Forbes Puts Changpeng Zhao's Fortune at $110 Billion, Above Bill Gates, Citing Binance Valuation and Trump Pardon

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to violating U.S. anti-money-laundering laws and stepped down as chief executive. He was released in September 2024 after serving four months in prison. His wealth is closely tied to his stake in privately held Binance, making the company's valuation and regulatory risks major factors in his net worth.

Forbes most recently estimated that CZ's net worth had risen by $47 billion to $110 billion in the 17 months since his release, placing him 17th globally and ahead of Bill Gates. The estimate was based in part on Binance's roughly $100 billion valuation, Trump's October 23, 2025 pardon and Binance's partnership with World Liberty Financial. CZ publicly questioned the estimate.