DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng has become the world’s richest founder of an artificial intelligence model company, according to the Bloomberg Billiona…
1/8Liang Wenfeng becomes the world’s richest AI founder | DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng is now worth an estimated $36 billion, up from about $16.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The jump follows DeepSeek’s latest fundraising round, making Liang the wealthiest founder among companies whose primary business is developing AI models. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng (right) (Photo: CCTV/ South China Morning Post)
2/8Liang is now ahead of Anthropic and OpenAI founders | Bloomberg’s comparison places Liang Wenfeng ahead of Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman among founders of AI model companies. The ranking focuses on firms whose primary business and majority of revenue come directly from AI models, excluding diversified technology companies and AI infrastructure businesses. (Image: Reuters)
3/8Who is Liang Wenfeng? | Born in 1985 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, Liang is the son of an elementary school teacher. He studied electronic engineering at Zhejiang University before earning a master’s degree in information and communication engineering. He later co-founded hedge fund Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management with two university classmates before launching DeepSeek. (Image: Reuters)
4/8How DeepSeek became a global AI player | Liang founded DeepSeek in 2023 as an offshoot of High-Flyer’s AI division. The startup gained worldwide attention in early 2025 after releasing an AI model that delivered performance comparable to leading US rivals at a fraction of the cost. DeepSeek has since unveiled its latest V4 model and highlighted its compatibility with Huawei chips. (Image: Reuters)
5/8The funding round that boosted Liang’s fortune | Strong investor demand lifted DeepSeek’s valuation from about $10 billion in April to $50 billion following its $7.4 billion funding round in June 2026. Liang personally invested $3 billion in the round, while his ownership stake is estimated to have diluted to around 78%, forming the bulk of his wealth. (Image: Canva)
6/8Why Liang’s ownership stands out | Bloomberg says Liang’s estimated 78% stake is unusual among founders of major AI companies. Many US AI startups raise large amounts of capital by giving up significant equity to venture capital firms and technology companies. Liang’s high ownership has allowed him to retain both substantial control of DeepSeek and a larger personal fortune. (Image: Reuters)
7/8China’s AI wealth story is changing | For years, China’s technology wealth was led by founders of consumer internet companies. Bloomberg says the rise of DeepSeek reflects a shift towards state-backed artificial intelligence, with growing investment turning the startup from a private software project into a strategically important AI company. (Image: Canva)
8/8How Bloomberg compiled the AI founder ranking | The Bloomberg Billionaires Index compared founders of companies whose primary business and majority of revenue come directly from AI models. It excluded diversified technology companies such as Alibaba and Tencent, along with AI supply chain businesses like semiconductor and data centre firms. Liang’s estimated $36 billion fortune also makes him China’s eighth-richest person, according to Bloomberg. (Image: Canva)