By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda & Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D (Hon.) at 1320 EAT on Friday 12 June 2026

Just a year and a half after serving a four-month prison sentence, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao—widely known as CZ—has seen his wealth soar to unprecedented levels, according to Forbes.

Zhao, who launched the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in 2017, pleaded guilty following a sweeping investigation into the company’s compliance failures. He admitted to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering programme and agreed to step down as CEO. As part of the settlement, he paid a $50 million personal fine, while Binance itself agreed to pay $4.3 billion.

Despite the legal fallout, Zhao’s financial standing has surged sharply. Forbes estimates his net worth has climbed to $110 billion, an increase of $47 billion from last year, placing him 17th on its annual World’s Billionaires list.

The figure puts him among a rare group of just 20 individuals globally whose wealth exceeds 12 figures—and notably, ahead of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the rankings.

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