Rank #17
Changpeng Zhao
Net worth $111.8B
Cryptocurrency exchange · Canada
- Born
- Feb 05, 1977
- Age
- 49
- Source
- Cryptocurrency exchange
- Residence
- Dubai
- Citizenship
- Canada
- Marital status
- Children
- 0
- Education
Net worth over time
Biography
- Changpeng Zhao, who goes by CZ, is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.
- The Chinese-Canadian coder cut his teeth building high-frequency trading systems for Wall Street's flash boys.
- Zhao founded Binance in 2017 and still owns an estimated 90% of the exchange plus a stash of its BNB tokens.
- In November 2023, Zhao stepped down as Binance's CEO as part of a sweeping settlement with U.S. authorities.
- Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, paid a $50 million fine and served four months in prison.
- He was pardoned in October 2025 by Donald Trump, whose crypto businesses have had extensive dealings with Binance.
- Zhao was born in Jiangsu, China. His father, a professor, was labeled a pro-bourgeois intellect and temporarily exiled shortly after CZ was born.
- As a teenager in Vancouver, CZ pitched in to cover the household expenses, flipping burgers at McDonald's and working overnight shifts at a gas station.
Financial assets
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