Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance (TikTok's parent company), has reclaimed the top spot among China's richest. His fortune, estimated at 89.4 billion euros, has increased by 43%. Euronews, citing the Hurun Report, attributes this growth almost entirely to the expansion in artificial intelligence, which confirms itself as the primary driver of wealth in the country.

The Hurun Research Institute, which annually publishes the list, highlights the strong impact of AI: 160 individuals on the ranking (approximately one in ten) derive their earnings from this sector. China now boasts a record of 1,529 people with assets exceeding 645 million euros and counts 1,176 billionaires, a sign of a significant concentration of wealth.

This technological success is part of a complex economic framework. The Chinese economy grew by 4.5% in the third quarter, driven by strong exports. However, weak domestic demand and the real estate crisis curb overall growth. Rupert Hoogewerf defines this situation as a “two-speed economy”, highlighting a clear sectoral polarization.

Indeed, while entrepreneurs in AI, semiconductors, and robotics have seen their wealth increase, those in consumer goods, real estate, and traditional manufacturing have experienced contractions. For the first time, no real estate entrepreneur from mainland China appears among the top one hundred richest, with only Hong Kong families maintaining top positions, reflecting deep structural challenges.