Changpeng Zhao: The Story Behind the Fortune

Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, founded the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in 2017 and built it into the largest in the world by trading volume. Born in Jiangsu, China, he emigrated to Canada as a child and is a Canadian citizen.

He stepped down as Binance's CEO in 2023. Though he is based in Dubai, he is typically ranked as the richest Canadian; his fortune is tied largely to Binance and crypto holdings, so estimates move with the market.

Changpeng Zhao built this fortune from the ground up — a self-made success in cryptocurrency.

He is based in Dubai, UAE.

A few of the highlights on the public record: Founded Binance in 2017, the world's largest crypto exchange by volume; Chinese-born Canadian citizen; based in Dubai; Often ranked as the richest person in Canada.

The journey to get here is well documented. In 2017, launched the cryptocurrency exchange, which grew into the largest in the world by trading volume. In 2023, pleaded guilty to a US anti-money-laundering violation and stepped down as Binance's CEO.

On net worth alone, the closest companies are Brian Armstrong ($4.74B) and Michael Saylor ($3.15B) — a reminder of how tightly bunched the very top of the wealth list really is.

Today, Changpeng is worth an estimated $60.00B — #19 in the world on our real-time list, a figure that moves with the latest public reporting on his holdings.