A remarkable journey from poverty to billionaire status has made Zhou Qunfei one of the most influential businesswomen in China. Once a teenage factory worker earning just $1.20 a day, she is now the founder of a major technology company with an estimated fortune of $18.9 billion.
The 56-year-old entrepreneur has reclaimed her position as China’s richest woman after 11 years, according to the Hurun Research Institute’s 2026 list of the Richest Women in China, published on October 28.
Zhou’s wealth is estimated at approximately 127 billion yuan, equivalent to $18.9 billion. Her fortune increased by around 15 percent over the past year, according to the ranking. Zhong Huijuan, founder of Hansoh Pharmaceutical, secured second place with an estimated fortune of 124 billion yuan.
Born in 1970 into a poor family in China’s Hunan province, Zhou faced significant financial difficulties during her childhood. She left school as a teenager and moved to Shenzhen in search of work.
Her first job was at a factory manufacturing watch glass, where she earned approximately $1.20 per day. Despite the difficult working conditions, she used the opportunity to develop valuable skills in glass processing and printing technology.
At the age of 23, in 1993, Zhou took a major risk by establishing her own small glass-processing factory. What began as a modest business gradually developed into Lens Technology, a major supplier of glass components for electronic devices.
A significant turning point came in 2007 when her company secured an opportunity to supply glass covers for Apple’s first iPhone. The partnership helped accelerate the company’s expansion and strengthened its position in the global technology supply chain.
Between 2011 and the first half of 2014, Apple reportedly accounted for nearly half of Lens Technology’s core business revenue.
The company’s listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in March 2015 further strengthened Zhou’s financial position. That same year, she first earned the title of China’s richest woman.
However, her business journey was not without challenges. In 2018, concerns surrounding US-China trade tensions and Apple’s sales performance contributed to a significant decline in Lens Technology’s share price.
The company subsequently expanded beyond smartphone components, entering new areas such as electric vehicle parts, artificial intelligence-related hardware and equipment for robotics manufacturing.
In July 2025, Lens Technology also secured a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising additional capital to support investments in emerging technology sectors.
Zhou’s growing influence has extended beyond the business world. In May 2026, she attended a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in honour of US President Donald Trump. She was seated between Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, highlighting her growing prominence in the global technology industry.
The 2026 Hurun ranking also revealed that the combined wealth of China’s 50 richest women reached 1.93 trillion yuan. Approximately 65 percent built their fortunes independently, while the remaining 35 percent inherited their wealth.
Zhou Qunfei’s journey from a low-paid factory worker to the head of a multibillion-dollar technology empire stands as a remarkable example of entrepreneurship, technical expertise and determination.
Reporting by Admin for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 01 Nov 2026, 20:00.
