Biography of Lin Lairong and Family

Overview

Lin Lairong is a Chinese billionaire entrepreneur and investor. He is the chairman and founder of BeiGene, a biotechnology company that specializes in developing innovative cancer treatments. He is also the founder and chairman of a number of other companies in the healthcare, finance, and real estate sectors. According to Forbes, Lin’s net worth is estimated at $15.6 billion, making him one of the richest people in China.

Early Life and Education

Lin Lairong was born in 1966 in Fujian Province, China. He grew up in a poor family and was forced to drop out of school at a young age to help support his family. However, he was determined to improve his circumstances, and he embarked on a self-directed course of study to improve his education. He read extensively and taught himself English.

After several years of hard work, Lin was accepted to Xiamen University, where he studied economics. He went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Business School in New York.

Career and Achievements

After completing his studies, Lin Lairong began his career in finance, working for a number of investment firms in New York and Hong Kong. In 1992, he founded BeiGene, which initially focused on providing investment management services to Chinese investors. However, Lin soon realized the potential of the biotechnology industry, and the company pivoted to focus on developing innovative cancer treatments.

Under Lin’s leadership, BeiGene has become one of the most successful biotech companies in China. The company has a number of drugs in development, including treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. In 2019, BeiGene received a major boost when it was granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for its drug zanubrutinib, which treats patients with certain types of lymphoma.

Lin is also the founder and chairman of a number of other companies, including Haitong Securities, a major Chinese investment bank; Hua Medicine, a biotech company that develops treatments for diabetes; and SOHO China, which is one of the largest real estate developers in China.

Personal Life

Lin Lairong is known for his private nature and generally avoids public appearances and interviews. He is married and has two children.

Profile