Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has overtaken Bill Gates in personal wealth, according to the latest Forbes estimates. Zhao’s net worth is now valued at approximately $107.7 billion, surpassing Gates’ estimated $105.9 billion and moving the crypto entrepreneur further up the list of the world’s richest people.
The milestone reflects the continued recovery of the cryptocurrency market and the growing value of Zhao’s remaining holdings in Binance and digital assets. Although CZ stepped down as Binance’s chief executive following the company’s settlement with U.S. regulators, he remains the exchange’s largest shareholder, making his fortune closely tied to Binance’s performance and the broader crypto market.
Much of Zhao’s wealth comes from his ownership stake in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. As crypto prices have rebounded and trading activity has accelerated, Binance’s business has continued to generate significant revenue, supporting higher estimates of the company’s valuation and, in turn, Zhao’s personal fortune.
Bill Gates, meanwhile, has gradually moved lower in global wealth rankings over the past decade. Unlike many technology founders, Gates has donated tens of billions of dollars through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other charitable initiatives while continuing to diversify his investment portfolio beyond Microsoft. As a result, his net worth has grown at a slower pace than those of founders whose wealth remains concentrated in rapidly appreciating technology companies.
The latest ranking highlights the changing composition of the world’s richest individuals. In recent years, entrepreneurs in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles, social media, and cryptocurrencies have climbed the wealth rankings as investors placed increasingly higher valuations on technology businesses. Cryptocurrency has become a particularly significant source of wealth creation, with several industry founders joining the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals despite the sector’s volatility.
Net worth estimates published by Forbes fluctuate daily as public market prices, private company valuations, and cryptocurrency prices change. Large movements in Bitcoin and other digital assets can quickly add or erase billions of dollars from the fortunes of crypto entrepreneurs, making the rankings especially dynamic during periods of heightened market volatility.
While rankings can change rapidly, Zhao’s rise above Gates underscores how the crypto industry’s recovery has once again reshaped the global billionaire landscape. Investors will continue watching whether sustained strength in digital assets allows crypto founders to climb even higher among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
