Leading Self-Made Female Billionaires in the World
Two prominent Chinese women, Zhong Huijuan and Zhou Qunfei, have made a significant mark among the world’s top self-made female billionaires. Their success stories highlight not only their entrepreneurial spirit but also their impact on global industries.
Zhong Huijuan: A Pharmaceutical Tycoon
Zhong Huijuan, 64, stands as the richest Asian self-made billionaire with an estimated net worth of $15.6 billion. She is the chairwoman and CEO of Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, a leading Chinese company involved in the production of drugs for various conditions such as oncology, psychoactive disorders, and diabetes. Her leadership has been pivotal in transforming Hansoh into a publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2019.
Zhong’s journey began with a chemistry degree from Jiangsu Normal University. After graduating, she taught at a middle school in Lianyungang before transitioning to entrepreneurship. At the age of 34, she founded Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical with just 10 employees, marking the beginning of her remarkable career.
Her husband, Sun Piaoyang, is also a notable figure in the pharmaceutical industry, heading Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Their daughter, Sun Yuan, serves as an executive director at Hansoh, continuing the family legacy in business.
In 2022, Hansoh partnered with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop an oral treatment for COVID-19, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and public health.
Zhou Qunfei: A Tech Industry Pioneer
Hong Kong-based Zhou Qunfei, 55, ranks fourth on the list of the world’s richest self-made female billionaires with a net worth of $10 billion. As the chairwoman of Lens Technology, she leads a company that supplies touch screens to major clients like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei. Additionally, Lens Technology provides components to electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla and BYD.
Zhou’s journey from a teenage migrant factory worker to a billionaire entrepreneur is inspiring. She started her entrepreneurial venture in 1993 by establishing a watch parts business with relatives in a Shenzhen apartment. This foundation eventually led to the creation of Lens Technology, which went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2015, 22 years after its founding.
Other Notable Self-Made Female Billionaires
The richest self-made woman in the world is Rafaela Aponte-Diamant from Switzerland, with a wealth of $38.8 billion. Her fortune primarily comes from the shipping industry, where she and her husband own MSC, the world’s largest shipping line.
In second place is Diane Hendricks, a U.S. citizen with a net worth of $22.3 billion. She owns and chairs ABC Supply, one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing, siding, and windows in the U.S., a company she co-founded with her late husband.
Denise Coates, a U.K.-based entrepreneur, ranks fifth with a net worth of $8.5 billion. Her wealth stems from Bet365, one of the world’s largest online gambling companies.
Together, these five women boast a combined wealth of over $95 billion, underscoring their significant influence in the global economy. Their stories reflect the power of determination, innovation, and resilience in achieving extraordinary success.
