Early Life and Career
Zhang Li was born in 1953. He began his career as an industrial worker and later served in the local government before entering the construction industry. In 1986, he became the chief manager of the Garden Village Hotel. Two years later, he ventured into real estate, where he would find his success.
Rise to Success
Zhang Li's major breakthrough came with the founding of Guangzhou R&F Properties in 1994 with Li Sze Lim. The company quickly became one of China's largest property groups. Zhang focused on mass residential property development projects. In 2002, Zhang first invested in Beijing, with 3.2 billion Chinese Yuan. He mainly invested in real estate in Beijing, to fit the demands of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Controversies and Recent Developments
In December 2022, Zhang was arrested in London on charges of bribing a San Francisco official to secure contracts in California. In July 2023, he admitted to bribing former San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. He resigned as CEO of Guangzhou R&F Properties at the end of 2023. He also owns a stake in Hong Kong-listed Kinetic Mines and Energy.
Current Status
Zhang Li's primary source of wealth remains in real estate. As of December 5, 2025, his net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion.
