Top 10 Richest People in China 2011

Photo: wanda.com.cn

Wang Jianlin, $4.6 billion, Dalian Wanda Group

Wang’s Dalian Wanda Group is one of the largest commercial property developers in China. Its projects include “Wanda Plazas,” hotels, and movie theaters. Wang is active in Chinese politics and involved with the World Economic Forum (Davos). He previously spent 16 years of his career with the Chinese military. The following is his resume from the Davos website: 1970-86, with Chinese military; 1986, Office Administrator, Xigang District, Dalian Government; 1989, General Manager, Xigang Residential Development Company; 1992, General Manager, Dalian Wanda Group; since 1993, current position and Chief Executive Officer, Dalian Wanda Group. Deputy to 17th National Congress, CPC. Member, Standing Committee, Ninth CPPCC National Committee. Vice-Chairman: 10th All China Federation of Industry and Commerce; China Entrepreneur Association; China Enterprise Directors Association; China General Chamber of Commerce; China Real Estate.

Photo: www.chinadaily.com.cn

Ma Huateng, $5 billion, Tencent

Ma is the founder of Tencent, a Chinese internet conglomerate. Some of its main businesses include online advertising, social networks, web portals, online games, and instant messaging. He founded the company in 1998; its first product was an instant messaging program. In the beginning, it sought to be the “Chinese AOL.” Since then, Tencent parted ways with AOL’s model and diversified into other businesses.

Photo: Reuters

Zhang Jindong, $5 billion, Suning Appliances

Zhang Jindong is the co-founder of Suning Appliances, the largest electrical appliance retailer in China, according to Forbes. He founded the company in 1990 with his older brother Zhang Guiping. Before Suning Appliances made it big, the elder Zhang left to venture into the real estate business. In hindsight, that was a poor financial decision.

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Hui Ka Yan, $5.1 billion, Evergrande Real Estate

Hui founded Evergrande Real Estate, a real estate developer based in Gunagdong, China’s most populous and prosperous province. The company went public in Hong Kong last year. At the peak of his company’s stock price, he was briefly China’s richest person.

Photo: www.chinadaily.com.cn

Wu Yajun, $5.5 billion, Longfor Properties

Wu Yajun is the richest self-made woman on earth, according to Forbes. She is one of six self-made female billionaires in China, according to ChinaDaily. Wu, together with her husband, made her fortune in real estate development. She started in her hometown of Chongqing and later expanded to other large cities like Beijing.

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He Xiangjian, $5.5 billion, Midea Group

The 68-year-old is the founder of Midea Group, one of the largest appliances manufacturers in China. The company is particularly active in the air conditioning market. He has stepped down as the chairman of the company but remains its largest shareholder.

Photo: Reuters

Li Li, $5.7 billion, Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical

Li is the founder of Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical, which derives almost all of its revenues from selling heparin, a blood thinner used in kidney dialysis and other surgeries, according to Financial Times. Li founded the company with his wife in 1998 to produce this product. Currently, Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical is the largest supplier of it in the world. According to Financial Times, an alternative wealth estimate actually puts Li and his wife as the richest people in China.

Photo: Reuters

Zong Qinghou, $5.9 billion, Wahaha

Zong is the co-founder of the Hangzhou Wahaha Group. Wahaha’s flagship milk drink is comparable to Coca-Cola in the US in terms of its leading market position and prevalence in China. The 65-year old is also a delegate to China’s National People’s Congress. Zong co-founded Wahaha in 1987 with two retired school teachers.

Photo: www.sanygroup.com

Liang Wengen, $8 billion, Sany Group

Liang is the founder of Sany Group, the largest private sector construction equipment manufacturer in China, according to Forbes. The company makes more than 120 types of construction machinery, road construction machinery, and hoisting machinery.

Photo: Reuters

Robin Li, $9.4 billion, Baidu

Robin Li is the co-founder of Baidu, China’s most popular search engine. Considering the fact that Google’s co-cofounders are worth about $15 billion apiece, it’s no surprise that the founder of the ‘Chinese Google’ is worth close to $10 billion. Before founding Baidu, Li worked at US companies Dow Jones and Company and Infoseek. At Dow Jones, he developed a page ranking algorithm and received a US patent for it. He later used this technology for Baidu. In 2005, Baidu went public in the US. In 2007, it became the first Chinese company to be included in the NASDAQ-100 Index.