What is Zhang Zhidong’s Net Worth?
Zhang Zhidong, also known as Tony Zhang, has an estimated net worth of $12.76 billion. Zhang’s wealth primarily stems from his stake in Tencent, where he served as the Chief Technology Officer for 16 years until his retirement in September 2014.
Although he stepped down from his executive role, Zhang remains an advisor emeritus and honorary dean of Tencent Academy, maintaining his significant shareholding in the company.
His 3% stake in Tencent, compared to co-founder Ma Huateng’s 10%, has been a major contributor to his billionaire status.
Here’s the breakdown of Zhang Zhidong’s net worth:
Name: | Zhang Zhidong |
Net Worth: | $12.76 Billion |
Date of Birth: | 1972 |
Profession: | Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
Early Life and Education
Zhang Zhidong, also known as Tony Zhang, was born in 1972 in Dongguan, Guangdong province, Southern China. His early education led him to Shenzhen University, where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
It was during his time at Shenzhen University that Zhang met Ma Huateng, who would later become his business partner and co-founder of Tencent.
After completing his undergraduate studies in 1993, Zhang continued his education at the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou. There, he earned a Master’s degree in Computer Application and System Structure in 1996.
Career
Zhang Zhidong’s career took a pivotal turn when he co-founded Tencent Holdings Ltd. on November 23, 1999, alongside Ma Huateng and three other partners. As one of the founding members, Zhang played a crucial role in the company’s development, serving as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for 16 years.
During his tenure at Tencent, Zhang was instrumental in overseeing the development of the company’s proprietary technologies and building an industry-leading technical team. Under his technical leadership, Tencent grew to become a Chinese internet giant, known for its free messaging services that attracted billions of users.
Zhang’s contributions to Tencent significantly impacted his net worth. By 2017, he was ranked 100th on Forbes’ list of world billionaires and 12th among the richest Chinese. Although he stepped down from his executive roles in September 2014, citing personal reasons, Zhang continues to serve as an advisor emeritus and honorary dean of the Tencent Academy.
Personal Life
Zhang Zhidong maintains a relatively low public profile when it comes to his personal life. He is known to be married, although the couple reportedly has no children.
Zhang and his wife reside in Shenzhen, China, where Tencent is headquartered.
Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.
With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.
