Lei Jun
China
Net Worth
$11B
Source of Wealth
Xiaomi
Global Rank
#92 of 100
About Lei Jun
Lei Jun is the visionary founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi, one of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers and a pioneering force in making high-quality technology accessible to consumers everywhere. Often called the 'Steve Jobs of China' for his charismatic product presentations and relentless focus on user experience, Lei Jun built Xiaomi from a startup in 2010 into a global technology giant with annual revenues exceeding $40 billion. His innovative business model — offering premium-quality hardware at near-cost prices while building an ecosystem of connected devices and services — disrupted the global smartphone industry and proved that excellence and affordability could coexist.
Before founding Xiaomi, Lei Jun had already built an impressive career in Chinese technology. He served as CEO of Kingsoft, one of China's oldest software companies, and was an early and highly successful angel investor in companies like UCWeb and YY. These experiences gave him deep insight into both software development and consumer behavior, which he synthesized into Xiaomi's unique approach to building products. His ability to combine the best elements of hardware engineering, software development, e-commerce, and community building into a single cohesive strategy set Xiaomi apart from its competitors.
Xiaomi's expansion beyond smartphones into a vast ecosystem of smart home devices, wearables, electric vehicles, and lifestyle products has been one of the most ambitious product diversification strategies in modern technology. Lei Jun's vision of connecting every aspect of daily life through affordable, well-designed technology has resonated with hundreds of millions of consumers, particularly young, tech-savvy users in emerging markets. His recent bold move into electric vehicles with the Xiaomi SU7 demonstrates his continuing willingness to take on new challenges and expand the boundaries of what Xiaomi can achieve.
Key Achievements
Built Xiaomi into a Global Smartphone Giant
Grew Xiaomi from a startup to one of the world's top three smartphone manufacturers in just over a decade, shipping hundreds of millions of devices annually.
Pioneered Affordable Premium Technology
Created an innovative business model offering near-flagship quality devices at dramatically lower prices, making premium technology accessible to hundreds of millions of consumers.
IoT Ecosystem Leadership
Built the world's largest consumer IoT platform outside of smartphones, with hundreds of millions of connected devices spanning smart home, wearables, and lifestyle categories.
Electric Vehicle Entry
Launched the Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle to strong market reception, boldly extending the company's reach into the automotive industry.
Successful IPO
Led Xiaomi to a successful Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPO in 2018, one of the largest technology IPOs in the exchange's history.
Notable Quotes
“Our mission is to make innovation accessible to everyone. Great technology should not be reserved only for those who can pay premium prices.”
— Lei Jun
“Stay hungry, stay foolish — and always put the user first. That is the Xiaomi way.”
— Lei Jun
“We don't see our users as customers. We see them as friends. Everything we build starts with what our friends need.”
— Lei Jun
Key Decisions
Founded Xiaomi with the revolutionary vision of building smartphone hardware at near-cost prices and monetizing through software and services.
Began Xiaomi's ecosystem strategy, investing in and incubating hundreds of startups to create a vast network of connected consumer products.
Launched aggressive international expansion, taking Xiaomi's affordable smartphones to India, Southeast Asia, and eventually Europe and beyond.
Led Xiaomi through its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising billions to fund global expansion and new technology development.
Announced Xiaomi's entry into the electric vehicle market, committing $10 billion over ten years to build a world-class EV business.
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