WORLD'S TWENTY-FOURTH WEALTHIEST
Zhong Shanshan
Founder & Chairman, Nongfu Spring; Chairman, Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy
Estimate — based on private holdings & editorial research
Zhong Shanshan built his fortune through Nongfu Spring, China's dominant bottled water brand, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. A former journalist and mushroom farmer, he founded Nongfu Spring in 1996 and took it public in Hong Kong in 2020 in one of that year's largest IPOs. He became China's richest person in 2020, earning him the nickname 'the Lone Wolf' for his lack of business partners.
Wealth in Context
Figures calculated from current net worth estimate
Zhong Shanshan's net worth could cover one year's rent for every resident of Chicago
Zhong Shanshan's net worth could cover one year's school costs for every man, woman, and child in Louisiana
Zhong Shanshan's net worth could build 1,300 new public schools
Source: National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, 2023
Holdings Breakdown
| Company | Ticker | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
International Holdings Forbes 2025 Billionaires List | foreign exchange | $65B | ||
About holdings: Wealth is primarily tied to his ~84.4% stake in Nongfu Spring Co. Ltd. (HKEX: 9633) and his stake in Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd. (SSE: 603392). Neither company is listed on U.S. exchanges. All figures are estimates based on Hong Kong and Shanghai market prices converted to USD.
Philanthropic Impact
Based on public foundation records, press releases, and giving pledges
Total known giving
$50 million
documented public giving only
Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy — vaccine development and public health research
Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy, majority-owned by Zhong, was among the first companies globally to develop and mass-produce COVID-19 antibody test kits. The company also manufactures vaccines for hepatitis A, E, and influenza, providing important public health infrastructure for China's healthcare system.
Source: Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy annual report; WHO prequalification records
COVID-19 relief — donations to Wuhan and broader China pandemic response
$50 million
How this is calculated
Zhong Shanshan's public stock holdings are sourced from SEC Form 4 filings and annual proxy statements. Net worth is calculated as (shares held × current market price) + private wealth estimate. The private wealth estimate is sourced from Forbes 2025 Billionaires List and is updated periodically — it does not change with market movements. Full methodology →