ByteDance founder ZHANG Yiming has topped China's rich list for the second time, with an estimated fortune of 670 billion yuan (US$94 billion), a record for the country's wealthiest individual, according to the 2026 Hurun Rich List released on October 27.

Zhang's wealth rose by 200 billion yuan from a year earlier, driven by a higher valuation for ByteDance amid progress in its artificial intelligence business, according to the report.

Nongfu Spring founder ZHONG Shanshan fell to second place after his estimated wealth declined by 120 billion yuan to 410 billion yuan. DeepSeek founder LIANG Wenfeng made his debut on the list in seventh place, with an estimated fortune of 280 billion yuan.

The list included a record 1,529 entrepreneurs with fortunes of at least 5 billion yuan, up 6.6% from last year. Their combined wealth rose 7% to 32 trillion yuan.