Zhou Qunfei: ex-security guard rises to become world’s richest self-made woman entrepreneur

SCMP | Jan. 12, 2026, 5 a.m. | Original
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Zhou Qunfei, the daughter of a poor village family in China with only a college diploma, began her career as a factory security guard and is now one of the country’s richest entrepreneurs. Photo: SCMP composite/guancha.cn/Lens Technology

The rags-to-riches story of how Zhou Qunfei rose from humble beginnings in a poor village in central China to become a highly successful businesswoman has been an inspiration for countless migrant workers across the country.

The 56-year-old founder of the touch-screen maker Lens Technology is estimated to have a net worth of 110 billion yuan (US$16 billion).

She claimed second place in the 2025 Hurun Female Entrepreneurs Ranking List issued by Hurun Institute.

Zhou first came to attention in China in 2015 as the country’s richest woman when her company listed in Shenzhen while she was worth 50 billion yuan.

Zhou Qunfei in her younger days. She had to migrate from the countryside to find work. Photo: guancha
Zhou Qunfei in her younger days. She had to migrate from the countryside to find work. Photo: guancha

Her journey began in utter destitution.

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