Binance founder is now richer than Bill Gates. How much is Changpeng Zhao net worth and what fuels his wealth?

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is now richer than Microsoft founder Bill Gates, making him not only the richest crypto mogul but also one of 20 billionaires with a net worth of over 100 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires.

This comes just 17 months after Zhao, better known by his initials CZ, was released from prison following an extensive investigation into Binance, which found the company failed to comply with anti-money laundering policies.

Changpeng Zhao’s net worth

According to Forbes Real Time Billionaires, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has a net worth of $113 billion. According to that list, he is the 17th richest person in the world.

The cryptocurrency mogul’s wealth became a topic of discussion last week when Forbes reported that his net worth is greater than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in its annual rich list. At that time, Changpeng Zhao’s net worth was pegged at $110 billion.

By comparison, Bill Gates’ net worth today is $103.9 billion. When the Forbes World Billionaires List was published, his net worth was $108 billion. He is the 19th richest person in the world.

Meanwhile, the Binance founder’s net worth also surpasses that of Michael Bloomberg, founder of news agency giant Bloomberg, whose estimated fortune is $109.4 billion, according to Forbes Real Time Billionaires.

CZ’s net worth has skyrocketed over the past year, rising from $47 billion in 2025 to $113 billion now, according to Forbes estimates.

What is the source of Changpeng Zhao’s wealth?

The largest asset owned by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is Binance itself, the company he founded in 2017. Zhao holds an estimated 90% of Binance, which has an estimated value of over $100 billion.

Binance is largely at the core of his fortune, which has soared despite him stepping down as the company’s CEO in 2023, according to Forbes. Interviews with industry insiders and comparisons with other crypto exchanges such as Coinbase show that Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange with approximately 38% market share.

The stock market carries out more than 30 trillion dollars of transaction volume annually in spot and derivative markets.

Zhao owns approximately 1,400 Bitcoins outside Binance, and according to Forbes, that number has fallen by nearly 25% in the past 12 months to $100 million. Apart from this, Zhao holds Coinbase’s own cryptocurrency BNB, which has been trending volatile towards the end of the year.

Who is Changpeng Zhao?

Changpeng Zhao is the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Zhao, 47, has made Binance the dominant crypto exchange, arguing that it does not have a global headquarters.

Its approach to compliance did not sit well with US authorities, who in 2023 accused Binance and Zhao of failing to prevent cybercriminals and terrorists from trading on the platform. Zhao agreed to pay a $50 million fine, stepped down as CEO, and was sentenced to four months in prison. He was released in September last year. After his release from a low-security California prison, Zhao vowed in a post on X to focus on investments that would prioritize “impact” over returns.