Net Worth
$11B
Global Rank
#92
Source
Xiaomi
Country
China
$How Lei Jun Built Their Fortune
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.
vs$11B in Perspective
To put Lei Jun's $11B fortune into context, here's what that wealth could buy:
Median U.S. household incomes
At $59,384/year
Median U.S. homes
At $420,000 each
Tesla Model 3s
At $38,990 each
Four-year college degrees
At $108,000 average
NFL franchises
At $4.7B average
Private islands
At $15,000,000 each
Key Wealth Milestones
2010
Founded Xiaomi with the revolutionary vision of building smartphone hardware at near-cost prices and monetizing through software and services.
2013
Began Xiaomi's ecosystem strategy, investing in and incubating hundreds of startups to create a vast network of connected consumer products.
2014
Launched aggressive international expansion, taking Xiaomi's affordable smartphones to India, Southeast Asia, and eventually Europe and beyond.
2018
Led Xiaomi through its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising billions to fund global expansion and new technology development.
2021
Announced Xiaomi's entry into the electric vehicle market, committing $10 billion over ten years to build a world-class EV business.
Where Lei Jun Ranks
Top 45% of the world's wealthiest · 167 tracked
Nearest by Rank
Richest People in China
Lei Jun on Wealth & Success
“Our mission is to make innovation accessible to everyone. Great technology should not be reserved only for those who can pay premium prices.”
“Stay hungry, stay foolish — and always put the user first. That is the Xiaomi way.”
“We don't see our users as customers. We see them as friends. Everything we build starts with what our friends need.”
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AI-Generated Content — This profile was created using AI and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, details may contain errors or be outdated. Quotes may be paraphrased or taken out of context. Achievements and figures are based on public reporting and may not be precise. This profile does not imply endorsement by the individual featured. Not financial advice.