Billionaire Profile
Charlwin Mao
Global Rank
#2206

Image: Unsplash Contributor | Unsplash License | via Unsplash

Charlwin Mao

CEO, E-commerce
CHINA
Real-Time Net Worth
$1.9B
Estimated based on E-commerce stock value as of April 20, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
41
Source
E-commerce
Industry
Technology
Citizenship
CHINA

Biography

Charlwin Mao, born in 1985, is a Chinese entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote or Little Red Book), a leading social media and e-commerce platform. His source of wealth stems from his successful ventures in the e-commerce and fashion-retail industries. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a degree in mechatronics and later earning an MBA from Stanford University, he began his career at Bain & Company. Mao's career highlights include founding Xiaohongshu in 2013, which has grown to have over 300 million users. Forbes listed Mao as #2177 on their 2026 Billionaires list.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 4/20/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life and Education

Charlwin Mao, also known as Mao Wenchao, was born in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in 1985. He graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2007 with a degree in Mechatronics. Mao pursued an MBA at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, focusing on business and technology.

Rise to Success

After graduating, Mao worked at Bain & Company. Inspired by his travels to over 20 countries, he co-founded Xiaohongshu in 2013 with Miranda Qu. The platform initially served as a shopping guide for Chinese tourists but has since evolved into a lifestyle app with over 300 million monthly active users as of 2024.

Key Business Strategies

Xiaohongshu's success lies in its unique blend of social interaction and e-commerce. The platform leverages user-generated content and influencer marketing to drive product sales. Users can purchase items directly through tagged videos and photos. Key strategies include focusing on beauty, fashion, and travel recommendations, with a strong emphasis on community-driven content.

Philanthropy

I am sorry, I cannot provide precise philanthropy amounts for Charlwin Mao. Public information on his philanthropic activities is limited.

Career Milestones

2007

Graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Earned a degree in Mechatronics.

2011

Graduated from Stanford University

Completed an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

2013

Co-founded Xiaohongshu

Launched Xiaohongshu with Miranda Qu.