Changpeng Zhao, a former McDonald’s burger flipper and software developer who rose to the top of the world’s wealthiest individuals almost overnight, is a cryptocurrency pioneer.
According to those familiar with the issue, CZ, as he’s known among cryptophiles, is swiftly becoming a regular in the United Arab Emirates, meeting with aristocracy in Abu Dhabi who are keen to bring his Binance exchange to the country. He’s bought an apartment in Dubai and hosted dinners near the world’s tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa, and on the city’s Palm Jumeirah island, making him the most prominent figure in the country’s burgeoning crypto scene.
Zhao, 44, fits in in a region noted for its opulence: According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he is worth $96 billion. It’s the first time Bloomberg has calculated his worth, which tops Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, and rivals tech heavyweights Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google.
Zhao’s riches might be even bigger, given the wealth estimate excludes his personal crypto assets, which include Bitcoin and his company’s own token. Last year, the so-called Binance Coin saw a 1,300 percent increase in value.
