Forbes Says Binance Founder CZ Is Richer Than Bill Gates
Forbes ranked Changpeng Zhao No. 17 globally with an estimated $110 billion fortune, but CZ said the figure was inaccurate because Bitcoin has fallen from earlier highs.
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Fact Check
The claim is directly supported by the Forbes 2026 World's Billionaires List published on March 10, 2026. According to the list, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has a net worth of $110 billion, ranking 17th globally, which exceeds Bill Gates' net worth of $108 billion. This information is corroborated by multiple Forbes platforms, including Forbes Africa and the official Forbes X account.
Summary
Forbes estimated Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s net worth at about $110 billion, up $47 billion from a year earlier, and ranked him No. 17 globally ahead of Bill Gates. Binance CEO He Yi responded after the estimate was published, and CZ said the figure was inaccurate given that Bitcoin had declined from its highs. The new update reinforces the dispute between Forbes’ wealth calculation and CZ’s own assessment, while keeping the core ranking and valuation figures unchanged.
Terms & Concepts
- Binance: A global cryptocurrency exchange where users trade digital assets and access related crypto services.
- Bitcoin: The largest cryptocurrency by market value, often used as a benchmark for the broader digital asset market.