#127
Wang Chuanfu
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Batteries, automobiles
- Industry
- Automotive
- Residence
- Shenzhen
- Organization
- Founder and CEO at BYD
- Education
- Beijing Non-Ferrous Research Institute (Master of Science)Central South Industrial University of Technology (Bachelor of Arts/Science)
- Marital Status
- Married
Assets
- BYD Co. Ltd. Class A1,552,350,000 shares @ --002594-CN
- BYD Co. Ltd. Class H3,000,000 shares @ --1211-HK
Biography
Wang Chuanfu is the chairman and CEO of BYD and has led it to become one of the world's largest EV companies.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired a 10% stake for $230 million in 2008. It fully exited in 2025 and made billions of dollars in returns.
Born in a farm village in one of China's poorest provinces in 1966, Wang was orphaned as a teen and raised by his elder brother and sister.
The high achiever made it to college, excelling as he trained his sights on battery technology.
Wang cofounded BYD as a rechargeable battery company in 1995.
About
BYD stands for "Build Your Dreams."
BYD started out making batteries for the booming mobile phone market, with customers such as Motorola and Nokia.