Ding Lei’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $14.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $17 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $33 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $25.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $26.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $33.5 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $33.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $37.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $42 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Ding Lei’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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Ding Lei has an estimated net worth of $42 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Ding Lei profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $14.7 billion in 2019.
Ding Lei, also known as William Ding, is a Chinese business leader who founded NetEase and still runs it as CEO. He became widely known in 2003, when he was the richest person on the Chinese mainland and the country’s first internet and gaming billionaire. His career has centered on building internet services and helping develop computer networks in mainland China, with NetEase becoming the company most closely tied to his name.
Most of Ding’s wealth comes from online games through NetEase, a technology company with a large gaming business. Its lineup includes long-running titles such as Fantasy Westward Journey, along with newer hits like Eggy Party and Justice Mobile, which uses AI to generate storylines. As competition in games stayed tough, especially from Tencent, NetEase also expanded into movies, e-commerce, and online music. That wider business mix helped turn Ding into one of China’s best-known self-made tech billionaires.
How Ding Lei makes money
Ding built his fortune through NetEase, the company he founded and leads. Online games are the core of that business and the main reason he became wealthy. NetEase grew into one of the world’s largest online games companies, with older titles and newer mobile games both playing a part. The company’s catalog spans casual and battle games, including Justice Mobile, which uses AI to create storylines for players.
NetEase did not stay limited to games. Facing strong competition from Tencent, the company moved into movies, e-commerce, and online music. Ding also backed a technology-focused approach to agriculture. In 2012, NetEase branched into pork production, and its e-commerce arm Yanxuan later sold pork sourced from its own farms. Forbes says Ding’s wealth was $42 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026.
How the Forbes estimate changed
Forbes has shown big swings in its estimate of Ding’s fortune over time. It put his net worth at $14.7 billion in 2019, then $17 billion in 2020. The estimate jumped to $33 billion in 2021 before dropping to $25.2 billion in 2022. Those moves came during a period when NetEase kept competing hard in games while also broadening its business into areas like e-commerce, music, and movies.
The Forbes estimate then moved higher again. It reached $26.7 billion in 2023, climbed to $33.5 billion in 2024, and was $33.3 billion in 2025. Forbes later estimated his wealth at $37.9 billion on its 2026 billionaires list, and its real-time tracker showed $42 billion in October 2026. The company’s mix of legacy games, newer titles like Eggy Party, and expansion beyond gaming helps explain why his fortune has stayed at that level.
Career and money timeline
- 2003
He became China’s first internet and gaming billionaire and the richest individual on the mainland.
- 2012
NetEase expanded into pork production with a technology and sustainability focus.
- 2016
He looked into property investing and traveled to Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.
- 2017
Investors put US$23 million into the pork business tied to NetEase’s expansion.
- 2020
NetEase’s game business kept growing as Forbes valued his fortune at $17 billion.
- 2026
Forbes’ real-time tracker listed his wealth at $42 billion in October 2026.
Ding Lei net worth FAQ
What is Ding Lei's net worth?
Ding Lei's net worth is an estimated $42 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Ding Lei profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Ding Lei get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Online games.
Is Ding Lei a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Ding Lei is worth $42 billion.
How has Ding Lei's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $14.7 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $42 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company is Ding Lei best known for?
He is best known as the founder and CEO of NetEase. The company is a major technology and online games business.
What industries outside gaming has NetEase entered?
NetEase expanded into movies, e-commerce, and online music. It also developed a sustainable agriculture project tied to pork sold through Yanxuan.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Ding Lei profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Ding Lei profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Ding Lei profile (April 8, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Ding Lei profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Ding Lei profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Ding Lei profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Ding Lei profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Ding Lei profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Ding Lei profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Ding Lei (accessed October 22, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.