Wang Chuanfu

Wang Chuanfu (; born 1966) is a Chinese chemist, billionaire businessman, and founder of BYD Company.

Early life
Wang was born in Wuwei County, Anhui province to a family of poor farmers. While in high school he was cared for by his elder brother and sister because both of his parents had died. After high school he studied chemistry at the Central South University, and went on to earn a master's degree in 1990 from the Beijing Non-Ferrous Research Institute.

Career
He spent several years as a government researcher, but in 1995 he entered the private sector and founded his own company, BYD Company, outside of Shenzhen. Founded with his cousin Lu Xiangyang when he was just 29 years old, BYD Company is currently the world's biggest mobile phone batteries manufacturer. In early 2009, he was reportedly worth US$3.4 billion, placing him 408th on Hurun Report's Global Rich List 2014 . In late 2009, his worth grew to $5.1 billion and was crowned China's richest man on the Hurun Report. This was due largely to a fivefold increase in his company's value after Berkshire Hathaway bought 225 million new shares of BYD in 2008.

Personal life
He is married and lives in Shenzhen.

References

Category:1966 births
Category:Living people
Category:Chinese billionaires
Category:People from Wuhu
Category:Businesspeople from Anhui
Category:Chemists from Anhui
Category:Chinese chief executives in the automobile industry
Category:BYD Company people
Category:21st-century Chinese businesspeople
Category:Chinese founders of automobile manufacturers
Category:Central South University alumni