CanadaCo-founded it
Changpeng Zhao
Changpeng Zhao co-founded the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in 2017 and ran it as CEO until 2023; his fortune is his ownership of Binance.
- Forbes estimate
- $115B
- Forbes, 30 Sep 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 16
- 30 Sep 2026
- Stake in Binance
- 100%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $82.1B
- Bloomberg, 9 Oct 2026
- Born
- 1977
- Jiangsu, China
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Computer science degree, McGill University, Montreal
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange
Binance
cryptocurrency exchange, founded 2017
The SEC complaint's ownership chart shows Zhao with 100% direct or indirect ownership of Binance Holdings Limited; a historical figure, no current stake is filed
SEC complaint, SEC v. Binance (ownership chart), 18 Oct 2022
Co-founder and former CEO
Other holdings
CoinMarketCap
The SEC complaint's chart shows 100% direct or indirect ownership of CoinMarketCap OpCo, LLC as of late 2022
Where Changpeng stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Changpeng Zhao is outlined.
How the fortune started
Founded it
Founded it 42
Inherited and grew it 12
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Crypto
Crypto 2
Technology 24
Finance 10
Several industries 9
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree 27
Graduate degree 24
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Founder, no executive role
Founder, no executive role 8
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 1977Jiangsu, China
- Citizenship
- Canada
- Lives in
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Education
- Bachelor's degreeComputer science degree, McGill University, Montreal
- Parents
- Mother a teacher, father an academic who took a job at the University of British Columbia; the family moved to Canada in the late 1980s
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Giggle AcademyA free online education platform for children that he founded; described as a platform, not a foundation
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Founder, no executive roleCo-founder and former CEO of Binance
- Successor
- Richard Teng succeeded him as Binance CEO in November 2023; co-founder Yi He became co-CEO alongside Teng in December 2025
- Public office
- Strategic Advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council, 2025
- Legal record
- 2023, US DOJPleaded guilty on November 21, 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by causing Binance to fail to implement an effective anti-money-laundering program; Binance separately pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $4.3 billion. A federal court in Seattle sentenced him in 2024 to four months in prison, and Forbes reports he paid a $50 million fine. He received a full and unconditional presidential pardon on October 21, 2025.
- 2023, US CFTC (court order)The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved the CFTC's settlement with Binance and Zhao and entered a consent order requiring Zhao to pay a $150 million civil monetary penalty.
