China’s new billionaire
Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, recently won the title of China’s richest billionaire, according to the list drawn up by the Hurun Research Institute. With a personal wealth of 49.3 billion dollars, Zhang overtook Zhong Shanshan, president of Nongfu Spring, who dominated the ranking for three consecutive years. This change marks a significant moment in the Chinese economic landscape, highlighting the emergence of technological entrepreneurs in a context of economic challenges
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The economic situation in China
According to Hurun’s report, China currently has 1,094 billionaires, a decrease of 12% compared to the previous year. The total wealth of these entrepreneurs amounts to 3,000 billion dollars, a decrease of 10% compared to last year. This decline is attributed to a difficult year for the Chinese economy and stock markets, which have been under significant pressure. Rupert Hoogewerf, president of Hurun, pointed out that the list of rich people has shrunk for the third consecutive year,
an unprecedented phenomenon.
The success of ByteDance and TikTok
ByteDance, founded by Zhang Yiming in 2012, revolutionized the social media landscape with the TikTok app, launched in 2016. TikTok quickly gained popularity, becoming a global cultural phenomenon, especially among young people. The key to its success lies in an advanced artificial intelligence algorithm that personalizes content for users, creating an engaging and unique experience. Although Zhang left his CEO role in 2021, his impact on the technology sector remains undeniable, with profits that have increased by 30% in the last year
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The future of Chinese entrepreneurs
The new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs, represented by figures such as Zhang Yiming and Colin Huang from Pinduoduo, is proving to be more international than their predecessors. This change reflects an evolution in the way in which Chinese companies position themselves in the global market. With the rise of platforms such as TikTok and Temu, the Chinese business landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, suggesting that the future may hold
more surprises and innovations.