Name: Jensen Huang
Net worth: $120 billion
Executive pay: $34 million
Company: NVIDIA
Known for: Transforming NVIDIA into the world’s leading AI and semiconductor powerhouse, driving breakthroughs in GPU computing, data centers, and AI infrastructure.
Zhang Yiming, the visionary behind ByteDance, revolutionized digital content through AI-driven personalization, turning TikTok into one of the world’s most influential platforms. His focus on intelligent algorithms and global scalability cemented ByteDance as a tech powerhouse. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2021, Zhang still holds significant influence and remains one of China’s richest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $49.3 billion, bolstered by ByteDance’s 60% profit growth despite regulatory pressures.
This week, Zhang has remained largely out of the public eye but continues to shape ByteDance’s long-term direction behind the scenes. Reports indicate he has been quietly involved in strategic discussions surrounding a potential U.S. buyout of TikTok, where ByteDance could retain a minority stake. Meanwhile, ByteDance has announced major AI infrastructure investments, allocating over $12 billion toward AI chip development and next-generation computing—initiatives reflecting Zhang’s enduring vision. The company also unveiled OmniHuman-1, an AI system that generates lifelike video from still images, further underscoring his legacy of pushing the boundaries of digital media.
Though Zhang avoids publicity, his influence remains unmistakable—guiding ByteDance’s evolution in AI, global strategy, and digital innovation well into 2025.
