Billionaire Profile
Zhu Yan & family
Global Rank
#786

Image: Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons

Zhu Yan & family

CEO, KE Holdings
CN
Real-Time Net Worth
$5.1B
As of December 2025
Age
54
Source
Real estate
Industry
real-estate
Citizenship
CN

Biography

Zhu Yan, a prominent figure in China's business landscape, is known for his pivotal role in the real estate sector and significant contributions to various industries. He inherited the fortune of his late husband, Zuo Hui, the founder of KE Holdings, a major real estate brokerage firm. With a current net worth of $5.1 billion, Zhu Yan's wealth stems primarily from her stake in KE Holdings. Her career is marked by strategic investments and leadership within a company that revolutionized China's housing transactions. Zhu Yan and her family have diversified their investments across sectors, contributing to the economic development of China and the broader Asian region.

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life and Education

Zhu Yan's early life was shaped by China's rapid economic transformation. She graduated with a degree in economics from a prestigious Chinese university. This educational foundation prepared her for a business career in a rapidly changing economic environment.

Rise to Success

Zhu Yan's career began in the manufacturing sector. Recognizing the potential in real estate, she shifted her focus to real estate development. She inherited her wealth from her late husband, Zuo Hui, the founder of KE Holdings, a major real estate brokerage chain, after his death in 2021. KE Holdings, formed in 2018, encompasses companies like Lianjia and Beike, operating primarily in China’s housing transactions and services sector.

Key Business Strategies

Zhu Yan's success is attributed to strategic investments and understanding market trends. Her key business strategies included identifying lucrative opportunities, investing in high-potential projects, and navigating China's evolving regulatory environment. She has also diversified investments across technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure development.

Philanthropy

Zhu Yan is recognized as a responsible business leader and is known for her commitment to social responsibility and corporate philanthropy. Over the years, the family has donated significant sums to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

Career Milestones

2021

Inherited KE Holdings

Inherited the fortune from her late husband Zuo Hui, the founder of KE Holdings.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Education, Healthcare, Poverty Alleviation

Various Causes

Significant

Donations to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.