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How Binance Turned CZ Into a Billionaire Richer Than Bill Gates
CZ's $110 billion Forbes estimate tops Gates by $2 billion. The ranking shows how much of Binance's value rides on regulatory stability and market cycles—a risk traders should watch.
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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is now worth $110 billion, according to Forbes. That puts him above Bill Gates at $108 billion, two spots higher on the global billionaire ranking. The shift reflects a booming crypto market and the sheer value of the world’s largest exchange.
CZ still owns roughly 90% of Binance, Forbes estimates. That stake makes up the bulk of his fortune. The exchange recovered after a 2023 U.S. settlement that forced him to step down as CEO. Trading volumes stabilized, and Binance kept its lead in global crypto flows. The rebound pushed the estimated value of his equity higher.
A chunk of CZ’s wealth also sits in personal crypto holdings–Bitcoin and Binance Coin, by his own past statements. That adds a direct line to token prices. When markets rally, his net worth moves faster than a traditional tech founder’s.
Gates’ $108 billion figure, meanwhile, reflects a different strategy. He has given tens of billions to the Gates Foundation over the years, shrinking his personal balance sheet while staying among the world’s richest.
For traders, the wealth comparison is more than a curiosity. It highlights how concentrated Binance’s value is in one person–and how much of that value depends on regulatory tolerance. CZ’s own net worth swings with every enforcement action or liquidity scare. The 2023 settlement cost him the CEO title but not control. Future rules from the U.S. or Europe could change that calculus.
CZ acknowledged the Forbes ranking on social media but pointed out that billionaire estimates change fast. Private company values and crypto prices move continuously. The same forces that sent Binance’s valuation to new heights could cut it just as quickly.
For now, the numbers put a clear price tag on crypto infrastructure. The question is whether that price holds through the next regulatory cycle. Read more on CZ’s recent take on market swings in CZ Blames AI, War Fears and Crypto Cycle for 2026 Slump. For broader market context, see crypto market analysis.