CZ Reclaims Richest Chinese Billionaire Spot With $65.7 Billion Net Worth

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, widely known as "CZ," has reclaimed his position as the richest individual of Chinese descent on the Forbes global billionaire list. Zhao's net worth is estimated at $65.7 billion, placing him at the 24th position globally. Despite his strong association with China, Zhao is listed as a Canadian national by Forbes.

Zhao's financial journey is intricately linked to the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market. His net worth has experienced significant fluctuations since 2018, with notable peaks and troughs. Between 2018 and 2021, his wealth remained relatively stable. However, 2022 saw a substantial surge, marking the highest point in his financial trajectory. This was followed by a decline in 2023, bringing his wealth close to pre-2022 levels. The trend reversed in 2024, with his net worth beginning to recover and continuing to rise into 2025, nearly reaching the previous high. This pattern of strong gains, sudden contraction, and gradual recovery is characteristic of the volatile nature of crypto-linked fortunes.

Zhao's introduction to the world of cryptocurrency occurred in 2013 during a poker game, where he met Bobby Lee, the brother of Litecoin creator Charlie Lee, and investor Ron Cao. Advised to invest 10% of his wealth in Bitcoin, Zhao took a bold step by selling his entire real estate portfolio and allocating all his capital to Bitcoin, which was then priced at around $600. This "all-in" bet on Bitcoin laid the foundation for his future success in the crypto industry.

Zhao's professional journey in the crypto industry advanced rapidly. He joined Blockchain.com as Head of Development and later became the CTO at OKCoin, where he helped establish futures trading capabilities. These experiences positioned him to launch Binance, which would grow into one of the most widely used cryptocurrency exchanges. Zhao's reported portfolio remains heavily concentrated in Binance Coin (BNB), with disclosed holdings including 98.48% BNB, 1.32% Bitcoin, 0.17% Eurite (EURI), and 0.03% Tether (USDT). However, the exact volume of his BNB holdings has not been made public. His wealth remains influenced by market performance due to his 90% equity stake in Binance.

In 2017, regulatory actions forced Binance to halt operations and exit the domestic market. The exchange relocated to Japan shortly after China imposed a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency exchanges and initial coin offerings. Despite these setbacks, Zhao's wealth has continued to rebound, reflecting the resilience of his investments and the enduring value of his stake in Binance.