Short answer: in Forbes' 2026 World's Billionaires list, ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is China's richest person at $69.3 billion, just ahead of Nongfu Spring's Zhong Shanshan at $68.1 billion. Mainland China has 539 billionaires, second only to the United States.
Forbes has more than one China list
World's Billionaires: published each March, it ranks billionaires worldwide, including Chinese citizens. Forbes China lists: Forbes also publishes China-focused rankings, such as its China Rich List and the 100 richest list, usually in the autumn. Rankings can differ between lists because of timing and how holdings are valued.
China's ten richest people (March 2026)
| Rank | Name | Source of wealth | Net worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhang Yiming | Internet media | $69.3 billion |
| 2 | Zhong Shanshan | Beverages, pharmaceuticals | $68.1 billion |
| 3 | Ma Huateng | Online games (Tencent) | $53.8 billion |
| 4 | William Ding | Online games (NetEase) | $37.9 billion |
| 5 | Colin Huang | E-commerce | $36.6 billion |
| 6 | Zheng Shuliang & family | Aluminum products | $33.2 billion |
| 7 | He Xiangjian & family | Home appliances | $33.2 billion |
| 8 | Jack Ma | E-commerce | $29.1 billion |
| 9 | Lei Jun | Smartphones, automobiles | $27.9 billion |
| 10 | Yu Yong | Mining | $25.4 billion |
Net worths as of March 1, 2026, per Forbes. Figures move daily with markets.
How many billionaires does China have?
- Mainland China: 539 billionaires in 2026, up from 450 in 2025 and 406 in 2024.
- Greater China, including Hong Kong: 610.
- Combined wealth of Chinese billionaires on the list: nearly $2.2 trillion, close to the $2.5 trillion record set in 2021.
- United States: 989 billionaires, the largest number.
Where the money came from
Forbes lists a source of wealth for each fortune. At the top these are internet media, beverages, online games, e-commerce, appliances, aluminum and mining, with newer AI-related fortunes also appearing. These are businesses with public accounts and stock market values, which is different from the "secret frequency" explanation in Forbidden China Wealth marketing.
What this means for the product
The sales page suggests Chinese wealth stems from a hidden sound. Published lists point to companies, commodities and markets. If you are curious about the product itself, read Is Forbidden China Wealth Legit? or the overview.
Source: Forbes, The 10 Richest Chinese Billionaires 2026, and Forbes' China billionaires list page.
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Last updated: September 20, 2026. Facts on this page are compiled from the sources named above and can change over time.