Lei Jun Net Worth

Lei Jun Net Worth

Lei Jun net worth – What is the net worth of Lei Jun? Lei Jun is a Chinese billionaire entrepreneur, investor, and computer engineer who has a net worth of $46 billion. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics and smart manufacturing companies. Often referred to as the “Steve Jobs of China” for his marketing savvy and product presentation style, Lei Jun has transformed Xiaomi from a smartphone startup into a global ecosystem of connected devices and, most recently, electric vehicles.

What is Lei Jun’s Net Worth?

As of 2026, Lei Jun has an estimated net worth of US $46 billion. His wealth is primarily derived from his significant ownership stake in Xiaomi Corporation, which he co-founded in 2010. His fortune has seen a dramatic surge recently due to the explosive success of Xiaomi’s entry into the electric vehicle market with the SU7 sedan. In addition to Xiaomi, Lei Jun holds stakes in Kingsoft, a software company he previously led, and YY Inc., a social platform. He is also a prolific angel investor through his venture capital firm, Shunwei Capital, which manages billions in assets and has invested in hundreds of startups across the technology sector.

Net Worth Comparison with Other Tech Billionaires

Billionaire Estimated Net Worth
Lei Jun $46 Billion
Colin Huang (PDD Holdings) $43 Billion
Zhang Yiming (ByteDance) $43 Billion
Ma Huateng (Tencent) $45 Billion
William Ding (NetEase) $32 Billion
Robin Zeng (CATL) $44 Billion

Lei Jun Net Worth Growth Timeline

Year Net Worth
2018 $16 Billion
2020 $9.2 Billion
2022 $11 Billion
2024 $13 Billion
2026 $46 Billion

Who is Lei Jun?

Lei Jun is a technology visionary born on December 16, 1969, in Xiantao, Hubei, China. A computer science prodigy, he graduated from Wuhan University and quickly rose through the ranks of the Chinese tech world. He is best known for founding Xiaomi, a company that pioneered the direct-to-consumer sales model for smartphones, offering high-spec devices at affordable prices. Beyond his business acumen, Lei is a cultural icon in China, known for his work ethic and his famous “Are you OK?” catchphrase, which originated from a viral video of his English speech in India.

Lei Jun Biography

Field Details
Full Name Lei Jun
Nickname The Steve Jobs of China, Leibs
Date of Birth December 16, 1969
Age 56 years
Birthplace Xiantao, Hubei, China
Nationality Chinese
Profession Entrepreneur, Engineer, Investor
Years Active 1992–present
Net Worth $46 billion
Source of Wealth Xiaomi, Kingsoft, Investments
Education Wuhan University (B.S. in Computer Science)
Marital Status Married
Spouse Zhang Tong
Children 2
Parents Teachers (names private)

Early Life and Education

Lei Jun was born into a family of teachers in Xiantao, a small city in Hubei province. From a young age, he exhibited a fascination with electronics, often disassembling radios to understand how they worked—a hobby encouraged by his father.

He attended Wuhan University, where he completed all his credits for a four-year computer science degree in just two years. During his college years, he was deeply influenced by the book Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer, which detailed the stories of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. This book ignited his dream of building a world-class enterprise. He was a brilliant student and even wrote a coding textbook during his undergraduate years that was used by other universities.

Career

Lei Jun’s career began at Kingsoft, a Chinese software company, in 1992. He worked his way up from an engineer to become the CEO in 1998. Under his leadership, Kingsoft went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In parallel, he founded Joyo.com, an online bookstore, in 2000, which he sold to Amazon for $75 million in 2004 (becoming Amazon China).

After resigning from Kingsoft in 2007, he became a successful angel investor. However, his biggest act was yet to come. In 2010, at the age of 40, he founded Xiaomi with six partners. The company’s first product was not a phone, but the MIUI operating system. When they released their first smartphone, it was an instant hit due to its high performance and low price. By 2014, Xiaomi had become the third-largest smartphone maker in the world. In 2024, Lei led Xiaomi’s aggressive expansion into the automotive industry with the launch of the SU7 electric vehicle, a move that significantly boosted the company’s valuation and his personal net worth.

Personal Life

Lei Jun is married to Zhang Tong, whom he met during his university days. They have two children. Despite his high public profile, he keeps his family life extremely private and rarely discusses them in the media.

Lei is known for his intense work ethic. In the early days of Xiaomi, he famously worked 100-hour weeks, a culture often referred to as “996” (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) in China’s tech sector. He is also a philanthropist; in 2021, he donated nearly $2.2 billion worth of Xiaomi shares to charity, and in 2023, he donated a record 1.3 billion yuan ($182 million) to his alma mater, Wuhan University.

