but still holds significant equity in ByteDance. His business model? Use artificial intelligence to serve hyper-personalized content. And guess what—it worked. TikTok became a cultural and marketing revolution, and Zhang smiled all the way to the bank.

4. William Lei Ding – The Gaming Guru

• Net Worth: $26.5 billion

• Company: NetEase

• Industry: Online Gaming, Tech

William Ding is one of the pioneers of China’s online gaming industry. His company, NetEase, has created and published dozens of wildly successful games. He was the first internet and gaming billionaire in China, and even though newer players like Tencent rose faster, NetEase stayed profitable.

Beyond gaming, Ding is investing in education technology, music streaming, and even AI. His game plan is simple: diversify while staying close to your core.

5. Jack Ma – The Comeback King

• Net Worth: $25.5 billion

• Company: Alibaba Group

• Industry: E-commerce, FinTech, Cloud Computing

Jack Ma needs no introduction. Once the face of China’s economic miracle, Jack Ma took a big hit after his fallout with regulators in 2020. Ant Group’s IPO was shut down, and he disappeared from public view for a while.

But like a true entrepreneur, Ma has been staging a slow, quiet comeback. While his net worth is down from its all-time high, he still holds a sizable chunk of Alibaba, which is pivoting into cloud computing and AI.

Lesson here? Even billionaires get humbled. But they don’t stay down for long.

6. He Xiangjian – The Home Appliance Tycoon

• Net Worth: $24.8 billion

• Company: Midea Group

• Industry: Electronics, Smart Home Solutions

He Xiangjian is the quiet force behind Midea Group, one of the world’s largest producers of home appliances—from air conditioners to microwave ovens. Unlike tech founders, He built his wealth from traditional manufacturing and smart supply chains.

China’s middle class is growing, and with urban housing booming, Midea products are flying off the shelves. He’s a reminder that old-school manufacturing still pays—big time.

7. Li Shufu – The Auto Emperor

• Net Worth: $21.5 billion

• Company: Geely

• Industry: Automotive

Li Shufu is the man who turned Geely into a global auto empire. This guy went from assembling motorcycles to owning big stakes in Volvo, Lotus, and even Daimler (Mercedes-Benz).

Geely is also making big moves in electric vehicles (EVs), a sector China is aggressively targeting. With the world going green, Li’s positioning might take his billions to the next level in the coming years.

8. Wang Chuanfu – The EV Visionary

• Net Worth: $19.4 billion

• Company: BYD (Build Your Dreams)

• Industry: Electric Vehicles, Batteries

If Tesla has Elon Musk, China has Wang Chuanfu. As founder of BYD, China’s largest EV maker, Wang has helped make electric cars affordable and accessible to millions.

BYD is now a global brand, with exports to Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. The company also manufactures batteries, which are crucial for smartphones and energy storage.

And yes, Warren Buffett invested in BYD back in the day. Smart move.

9. Wang Wei – The Logistics Boss

• Net Worth: $18.2 billion

• Company: SF Express

• Industry: Logistics & Courier Services

You know how we have GIG Logistics or DHL in Nigeria? In China, that role is played by SF Express, founded by Wang Wei. His logistics empire handles millions of packages daily across China and globally.

With the growth of e-commerce, especially during the COVID years, SF Express became a backbone of China's digital economy. Wang proves that moving goods—quickly and reliably—is serious business.

10. Qin Yinglin – The Pork Billionaire

• Net Worth: $17.8 billion

• Company: Muyuan Foodstuff

• Industry: Agriculture (Pork Production)

Now this one might surprise you. Qin Yinglin made his fortune not from tech or real estate, but from pigs. Yes, pork. He’s the founder of Muyuan, one of China’s largest pork producers.

Pork is a staple in Chinese cuisine, and when swine flu hit the industry years ago, Qin’s vertically integrated supply chain allowed Muyuan to keep producing when others couldn’t. As a result, profits soared.

Agribusiness is often underrated—but as Qin shows, feeding a billion people can make you very, very rich.

Conclusion: China’s Billionaires Reflect Its Economic Power

From bottled water to electric cars, social media to pork, China’s richest men are a living portfolio of what’s driving the world’s second-largest economy. These moguls have navigated tough government regulations, intense global competition, and fast-changing markets. Some are rising stars; others are enduring legends. But one thing’s clear—China’s billionaire club isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

For business-minded people in Nigeria and across Africa, there’s a lot to learn here. Diversify. Stay innovative. And always be ahead of the curve. Who knows? The next business mogul the world talks about might just be reading this post right now.