Zhou Qunfei Reclaims Title as China's Richest Woman with 127 Billion Yuan Fortune

Lens Technology founder Zhou Qunfei has climbed back to the top of China's wealthiest women ranking, building her massive empire from humble beginnings as a factory worker earning $1.20 a day.

Published 2 November 2026

Reclaiming the Top Spot

Zhou Qunfei has once again secured her position as the wealthiest woman in China. According to the Hurun Richest Women in China 2026 list, her total fortune is estimated at 127 billion yuan, which translates to approximately ₹ 1.8 lakh crore.

Her net worth grew by 15 percent over the course of a single year. This growth allowed her to surpass Hansoh Pharmaceutical founder Zhong Huijuan, whose wealth stands at 124 billion yuan or around ₹ 1.76 lakh crore.

Humble Beginnings in Hunan and Shenzhen

Born in 1970 in China's Hunan province, Zhou left her schooling behind as a teenager to travel to Shenzhen in search of employment opportunities. Her initial steps into the workforce began at a watch-glass factory.

During her time at the facility, she earned a modest wage of around $1.20 a day. Despite the challenging circumstances, these early experiences laid the foundation for her future industrial career.

Building a Glass-Processing Enterprise

At the age of 23, Zhou made the decisive choice to venture out on her own by launching a glass-processing workshop. She dedicated herself to mastering complex technical skills, teaching herself advanced screen-printing and curved-glass manufacturing methods.

These self-taught techniques eventually formed the core capabilities of Lens Technology, the massive glass manufacturing giant she co-founded. The company grew rapidly to become a primary supplier of display glass for smartphones.

The Apple Partnership and Market Expansion

Lens Technology experienced a massive turning point after securing a deal to supply glass covers for Apple's very first iPhones in 2007. Official company prospectuses noted that Apple accounted for nearly half of the firm's main business revenue between 2011 and mid-2014.

A stock market listing in Shenzhen in March 2015 propelled Zhou to the number one spot on China's female wealth rankings for the first time. She had previously held the richest woman title that same year before market fluctuations altered the standings.

Navigating Economic Hurdles and Diversification

Zhou's financial standing encountered a significant obstacle in 2018 when trade tensions between the United States and China, alongside shifting Apple sales figures, caused a sharp drop in her company's share prices.

In response to these market pressures, Lens Technology successfully diversified its operations. The company expanded beyond smartphones into electric vehicles, artificial intelligence-related hardware, and robotics to capitalize on China's high-tech manufacturing sector.

Broader Trends in Chinese Wealth

Data compiled by Hurun indicates that a significant majority of China's top 50 wealthiest women are self-made entrepreneurs, with their combined assets reaching a record 1.93 trillion yuan.

When combined with her husband's assets, Zhou secured the 33rd position on China's overall Hurun Rich List. That broader list was led by ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, whose fortune was evaluated at 670 billion yuan.

News Overview

Lens Technology founder Zhou Qunfei has reclaimed her position as China's richest woman with an estimated fortune of 127 billion yuan, surpassing Hansoh Pharmaceutical founder Zhong Huijuan. Rising from a teenage school dropout who earned $1.20 a day at a watch-glass factory, Zhou built her empire through self-taught manufacturing techniques and major supply contracts with Apple before diversifying into electric vehicles and AI hardware.

Key facts

  • Zhou Qunfei is 56 years old.
  • Zhou Qunfei's estimated fortune is 127 billion yuan (approximately ₹ 1.8 lakh crore).
  • Zhong Huijuan's estimated fortune is 124 billion yuan (around ₹ 1.76 lakh crore).
  • Zhou previously held the title of China's richest woman in 2015.
  • Zhou was born in 1970 in Hunan province.
  • Zhou earned around $1.20 a day at her first factory job.
  • Zhou started her own glass-processing workshop at the age of 23.
  • Lens Technology began supplying glass covers for Apple's first iPhones in 2007.
  • Lens Technology was listed on the Shenzhen stock market in March 2015.
  • Zhou and her husband were placed 33rd on China's overall Hurun Rich List.
  • Zhang Yiming's estimated wealth stood at 670 billion yuan.