Lei Jun
Léi Jūn | |
---|---|
Native name | 雷军 |
Born |
Xiantao, Hubei, China | 16 December 1969
Residence | Beijing, China |
Nationality | Chinese |
Alma mater | Wuhan University[1] |
Occupation |
Founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Inc[2] Executive Director of Kingsoft Chairman of UCWeb Inc. Founder of Amazon China Chairman of YY.com[3] Chairman of Great Wall Club[4] |
Known for | Founding Xiaomi Inc[2] |
Net worth | US$ 13.2 billion (June 2015)[1] |
Spouse(s) | Zhang Tong |
Children | 2[5] |
Website | Lei Jun's Blog |
Léi Jūn (simplified Chinese: 雷军; traditional Chinese: 雷軍; born 16 December 1969) is a Chinese businessman who is known for founding Xiaomi Inc, one of China's largest technology companies.
Lei's net worth is estimated to be 35 billion US dollars since he owns 77.8% of Xiaomi, which is a $45 billion company.[6] In 2011, Lei was ranked #201 on Forbes list of China’s 400 Richest.[7] In 2014, he was named Businessman of the Year by Forbes.[8]
In July 2015, Forbes ranked Lei Jun number 87 on their list of global billionaires with a personal worth of $13.2 billion.[9]
Biography
Lei was born on 16 December 1969 in Xiantao, Hubei, China. In 1987, he graduated from Mianyang Middle School and began attending Wuhan University, where he holds a BA in computer science, in 1991.[1] Lei had been working at Kingsoft as an engineer and became the president of the company in 1998. In 2000, Lei founded Joyo.com, an online bookstore, which was eventually sold for USD$75 million to Amazon.com in 2004.[10] On December 20, 2007, for "health reasons", he resigned as President and CEO of Kingsoft.[11]
After resigning from Kingsoft, Lei invested in Vancl.com and UCWeb. In 2008, he became a Chairman of UCWeb.[12] On 6 April 2010, Lei Jun founded Xiaomi Inc, a technology company that manufactures smartphones, mobile apps, and other consumer electronics.[13] Lei also owns small stakes in the e-commerce companies Lakala and VANCL,[14] as well as video streaming and social communicate platform YY (social network).[15]
By 2011, Lei invested in over 20 companies in China. He continues to invest in companies in the ecommerce, social networking, and mobile industries through Shunwei Capital (Chinese: 顺为资本), an investment company which he was a founding partner.[16] On 29 August 2011, Lei rejoined Kingsoft as an Executive Director of the company.[3] In 2014, he became the 8th richest person in China with a net worth of USD$9.9 billion.[8]
It was reported in March 2015 that Lei Jun has invested an undisclosed amount in Chinese cosmetics and skincare company Yu Jia Hui (Chinese: 御家汇).[17]
In April 2015, Lei Jun and his company Xiaomi Inc have already invested in more than 20 start-up companies and plans on investing in 100 more so as to help Xiaomi Inc expand and grow exponentially.[18]
Recognitions
Lei Jun's business activities have been recognised through multiple industry awards. In 1999, 2000 and 2002 he was awarded the Top 10 IT Figures; He was chosen as the Top 10 Figures of Gaming in 2005; He was selected by China Central Television as one of the Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year in 2012; In 2013 he was named one of the 11 Most Powerful Business people in Asia by Fortune as well as the award for Most Notable Entrepreneur by BAZAAR Men’s Style.[19] In 2014, he was named Businessman Of The Year by Forbes Asia.[20]
Personal life
He is married and has two children.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lei Jun, Forbes, 2014-03-05, retrieved 2014-03-05
- 1 2 Xiaomi Management, Xiaomi Tech, 2014-03-05, retrieved 2014-03-05
- 1 2 Lei Jun, CrunchBase, 2014-03-05, retrieved 2014-03-05
- ↑ Rumour: Lei Jun’s MIUI, Android ROM Teams up with Guess Who?, TechNode, 2011-04-14, retrieved 2014-03-07
- ↑ Lei Jun Net Worth, TheRichest, 2014-03-05, retrieved 2014-03-05
- ↑ "Alibaba’s Jack Ma versus Xiaomi’s Lei Jun: who is really Asia’s richest man?". Tech In Asia. December 15, 2014.
- ↑ "China's 400 Richest 2011". 2011.
- 1 2 "Forbes Asia Names Lei Jun As Businessman Of The Year In 2014". Forbes. December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Forbes Billionaires: Full List Of The 500 Richest People In The World 2015". Forbes. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Amazon.com to Acquire Joyo.com Limited". Amazon. August 19, 2004.
- ↑ "Chinese Billionaire Lei Jun's Long, Twisting Road At Kingsoft". Forbes. July 19, 2012.
- ↑ "Alibaba, UCWeb Team Up In Mobile Search". Forbes. April 28, 2014.
- ↑ management, Xiaomi Tech, 2014-03-05, retrieved 2014-03-05
- ↑ "Lei Jun", The Richest. Accessed 6 February 2016.
- ↑ "Meet Lei Jun: China's Steve Jobs Is The Country's Newest Billionaire". Forbes. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Here’s why Xiaomi is China’s most important tech company". Tech In Asia. December 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Chinese cosmetics brand secures funding from Xiaomi founder Lei Jun". Tech in Asia. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Lei Jun: Xiaomi will invest in 100 more startups". Tech In Asia. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ "13 things you didn't know about Xiaomi's Lei Jun". Manufacturing Global. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ Flannery, Russell (December 3, 2014). "Xiaomi's Lei Jun Is Forbes Asia's 2014 Businessman Of The Year". Forbes.com.