Changpeng Zhao: Rising Wealth Among Global Billionaires
In the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies, few figures stand out as prominently as Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance. His journey in the crypto industry has not only made significant waves but also positioned him among the wealthiest individuals globally. With Forbes estimating his net worth to be among the top 20 richest people, surpassing giants like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, Zhao’s financial ascent is remarkable.
Binance’s Changpeng Zhao: A Wealthy Pioneer
According to a recent evaluation by Forbes, Zhao’s financial status has reached unprecedented heights. The publication reported that his net worth has soared to $110 billion, marking a $47 billion increase from the previous year. As of February 10, 2026, Forbes’ real-time data placed him among the wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $78.78 billion, while Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index recorded it at approximately $52.2 billion. This notable rise places Zhao as the 17th wealthiest person globally, ahead of Bill Gates, who stands at $108 billion.
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Impact of Crypto Market Fluctuations
Despite the downturn in the cryptocurrency market, Forbes attributes Zhao’s financial success to Binance’s robust performance. Although some of his assets, including holdings in Bitcoin and Binance Coin (BNB), have experienced a 25% decline over the past year, Binance remains the cornerstone of his wealth. Industry insiders and comparisons with other exchanges such as Coinbase highlight Binance’s estimated valuation of around $100 billion, with Zhao owning approximately 90% of the company.
Binance’s Market Position
As the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance commands a market share of about 38%. This dominant position underscores the exchange’s substantial value, which Forbes suggests could fetch a twelve-figure sum if Zhao ever decides to sell it, despite operating largely outside of U.S. regulatory frameworks unlike its competitor, Nasdaq-listed Coinbase.
Zhao’s Critique of Forbes’ Wealth Estimates
In response to Forbes’ financial estimates, Zhao expressed skepticism through a series of posts on social media platform X. He criticized their calculations as inaccurate, especially given the significant retracement of Bitcoin and the broader crypto market from their previous highs. Reflecting on his crypto journey, Zhao shared that his venture into cryptocurrency began in 2013 after a friend’s recommendation during a poker game in Shanghai, leading him to invest a substantial portion of his wealth into Bitcoin.
Discrepancies in Wealth Calculations
Despite not reading the Forbes article, Zhao dismissed their figures as a “guess a number” list, pointing out the disconnect between his reported net worth increase and the declining crypto market. He highlighted the inconsistency by comparing his net worth estimation with that of ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, whose company reportedly generates significantly higher annual revenue than Binance. Yet, Forbes lists Zhao with a higher net worth than Zhang.
Zhao’s Perspective on Wealth Rankings
Zhao humorously noted that if he claimed a high net worth, Forbes might rank him lower or even exclude him from their list. His remarks underscore a broader criticism of wealth rankings, suggesting they often rely on speculative estimates rather than concrete data.
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