#206

Zhang Zhidong

Source of wealth: Online games

54 years male Technology 🇨🇳 CN

Net Worth

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Earnings per second

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The scale of their wealth

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Health

The price of life

Let's compare Zhang Zhidong's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country

Zhang Zhidong could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 6.5 years.

But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country

On the other end, Zhang Zhidong could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 2.9 years.

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Education

Buying the future

Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country

Zhang Zhidong could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 4.2 years.

And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country

But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Zhang Zhidong could pay for it entirely for 5.8 years.

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Research

The monopoly on progress

Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country

Zhang Zhidong could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 24.3 years.

And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide

But even if we compare the total wealth of Zhang Zhidong with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.5 years.

While billions of people struggle to access basic healthcare, education, and research, a single individual could fund entire national systems for centuries.

Gold

Everyday luxuries

Zhang Zhidong's fortune is equivalent to 99 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.

A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.

Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.

Zhang Zhidong could buy 26,354,041 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!

And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 5 trucks to transport them. Although Zhang Zhidong will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.

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Biography

Zhang Zhidong, also known as Tony Zhang, cofounded internet giant Tencent with fellow billionaire Pony Ma in 1998.

Citing personal reasons, he stepped down as executive director and chief technology officer in 2014.

Zhang is now advisor emeritus and honorary president of Tencent Academy, which was set up in 2007 to offer employee training and career development opportunities.