He wanted to study biology, but he became the richest man in China: who is Zhang Yiming

Social media not only generates millions for tech giants, but also for content creators and entrepreneurs. Platforms like Instagram revolutionize the digital economy, providing million-dollar income. One of the visionaries behind this phenomenon is Zhang Yiming, who went from dreaming of studying biology to becoming the richest man in China.

Zhang is the founder of ByteDancethe company that gave life to TikTokone of the most popular social networks in the world. This achievement not only positioned him as the wealthiest businessman in his country, but also as an icon of the digital age who changed the way we consume online content.

What were Zhang Yiming’s beginnings like?

The current millionaire was born in 1983 in Longyana city in the province of Fujiansouthwest of China. He was the only son of a family of public officials, both related to the scientific field, which allowed him to grow up in an environment of academic stimulation and intellectual curiosity. Since childhood, Zhang showed a strong interest in learning and a passion for technology that would later shape his life.

Despite his initial interest in biology, the young man decided to study software engineering at Nankai University in Tianjin. During his college years, he leveraged his skills to repair computers and develop websites for his classmates, generating extra income and gaining experience in the digital world. His ability to identify technological needs and solve problems practically set him apart from his peers.

Upon graduation, he began working at an airline ticket search company, where he gained knowledge in software development. He then went through a microblogging platform and later came to Microsoft. However, his time in this company was brief; According to Zhang, work became routine and “boring,” so he decided to follow his own entrepreneurial path in the digital world.

Before founding ByteDanceZhang created a digital real estate platform, but his true ambition was to build something bigger and more innovative. With an entrepreneurial mindset and a clear vision of how he wanted to revolutionize online information consumption, the entrepreneur launched his most ambitious project in 2012: ByteDance.

How Yiming became China’s richest man

Yiming’s success accelerated with the creation of ByteDance, which was born from his observation of changing information consumption habits. The engineer noticed that people were increasingly preferring their smartphones to read news and that there was a growing demand for personalized content. This is how it came about Jinri Toutiaoan application that uses artificial intelligencel to offer news adapted to the interests of each user.

“The telephone is the new newspaper,” said the protagonist. Under this premise, the company expanded its operations and in 2016 launched Douyinthe Chinese version of TikTokwhich in 2017 went global. This short video app revolutionized entertainment and generated massive revenue, establishing itself as one of the first Chinese apps to achieve global popularity.

Thanks to this expansion, ByteDance’s value grew exponentially, and Zhang’s net worth reached 49.3 billion, consolidating him as the richest man in China. Although he left his position as CEO in 2021, Zhang remains a major shareholder in the company. “Ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they have the right mindset,” Zhang said, noting his humility despite his success.

TikTok and the conflict with the United States

The popularity of this social network came with multiple challenges. In USA, The app faced criticism and national security concerns, as authorities argued its Chinese ownership could allow access to sensitive data. In 2023, the president Joe Biden signed an order for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, sparking a complex legal battle.

The company and Zhang Yiming have tried to negotiate to avoid the ban, ensuring that TikTok operates independently. Despite these tensions, the company continues to generate million-dollar revenues and its global success continues to boost the fortune of Zhang, who today represents one of the most influential figures in the Chinese technology sector.