Zhong Shanshan, also known as Nongfu Spring's "Lone Wolf," is a Chinese entrepreneur and the founder of Nongfu Spring, China's leading bottled water and beverage company. Here is his complete biography:
Early Life and Education:
Zhong Shanshan was born on December 1954 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. His parents were farmers, and he grew up in a rural area. Zhong graduated from Zhejiang Radio and TV University, majoring in journalism.
Career:
After graduation, Zhong worked as a reporter for a local newspaper. Later, he worked as a salesperson for a pharmaceutical company. In 1996, he founded his own business, making bottled water in his hometown of Hangzhou. He named the company "Nongfu Spring."
Under Zhong's leadership, Nongfu Spring grew quickly, and in 2000, it became the first bottled water company in China to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In 2012, Zhong sold a 20% stake in the company to private equity firm Warburg Pincus for $200 million, which valued Nongfu Spring at $1 billion.
In 2016, Zhong founded Yangshengtang, a company that produces nutritional supplements and health products. The company went public in September 2020 and raised $1.1 billion in its IPO.
In September 2020, Nongfu Spring went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising $1.1 billion in its IPO. The company's shares soared by nearly 85% on its first day of trading, making Zhong one of the richest people in China.
As of February 2023, Zhong's net worth is estimated at $78.2 billion, making him the richest person in China and the 6th richest person in the world.
Personal Life:
Zhong Shanshan is married with two children. He is known for his low profile and rarely gives interviews to the media.
Philanthropy:
In 2020, Zhong donated $1.44 billion to charity, including $200 million to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in China. He has also donated to education and poverty alleviation causes in China.