Wang Chuanfu
Batteries, automobiles · Shenzhen
Net worth
$20.6B
Today
−$560M−2.64%Past month
−$521M−2.46%As of Nov 11, 2026, 1:50 PM EST
Wang Chuanfu is the chairman and CEO of BYD and has led it to become one of the world's largest EV companies by sales. 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.
Net worth over time
Principal holdings
3 positions| Company | Industry | Share | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
BYD Co. Ltd. Class A SHENZHEN: 002594-CN | Automotive | 95.3% | $19.7B |
Private and other holdings | Automotive | 4.5% | $936M |
BYD Co. Ltd. Class H HONG KONG: 1211-HK | Automotive | 0.1% | $28M |
Also known for
- BYD stands for "Build Your Dreams."
- BYD started out making batteries for the booming mobile phone market, with customers such as Motorola and Nokia.