Favorite Things

Category Favorite
Role Model Steve Jobs
Book Fire in the Valley (Paul Freiberger & Michael Swaine)
Hobby Disassembling electronics, Skiing, Go (Weiqi)
Food Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes (Hometown cuisine)
Quote “Even a pig can fly if it stands at the center of a whirlwind.”
Sport Skiing

50 Unknown Facts about Lei Jun

  1. He finished his 4-year university degree in just 2 years.

  2. He wrote a book on computer programming while still an undergraduate student.

  3. He was an angel investor in UCWeb, which was later acquired by Alibaba.

  4. He is often called “Leibs” (Lei Boss) by his fans in China.

  5. He famously said, “Even a pig can fly if it stands at the center of a whirlwind,” referring to seizing market trends.

  6. He sold his first startup, Joyo.com, to Jeff Bezos (Amazon) for $75 million.

  7. He keeps a copy of Fire in the Valley in his office.

  8. He wears jeans and black shirts at product launches, mimicking Steve Jobs’ style.

  9. He accidentally became a meme in India with his “Are you OK?” speech.

  10. He embraced the meme and even released a remix of the “Are you OK?” song as a ringtone.

  11. He donated $182 million to Wuhan University in 2023, the largest individual donation to a university in Chinese history.

  12. He initially refused to take a salary from Xiaomi, taking zero pay until the IPO.

  13. He has invested in over 70 startups.

  14. He loves skiing and often goes to slopes in Europe and Japan.

  15. He was the Chairman of Kingsoft, YY, and Cheetah Mobile simultaneously.

  16. He launched Xiaomi’s first electric car, the SU7, in 2024, calling it his “last major entrepreneurship project.”

  17. He personally tested the SU7 EV during winter tests in sub-zero temperatures.

  18. He has over 20 million followers on Weibo.

  19. He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

  20. He founded Xiaomi on April 6, 2010, and the staff drank millet porridge (Xiao Mi) to celebrate.

  21. “Xiaomi” literally means “Millet and Rice” (or Little Rice).

  22. He originally wanted to name the company “Red Star” but couldn’t get the trademark.

  23. He is a deputy to the National People’s Congress in China.

  24. He promised to keep Xiaomi’s hardware profit margin below 5% forever.

  25. He was born in the same year as the internet (ARPANET) was created (1969).

  26. He worked 16-hour days during the early years of Kingsoft.

  27. He once lost all his data on his computer due to a virus, which led him to develop antivirus software at Kingsoft.

  28. He is a fan of the strategy game Go (Weiqi).

  29. He gifted every Xiaomi employee 1,000 shares when the company went public.

  30. He returned to Kingsoft as Chairman in 2011 to save the company from crisis.

  31. He has a net worth larger than the GDP of many African nations.

  32. He believes in the “Triathlon” business model: Hardware, Software, and Internet Services.

  33. He is a photography enthusiast, often posting samples from Xiaomi phones.

  34. He aims to make Xiaomi the #1 car manufacturer in the world in 15-20 years.

  35. He admits to having social anxiety in public speaking (in English), despite being a CEO.

  36. He owns 100% of the investment vehicle “Smart Mobile Holdings Limited.”

  37. He was voted “Businessman of the Year” by Forbes Asia in 2014.

  38. He has a very modest office compared to other billionaires.

  39. He used to carry multiple phones from different brands to study them.

  40. He considers cost-efficiency to be an art form.

  41. He launched the “Redmi” sub-brand to capture the budget market.

  42. He encourages a “fan culture” where users help design Xiaomi’s OS (MIUI).

  43. He personally reads user comments on his Weibo account.

  44. He has been friends with many other tech titans like Pony Ma and Robin Li.

  45. He invested in the video streaming site YY.com, which made him a fortune before Xiaomi.

  46. He has a “golden share” structure in Xiaomi, giving him controlling voting power.

  47. He pledged to donate most of his wealth to charity.

  48. He is a supporter of “Made in China 2025” initiative.

  49. He once smashed a Huawei phone on stage (rumored, though likely a misinterpretation of a stress test demonstration).

  50. He plans to retire only after Xiaomi becomes a global leader in EVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Lei Jun?

Lei Jun is 56 years old (as of 2026).

Where was Lei Jun born?

He was born in Xiantao, Hubei province, China.

What companies does Lei Jun own?

He is the founder and major shareholder of Xiaomi and holds significant stakes in Kingsoft, YY, and numerous startups through Shunwei Capital.

What is Lei Jun’s net worth?

His estimated net worth is $46 billion.

Is Lei Jun married?

Yes, he is married to Zhang Tong and has two children.

What is Lei Jun’s famous quote?

“Even a pig can fly if it stands at the center of a whirlwind.”

Did Lei Jun work for Google?

No, he did not work for Google. He founded Joyo.com which was sold to Amazon, and he is often compared to Steve Jobs, but his career started at Kingsoft.

What is the “Are you OK” meme?

It refers to a viral video of Lei Jun trying to speak English at a Xiaomi launch event in India in 2015. He asked the audience “Are you OK?” repeatedly, which was autotuned into a popular song.

Does Lei Jun make cars now?

Yes, under his leadership, Xiaomi launched its first electric car, the Xiaomi SU7, in 2024.

Why is he called the “Steve Jobs of China”?

Because of his similar dressing style (black shirts, jeans), his charismatic product presentations, and his focus on building a dedicated fan base for his products.

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