Forbes has placed Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, at an estimated $110 billion in net worth, ranking him 17th globally. Bill Gates was listed at $108 billion in 19th place. The new ranking puts crypto-linked wealth and traditional technology fortunes side by side, showing how large digital-asset businesses now sit in the same tier as long-established tech empires.
Binance equity remains the biggest driver of CZ’s fortune
According to Forbes, the main source of Zhao’s wealth is still his ownership in Binance. The publication estimates that he continues to control about 90% of the exchange, which remains the world’s largest crypto trading platform. Binance also continues to lead major crypto venues in spot and derivatives trading volume, a factor that supports the company’s valuation.
Forbes also included Zhao’s personal crypto holdings in its calculation of his total wealth. Earlier public disclosures indicated that most of his assets are held in cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin and BNB. After the ranking was published, Zhao said billionaire estimates can move quickly because private-company valuations and digital-asset prices change constantly, meaning real-time figures may differ from those shown on published lists.
He stepped down in 2023 but kept his ownership stake
Binance has faced rising regulatory pressure in recent years. Even so, it has remained one of the industry’s largest players. In 2023, Zhao resigned as CEO after a settlement in the United States, but he kept his stake in the company.
Forbes said Binance’s transaction activity has stabilized, and the exchange’s leading share of global crypto trading has helped restore the company’s valuation. That rebound has lifted the estimated value of Zhao’s holdings. In Forbes’ view, token price moves matter, but the primary force behind Zhao’s total net worth is still the business valuation of Binance itself.
Gates’ philanthropy also shaped the ranking gap
Forbes noted that the change in rankings cannot be explained by crypto market performance alone. Bill Gates’ long-running commitment to philanthropy has gradually reduced his personal wealth over time, though he remains among the richest people in the world.
The latest figures show that fortunes built from traditional technology companies and those created through crypto infrastructure are now competing in the same range. At the same time, private-company valuations and digital-asset prices can shift daily, so billionaire rankings of this kind may change often.