Update Consent
2019-11-10T20:58:00+05:30 2019-11-10T20:57:37+05:30 Home › Slideshows › miscellaneous » Meet Zhang Yiming, the secretive, 35-year-old Chinese billionaire behind TikTok who made over $12 billion in 2018
Meet Zhang Yiming, the secretive, 35-year-old Chinese billionaire behind TikTok who made over $12 billion in 2018 Zhang, 35, lives in Beijing, China.Zhang, 35, lives in Beijing, China.
He married his college sweetheart.He married his college sweetheart. Zhang's first job out of college was at a digital travel booking startup called Kuxun.Zhang's first job out of college was at a digital travel booking startup called Kuxun. Zhang founded TikTok's parent company in 2012.Zhang founded TikTok's parent company in 2012.
Zhang and ByteDance's first product was a news aggregator app called Toutiao.Zhang and ByteDance's first product was a news aggregator app called Toutiao. Zhang launched ByteDance's most successful app — TikTok — under the name 'Douyin' in September 2016.Zhang launched ByteDance's most successful app — TikTok — under the name 'Douyin' in September 2016.
Zhang makes his own TikToks — and requires his senior employees to as well.Zhang makes his own TikToks — and requires his senior employees to as well. TikTok's global reach makes Zhang's life "much more interesting."TikTok's global reach makes Zhang's life "much more interesting."
However, TikTok's growing influence in the US has raised questions from US regulators.However, TikTok's growing influence in the US has raised questions from US regulators. The billionaire attributes his success to his work ethic.The billionaire attributes his success to his work ethic.
Zhang's fortune is growing rapidly: He made over $12 billion in 2018 alone.Zhang's fortune is growing rapidly: He made over $12 billion in 2018 alone.