DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng's wealth rises to $36 billion

The wealth of Liang Wenfeng, founder of the China-based AI startup DeepSeek, has more than doubled to $36 billion following the company's latest funding round. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Liang's net worth was previously around $16.7 billion.

With this increase, Liang has risen to become the world's wealthiest entrepreneur developing AI models. The primary reason for the surge in his wealth is DeepSeek's rising valuation and Liang's significant stake in the company.

VALUATION REACHES $50 BILLION

According to the index's calculations, strong investor demand has pushed DeepSeek's valuation up nearly fivefold from the $10 billion level reported in April. The company was valued at $50 billion in a $7.4 billion funding round completed in June 2026.

It is estimated that Liang personally invested $3 billion in the round, and his stake in the company fell to approximately 78 percent after the financing. The majority of Liang's wealth stems from his control over DeepSeek.

Born in 1985, Liang Wenfeng studied electronic engineering at Zhejiang University and earned a master's degree in information and communication engineering at the same university. DeepSeek originated from the AI unit of Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management, a hedge fund Liang founded with two former university classmates, and was established as a separate venture in 2023.

The company drew attention in the tech world in early 2025 with its model, which is stated to offer performance comparable to models from US competitors like OpenAI at a lower cost. DeepSeek recently introduced its new model, V4, and announced that this model is compatible with chips produced by Huawei Technologies.

Liang's $36 billion fortune has also placed him among the wealthiest individuals in China. According to the index, Liang is the eighth-richest person in China, ranking just behind Chen Tianshi, co-founder of the hardware-focused AI company Cambricon Technologies.

News Source: 12punto