Cho Jung-ho’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 |
| 2018 | $1.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018 |
| 2019 | $1.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2021 | $1.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $2.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $3.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $6.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $8.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $9.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $10 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.
Cho Jung-ho’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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Cho Jung-ho has an estimated net worth of $10 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Cho Jung-ho profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $1.6 billion in 2018.
Cho Jung-ho is a South Korean businessman who serves as chairman of Meritz Financial Group. He is part of the family behind Hanjin Group, the parent company of Korean Air. Early in his career, he worked for Korean Air in Europe. In 1989, he returned home and became a director at Hanjin Investment & Securities, the finance company that was later renamed Meritz.
His wealth comes from finance and investments. In 2005, he split the company from Hanjin Group, renamed it Meritz, and became chairman. Forbes says Meritz's value multiplied after that breakaway. That expansion helped him move ahead of his brothers in wealth and business success. Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker showed Cho at $10 billion as of October 20, 2026, making him one of South Korea's richest business figures.
How Cho Jung-ho makes money
Cho Jung-ho built his fortune through Meritz Financial Group, where he is chairman. His career started within the wider Hanjin business world founded by his father. He worked for Korean Air in Europe before shifting into securities. In 1989, he became a director at Hanjin Investment & Securities. That role placed him inside the finance business that later became the core of his wealth.
The biggest turning point came in 2005. Cho separated the company from Hanjin Group, renamed it Meritz, and took the chairman role. Forbes says the company's value multiplied after the split. That growth appears to be the main reason his fortune increased so much over time. Forbes does not list him as self-made, but his money is tied mainly to Meritz and its rise in finance and investments.
How Forbes' estimate changed
Forbes' estimate of Cho Jung-ho's fortune moved unevenly at first, then climbed quickly. Forbes valued him at $1.6 billion in 2018 and $1.2 billion in 2019. The estimate was $1.3 billion in 2021, then rose to $2.7 billion in 2022 and $3.4 billion in 2023. Those gains match Forbes' note that Meritz increased sharply in value after its 2005 separation from Hanjin.
The jump became even larger in later years. Forbes estimated his fortune at $6.3 billion in 2024, then $8.4 billion in 2025 and $9.1 billion in 2026. Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker later showed $10 billion in October 2026. Based on the available details, the clearest driver was the stronger value of Meritz Financial Group under Cho's leadership after the company broke away from Hanjin.
Career and money timeline
- 1989
He returned home and became a director at Hanjin Investment & Securities.
- 2005
He split the company from Hanjin, renamed it Meritz, and became chairman.
- 2024
Forbes estimated his net worth at $6.3 billion on its World's Billionaires List.
- 2026
Forbes' real-time tracker showed his net worth at $10 billion in October.
Cho Jung-ho net worth FAQ
What is Cho Jung-ho's net worth?
Cho Jung-ho's net worth is an estimated $10 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Cho Jung-ho profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Cho Jung-ho get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Finance.
Is Cho Jung-ho a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Cho Jung-ho is worth $10 billion.
How has Cho Jung-ho's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $1.6 billion (2018, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018). The latest is $10 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company is most tied to Cho Jung-ho's wealth?
Meritz Financial Group is the business most closely tied to his fortune. He is its chairman, and Forbes says its value multiplied after the 2005 split from Hanjin.
What did Cho Jung-ho do before leading Meritz?
He worked for Korean Air in Europe. In 1989, he became a director at Hanjin Investment & Securities before that business became Meritz.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Cho Jung-ho profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018, Cho Jung-ho profile (March 6, 2018)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Cho Jung-ho profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Cho Jung-ho profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Cho Jung-ho profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Cho Jung-ho profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Cho Jung-ho profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Cho Jung-ho profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Cho Jung-ho 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, Cho Jung-ho (accessed October 24, 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.