Zhang Yiming (2024)

About Zhang Yiming

  • Zhang Yiming is the main founder of Chinese tech giant ByteDance, best known for its insanely popular app TikTok, which has more than 1 billion users worldwide.
  • Zhang stepped down as chairman of ByteDance in November 2021 after resigning as CEO in May that year, reportedly under pressure from the Chinese government.
  • ByteDance's valuation has taken a hit lately amid speculation that TikTok may be banned in the U.S. market. It also has interests in everything from news and education to video gaming.
  • Zhang started ByteDance in 2012 in a four-bedroom Beijing apartment and launched news-aggregation app Toutiao months later.
  • He was a member of the 2013 Forbes China 30 Under 30 List.

Wealth History

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Personal Stats

Age
40
Source of Wealth
TikTok, Self Made
Residence
Beijing, China
Citizenship
China
Education
Bachelor of Engineering, Nankai University

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China

Citizen of China

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More on Forbes

Nov 3, 2021

Billionaire Zhang Yiming Steps Down As ByteDance Chairman

Chinese billionaire Zhang Yiming has stepped down as chairman of TikTok owner ByteDance, joining a host of other tech entrepreneurs who had recently retreated from running their companies amid mounting government scrutiny of the internet sector.

ByYue WangSenior Contributor

Zhang Yiming (2024)

FAQs

What is the quote from Zhang yiming? ›

#2 Zhang Yiming, ByteDance

Do not internalize external causes, and do not mistake luck for capability.” Zhang Yiming is one of China's most successful entrepreneurs. He is the founder of ByteDance, and developer of the popular online platform TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) and news aggregator Toutiao.

What did the owner of TikTok say? ›

Along with impacting small businesses and American jobs, the TikTok CEO said that the social media app "empowers" people to "freely express themselves." "It has given our 170 million users a platform to freely express themselves and it empowered more than 7 million businesses in the United States," Shou said.

What did Zhang Yiming say about TikTok? ›

Talking about his experience with the app, he says, “For a very long time, I was merely watching TikTok videos without making any of them myself, because it's a product mainly for young people.

Which Chinese billionaire is the founder of TikTok? ›

Zhang Yiming (Chinese: 张一鸣; born April 1, 1983) is a Chinese internet entrepreneur. He founded ByteDance in 2012, developed the news aggregator Toutiao and the video sharing platform Douyin (internationally known as TikTok).

Why doesn t China use TikTok? ›

So, China doesn't want the outside world content to come into a platform that it cannot control. ByteDance, which is the parent company for TikTok and Douyin, decided that rather than trying to have a version that appeals to China and the rest of the world, to instead have two separate products entirely.

What is a famous quote from China? ›

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Essentially, while it might feel tough to start a new project, you can never achieve anything if you aren't willing to make a small start. 路遥知马力,日久见人心 -As distance tests a horse's strength... You shouldn't judge a person at first glance.

Is TikTok allowed in China? ›

In China, there is no TikTok. There is only Douyin. After President Biden signed a bill on Wednesday forcing Chinese company ByteDance to sell its ownership of TikTok, the United States moved one step closer to an internet without the short video app.

Who owns most of TikTok? ›

ByteDance is a privately-held global company, with roughly 60 percent owned by global institutional investors (such as Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group), 20 percent owned by the company's founders, and 20 percent owned by its employees—including over 7,000 Americans.

Is the owner of TikTok a billionaire? ›

TikTok's Zhang Yiming's Fortune More Than Doubles As The App's Global Popularity Grows. ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is the biggest wealth gainer on this year's list. He climbed seven spots to No. 2 as his fortune more than doubled to $59.4 billion.

What is Zhang Yiming known for? ›

Zhang Yiming is the founder of ByteDance, one of the largest global technology companies. The apps in ByteDance's portfolio include Toutiao, the largest general news platform in China, and TikTok, the video-based social media app that quickly became popular globally.

Is TikTok Chinese or Korean? ›

Its parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, is owned by founders and Chinese investors, other global investors, and employees. One of ByteDance's main domestic subsidiaries is owned by Chinese state funds and entities through a 1% golden share.

What happened to Zhang yiming? ›

Zhang cofounded ByteDance in Beijing in 2012, but resigned from the group in 2021 in the midst of regulatory tightening on China's tech industry. A Chinese citizen, Zhang is now based in Singapore.

Who started TikTok first? ›

The founder of TikTok is a Chinese entrepreneur named Zhang Yiming. Zhang was born on April 1, 1983, in Longyan, Fujian province, China. He attended Nankai University in Tianjin, where he studied software engineering. After graduation, he worked for several tech companies before founding ByteDance in 2012.

Who is TikTok's boss? ›

Chew Shou Zi (Chinese: 周受资, born 1 January 1983), commonly known as Shou Zi Chew, is a Singaporean businessman and entrepreneur who has been serving as the chief executive officer of TikTok, an online video platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, since 2021.

Who is the wife of TikTok CEO? ›

TIK Tok CEO Shou Zi Chew was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2023 and shows no signs of slowing down. Chew met his wife, Vivian Kao, while the duo was both studying at Harvard Business School, and while she may not oversee the popular and addictive app, she's also not your average housewife.

What is a famous quote from ancient China? ›

Famous Chinese proverbs and sayings
  • “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” ...
  • “When the old man from the frontier lost his horse, how could he have known it would be a blessing in disguise?” ...
  • “One cannot have both the fish and the bear's paw.” ...
  • “Dripping water can penetrate the stone.”

What is Zhang Yiming best known for? ›

Zhang Yiming (Chinese: 张一鸣; born April 1, 1983) is a Chinese internet entrepreneur. He founded ByteDance in 2012, developed the news aggregator Toutiao and the video sharing platform TikTok (Douyin/抖音), formerly known as Musical.ly.

How is TikTok named in China? ›

TikTok, whose mainland Chinese counterpart is Douyin (Chinese: 抖音; pinyin: Dǒuyīn; lit. 'Shaking sound'), is a short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance.

What does quote mean Chinese? ›

引用 yǐnyòng. to quote; to cite; to recommend; to appoint; (computing) reference. 引文

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