“Zhong Shanshan: Billionaire Success Story”

Overview

Zhong Shanshan is the richest man in China and the world’s seventh-richest person as of September 2021, according to Forbes. He is the founder of Nongfu Spring, a bottled water company, and vaccine maker Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise, Ltd.

Early Life and Education

Zhong was born on December 1954 in Hangzhou, China. His father was an elementary school teacher, and his mother was a food factory worker. Zhao grew up during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution in China and temporarily worked as a farm laborer before attending high school. He was later admitted into the Zhejiang Radio and TV University, but he dropped out after his second year, citing a lack of interesting classes.

Career and Achievements

Zhong started his career as a journalist at the Zhejiang Daily newspaper but eventually moved to business journalism. In 1996, he founded Zhejiang Nongfu Spring, a bottled water company. He initially delivered the bottled water to customers himself and focused on the taste of the water, emphasizing its purity and quality. Zhong’s company later expanded to produce other beverages, including tea and juice.

In early 2020, Zhong’s company, Wantai Biological Pharmacy, became the first company in China to gain regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine. Zhong credits the success of his company to his focus on quality control and innovation.

Personal Life

Zhong is married and has two children. He is known for his private nature and has avoided public appearances and media interviews. He is reported to have a net worth of around $75 billion, making him the richest person in China and Asia.

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