Robin Li’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 | $9.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $4.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $14.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $7.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $5.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $5.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $7.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $4.9 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.
Robin Li’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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Robin Li has an estimated net worth of $4.9 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Robin Li profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is down from a peak of $14.7 billion.
Robin Li is a Chinese software engineer and internet entrepreneur best known for cofounding Baidu. He created RankDex in 1996, an early page-ranking system for search. In 2000, he started Baidu with Eric Xu. He became CEO in January 2004. Baidu went public on NASDAQ on August 5, 2005, and he stayed at the center of the company as it grew into a major technology business focused on search, advertising, and newer AI products.
His wealth comes mainly from Baidu, where he is cofounder, chairman, and CEO. The company’s core business is online advertising tied to its search engine. Baidu has also pushed into AI, including the 2023 launch of the Ernie chatbot. Beyond search and ads, the company runs driverless robotaxi services in mainland China and has won trial permits in Dubai, Hong Kong, and London. Baidu also has a semiconductor design unit, Kunlunxin, with customers including China Mobile.
How Robin Li built his fortune
Li’s career in search started before Baidu. While working at IDD Information Services, he helped build software for the online edition of The Wall Street Journal and worked on search algorithms. In 1996, he created RankDex, which he later used in Baidu’s search engine. He then worked at Infoseek from 1997 to 1999, where one of his projects was the picture search function used by Go.com. Those roles gave him a base in search technology before launching his own company.
The main source of his fortune is Baidu’s business in internet search and online advertising. Baidu is dual-listed on the Nasdaq and in Hong Kong, and Li serves as cofounder, chairman, and CEO. In recent years, the company has expanded beyond its bread-and-butter ad business into AI and autonomous driving. In 2023, Baidu introduced Ernie as a chatbot rival to ChatGPT. It also operates robotaxi services and has a chip design arm, Kunlunxin, serving customers such as China Mobile.
Forbes net worth snapshot
Forbes has tracked big swings in Li’s fortune. It estimated his net worth at $9.6 billion in 2019, then $4.9 billion in 2020, before rising to $14.7 billion in 2021. Forbes later put him at $7 billion in 2022 and $7.7 billion in 2023. Those changes happened as Baidu remained centered on search advertising while also spending heavily on newer businesses such as AI, robotaxis, and semiconductor design.
More recently, Forbes estimated Li at $5.9 billion in 2024 and $5.7 billion in 2025. Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker listed him at $4.9 billion as of October 20, 2026. That figure comes at a time when Baidu is still balancing its established ad business with newer bets. The company has kept rolling out AI products, expanded robotaxi trials into places including Dubai, Hong Kong, and London, and continued building Kunlunxin’s customer base.
Career and money timeline
- 1996
He created the RankDex page-ranking system.
- 2000
He founded Baidu with Eric Xu.
- 2004
He became Baidu’s CEO in January.
- 2005
Baidu listed on NASDAQ on August 5.
- 2023
Baidu rolled out the Ernie chatbot.
Robin Li net worth FAQ
What is Robin Li's net worth?
Robin Li's net worth is an estimated $4.9 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Robin Li profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Robin Li get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Internet search.
Is Robin Li a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Robin Li is worth $4.9 billion.
How has Robin Li's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $9.6 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $4.9 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company made Robin Li rich?
Baidu is the main company behind his wealth. He is its cofounder, chairman, and CEO.
What does Baidu do besides search?
Baidu also works in AI, robotaxi services, and semiconductor design. Its Kunlunxin unit serves customers including China Mobile.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Robin Li profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Robin Li profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Robin Li profile (April 8, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Robin Li profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Robin Li profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Robin Li profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Robin Li profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Robin Li profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Robin Li 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, Robin Li (accessed October 23, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Photo: 中国新闻社, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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.